What is wisdom?

Question

How is it different from “common sense”?

Wow really cool answers. You have all given me something to meditate on today. Thanks!

Answer 1

If I had the answer to your question Pablito, I would be a very wise man. However, I could be flippant and say it is one of the four teeth at each end of your mouth, but that would not be wise. Wisdom is learning, sometimes the hard way, often from other people who possess it. It can be taught but it cannot be bought. It is knowledge in its purest essence and there is only one way to gain knowledge, listen and learn. An owl is reputed to be the wisest bird of all: read on:

The wise old owl, lived up in a tree,
The more he saw, the less he spoke,
The less he spoke, the more he heard,
So why can't we be like that bird....................

Answer 2

According to the bible; the label Wisdom Literature is applied to a particular genre found in the Old Testament. Usually the books of Proverbs, Job and Ecclesiastes are included in this genre. Some scholars also add in Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) and the Wisdom of Solomon, two apocryphal works.

These books are separated into their own genre because they are alien to the rest of the material in the Old Testament. They lack discussions about the promises to the patriarchs, the covenant with God, the central purpose of Jerusalem, etc. These book describe an almost humanistic perspective on knowledge, humanity and community. Sometimes wisdom was identified with "intelligence," but more often it was portrayed as a particular tradition within Judaism - either one received directly from God or one developed through education.

Answer 3

For me I think wisdom has to be attached to some form of confidence, maybe a surety in your decision also a genuine openness that helps you progress. I often wonder since wisdom and its definition is so individual that the only difference is that if you are truly wise you have the confidence of your opinion coupled with the fact that you are open and receptive to arguments against it?
Common sense I think is more the ability to change and adapt to your surroundings.
All I know is you my little friend are very wise!

Answer 4

Although I am not a Christian, I do love The Serenity Prayer written by Reinhold Niebuhr.

"God,
Give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other."

This shows, in my humble opinion, that wisdom is something that comes from experience. But experience isn't enough. There must also be the ability to look at the things that have taken place and come to an enlightened conclusion.

Answer 5

I think that wisdom is a more educated common sense. Not necessarily academically, although many surely are, but worldly as well. Most of us strive for wisdom. I do, but I have not fully achieved it yet.

Answer 6

Hola Pablito: I guess that "wisdom" ( ha ha) is to realize how little we actually know, but that we are convinced is the absolute truth. To step back from that apparent truth is very humbling. To me "common sense" is wisdom by another name; just doing the best you can with what you've got.

Answer 7

Wisdom is the acquisition of knowledge and understanding of people, of what is true and right in life and conduct, and showing sound judgment when applying such knowledge.

Edit: I agree with Bob Loblaw. Common sense is not treating people in the manner that Jack D. chooses to treat you.

Answer 8

Wisdom, unlike common sense, requires effort to acquire, and can often pe painful to to accept, since at it's foundation wisdom is truth, and the truth often hurts.

Answer 9

Wisdom is knowledge you can offer to others that you earned from experience.

Common sense is knowing to not be like Jack D

Answer 10

It takes "common sense" to get out of any problem.
It takes wisdom , not to get into it in the first place