Are people in modern times wiser than people in the past and why?

Answer 1

The Wikipedia definition of wisdom is: "Wisdom is the ability, developed through experience, insight and reflection, to discern truth and exercise good judgment." There have been wise people through the ages, and still are, but no, all in all, people are not wiser now. Age does not automatically make a person wise, and all young people are not "unwise". Some people just have the ability to use insight and reflection, and see what is right. Few people can really learn it, if it isn't there. The present world with its hectic ways does not encourage wise thinking.

Answer 2

I think the word WISE is likely inaccurate in what you may be asking.

Wisdom is the end result in the process of education, knowledge retained, and wisdom in how we use what we learn. Perhaps it isn't strictly and END however as one with wisdom may be more open to continued Enlightenment.

I find it also perhaps a misnomer due to evolution on all levels.

Certainly we have technology and other "Things" evolving at an exponential rate, but does that strictly create "wisdom?" In one valid example of that one thing (technology) I have to believe A. Einstein is rubbing his temples with a serious headache saying "ACH what have I done?", Think about it!

Were the ancients LESS Wise, simply because ignorance is only another part of an evolutionary process that nudges curiosity, and questioning; exploring, discovering, learning, and possible wisdom at some end point?

Steven Wolf

Answer 3

No, I don't believe so. People in the olden times, managed to survive and bring us generation forth without the help of advanced technology and philosophical thoughts to seek out truth and reality of our existence. They presented the world with their famous inventions, mathematical solutions , and inspiring philosophical thoughts in which we now absorb and derive our inquisitive knowledge and acquired knowledge from. They were wise enough to develop their bright ideas for all they know, have paved way to the advancement of the lives of the human kind. Too bad that some people in our present time utilize this borrowed knowledge for wickedness.

Answer 4

yep modern people are definitely wiser ......more educated, more wealthy,more knowledge on health and fitness, more facilities to research subjects, more up to date news from around the world and the ability to find it at ones finger tips. Also as day to day living becomes easier with modern equipment more time to learn more about all subjects.

Answer 5

I guess small is right.
In the past things used to be one at a time. This doesn't mean that today when things happen faster that it use to, we are wiser just because that. Probably they had to work much harder to lead us at where we are today.

Answer 6

it depends on what you mean by wise. In my opinion, people in the past were wiser because they had more free time to think.
all great scientists (in most fields) lived in the past.

Answer 7

In my view, the test of wisdom lies in the level of happiness... on that basis, I believe that the modern people are more knowledgeable but less wise than those of the past.... generation after generation, we are accumulating and coding more and more knowledge, but that does not seem to lead us to any higher level of happiness... on the contrary, our arrogance regarding our enhanced knowledge actually leads to more unhappiness than before. Perhaps, this is the nature's balancing... if you get more knowledge, you will lose some wisdom... PERHAPS !!!

Answer 8

I would have to agree with "small" (1st answerer) Couldn't have said it better.