Wisdom Vs Knowledge

Let us start our conversation with a question ... how do you define wisdom and have you ever encountered someone you felt was truly wise?

When I think of wise people, I think of the great philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. These men were not afraid to ask questions and consider a wide range of possible answers to such complex questions like the meaning of justice. I also think great spiritual leaders, who have a deeper understanding of religion and its impact on our society and culture are wise. They look beyond the worldly things to find deeper meaning.

At this point in my life, wisdom is not about being smart and knowing a great deal about one or more particular subjects, it is about understanding how knowledge impacts our society and changes the way we perceive the world. Even as I write this post I am wondering why I have this deep desire to understand what it means to be wise and how being wise might help me become a better teacher.

Recently I had a discussion with my brother about the definition of wisdom. His perspective was that the knowledge we have is what makes us wise. I have to disagree with that definition. One can have a great deal of knowledge on a variety of topics and still not be wise. Wisdom is more that knowledge, it is how the knowledge we have is used. Our world has collected a vast amount of knowledge over the centuries and there are many very knowledgeable men and women in the world; and yet it is very difficult to find truly wise people.

A truly wise person may not have a deep knowledge about a specific topic, but when faced with a decision related to the topic, they understand how the topic will affect the world. Wisdom is a deeper knowledge about the world and how to use the knowledge we have to bring happiness and peace to the people you come in contact with everyday.

I would like to think in rare moments that I experience small glimpses of what it is like to be wise ... but it is quite fleeting and I realize that there is so much I must learn in order to completely understand what I do not already know.

What are your thoughts?

Recommended Reading

Bleyl, Merriam Fields. (2009). Finding wisdom learning from those who are wise. Xlibris Corporation.

Merriam Bleyl is a wonderful writer and has sparked in me the desire to learn more about how we find the wise among us; and more importantly how I can teach my students the importance of developing wisdom. It is my hope as I develop this blog and find followers that are interested in discussing how we can open the door to wisdom for our students.

If you have not had an opportunity to read Merriam's book, you can order your copy from Xlibris, at 1-888-795-4274. This book has amazing stories of modern day people who have been identified by their different cultures as being wise. I hope some of the comments from this book will generate some good discussions.