Can you be wise and innocent at the same time?

Question

ScottL and Humean excellent well thought out answers

some really good answers here. Thought provoking.

Nice one amaia.

Answer 1

Not really. Wisdom comes with age, and it comes in hand with cynicism.

Answer 2

It depends on the viewpoint I think. Most people argue that wisdom can only come from experience and/or age. If that is true, then one cannot be wise and also be innocent to the experience. However, if you're seeking the wisdom OF being innocent, then I would say yes..you can be both at the same time. There's a lot of wisdom to be gained from some of the "funny sayings" from young children, who often speak out of innocence because they haven't be "cultured" and "conditioned" to respond with what's "appropriate". Do you understand what I'm saying? And their comments/questions are so basic, because they don't overanalyze the situation like so many "wise" adults do, and then they find themselves learning something "wise" from this innocent perspective. How many parents can say they've become "wiser" to parenting after having an "innocent" child? Probably quite a few. So, I think it all depends on the perspective. I think it's an unconscious thing. You're not going to go up to a baby who's "innocent" and ask him or her the meaning of life, but that "innocent" baby could very well teach you valuable things ABOUT life, and that in turn, can create wisdom.

Answer 3

I agree that the context of the question would need a clarification to find the answer that you seek. In one context, which I personally believe, wisdom is not measured by knowledge, but by your understanding of the knowledge you have. For example, wisdom is knowing what you know and understanding that you do not hold all information on the subject. Socrates was said to be the wisest man because he believed he knew nothing. Because he understood that he really didn't know anything but only had ideas, that gave him wisdom. This means that wisdom and knowledge do not have to exist together. That is what intelligence is. If that is the way wisdom is measured, then it is very possible in all instances to be wise and innocent(ignorant) at the same time. It also makes it possible, again in all instances, to be wise and innocent(free from moral wrongings) at the same time as well. It does not mean that all wise people are innocent or vise versa, but it does mean that the possibility exists.

Answer 4

Your question has several answers, because you have not provided a context for it.

In general it's possible to be innocent and wise at the same time. It's possible to be innocent in one respect, and to be wise in another.

But more specifically if by innocent you mean ignorant (one of the many meanings of the word 'innocent'), and by wise you mean learned (one of the meanings of the word 'wise'), and you mean both to the same subject (not ignorant to one thing and wise to another), then no it's not possible to be wise to something and to be ignorant of it at the same time.

The word 'innocent' has many similar meanings, such as to not be guilty or to be free from moral wrong. Which can either be taken to mean that they have not done anything wrong themselves (innocent), but know of the right and wrong (wise), but 'innocent' could also be taken to mean that they have never been wronged or have caused wrong (free of moral wrongs), and so can not know of right and wrong.

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I think some here may be confusing wisdom and intuition. While they do overlap, intuition requires no prior knowledge/experience on a subject, while wisdom does. For example, a child who has never seen rain before may be afraid of it and avoid it, while a wise old man will avoid it because he knows he will get wet and maybe catch a cold.

Answer 5

At a first glance your question appears to be asking for a comparison between ignorance and wisdom instead of 'innocence' and wisdom. If by 'innocence' you mean ignorance since the knowledge in some contexts is considered to be the 'forbidden fruit' and therefore ignorance can be synonymous to innocence. Knowledge gives us self-awareness and our ability to choose from a range of possible courses of action and therefore once knowledgeable we are responsible. It is the betrayal of our responsibility that makes us entitled to any type of reproach or punishment. Without any such faculty as knowledge we can be ignorant, or 'innocent and wise at the same time - as for example we would have been in the paradise in a state of total obedience to God.

In my personal opinion ignorance that is self-assumed does not free a person from the responsibilities that he is entitled to for the purposes of his well-being, and the well-being of those who he come in contact with. The ultimate of the wisdom is to use all that we have for the purpose of good of mankind.

Answer 6

Wisdom is to have an insight into life, closed to lesser mortals, it is not dependent upon experience.

Someone can develop wisdom through life's experiences but it is not mandatory, because someone else may be ignorant of life's trials and tribulations, such as a child, but there can still be an inherent wisdom in that person.

A good example is Dustin Hoffman's character in the film 'Rainman,' he had autism which sheltered him from the brutality and selfishness of life, but wisdom he definitely had.

Answer 7

Not regarding the same thing. Wisdom entails intutive learning from experience, innocence entails being a virgin to an experience.

Answer 8

OF COURSE YOU CAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wisdom is something you gain, innocence is what you are brought into this world with. The two can sit together easily, ie, a baby becomes mobile and hurts themselves on a piece of furniture, they gain the wisdom of knowing to avoid that again whilst retaining their innocence.
Quite a 'lame' reflection I know, but my brain hurts!

Answer 9

Absolutely. Good and Evil are a similar comparison. It depends which side of the table you are sitting at any particular time. It's all in constant flux.

Answer 10

Yes
I have only my own experiences to go on and they may be from a small area of expertise. The typical big fish in a small pond syndrome.

Answer 11

Yes. Sometimes children make simple brilliant observations but are very innocent in life.