What's the real meaning of wisdom?

Question

A standard philosophical definition says that wisdom consists of making the best use of available knowledge. As with any decision, a wise decision may be made with incomplete information[citation needed]. The technical philosophical term for the opposite of wisdom is folly.[citation needed]

In his Metaphysics, Aristotle defines wisdom as knowledge of causes: why things exist in a particular fashion.

In addition to experience there are a variety of other avenues to gaining wisdom. For example, Freethinkers and others believe that wisdom may come from pure reason and perhaps experience, while others believe that it comes from intuition or spirituality.[citation needed]

Beginning with the ancient Greeks, European culture associates wisdom with virtue

Answer 1

Science has yet to define the meaning of wisdom in scientific terminology. I guess they require some type of clever or mathematical proof wisdom exists? Perhaps clever humans may not at this time be able to use their sophisticated minds to determine the meaning of wisdom, however a few clever people maybe able to understand the difference between a clever mind and a mind that can embody wisdom.

A clever mind possesses the ability to learn knowledge, skills, logic and reasoning, then to perform some or all of them in a brilliant, amazing manner, for good or evil deeds. Two examples of devilish cleverness are 9-11 and Enron. Both were conduced by very clever minds for evil deeds.. One followed religious ideology doctrines to legitimize their acts for their followers. The other found greed and power was all they required, so they used their cleverness to rob millions of innocent people. Many other lesser known detrimental deeds are performed daily all around the world by cunning and conniving cleverness.


On the other side of the coin, two examples of a clever mind are a conjurer who can perform amazing tricks and a person who can invent a computer or software that can change every day life for most people on earth. Both clever deeds are initially performed for the benefit of humanity, however, a conjurer only entertains, whereas the application and use of computers can be used for evil deeds by a clever minded person lacking wisdom.



Wisdom is the capacity to distinguish between authentic meaning and erroneous meaning, which translates into the adaptiveness to live joyfully in a constantly changing world. Wisdom feeds purity of thought and cannot ever be used for evil intent, for if it is attempted to be used with a persons cleverness for evil or unsound deeds, it ceases to be wisdom. Let's explore two examples of how wisdom can be misused, one in religion the other in science ...


The three main modern religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam have been around for a few thousand years. Many wise sayings are quoted on a daily basis from the Bible and Koran. They give a guidance on living a joyful life while helping other people to enjoy their lives. However, in the process of worshiping a God that gives unconditional love, somehow clever thinkers managed to indoctrinate hatred and fear into Gods messages. Where is the wisdom in fearing a God that gives unconditioned love? Surely, unconditional love that anyone has to fear is a paradoxical oxymoron that only a clever mind can dream up and get billions of people to believe it!.


The results are plain to see and history can vouch for the slaughter of millions of innocent people in Gods name. So, what started out as wisdom, distorts itself and turns into clever doctrines that still today, humbug and deceives clever, professional, academic and business people, all who go to houses of worship, praying to a God that long ago supposedly killed first born babies to free his chosen people, he loved so much that he had to put them into slavery to teach them a lesson?
So, the question on religion is ... who captured the wisdom in all three religions and where is it hidden? Could clever minds have the answer or does it take wisdom itself to figure it out!


Science is helping people to overcome sickness/disease and it is a noble deed. Wisdom in science has been used in many ways to determine the cause of illness. Cleverness is then employed to find new medications to treat the symptoms. For instance, when then Panama Canal was being built many people died of Malaria until one wise mind proved still water breeds insects that carry Malaria. He used his wisdom by observing nature at work. Clever people then found a drug to aid the bodies recovery from Malaria. When wisdom is combined with cleverness humanity goes from strength to strength and all is well.


Many clever people's recreation time is spent at seemingly enjoying themselves by drinking alcohol and eating foods that will induce fatal illness sometime in the future... The drug companies take advantage of the clever peoples lack of wisdom and advertise drugs with harmful side effects on TV and radio to brainwash them into asking their doctors to prescribe the harmful drugs...Where is the wisdom?


The education system teaches students how to read, write and add-up sums. It does not teach them how to apply wisdom with their education because wisdom cannot be taught by clever people... It can only be directed by wise people who will admit they cannot teach it. Wisdom's characteristics can contain, balance, insights, intuition, experience, spirituality, logic, reason, knowledge, skills, science, religion, prudence, judgments, ethics, morals, virtues, feelings, sensibility, however it is not governed, restricted or limited by any of them individually. It thrives on truth in intelligent minds and many times is thwarted and isolated in oblivion by intellectually programmed clever minds. It is said a wise tongue knows when to speak and when to stay silence. Unfortunately, for many clever people, their wisdom has a silent communication overwrought by a loud knowingness of sophisticated thought.


In essences wisdom has no academic or literal meaning, for like faith, a person knows it if they have it and if it is genuine wisdom it will steer them on a path of contented, absolute bliss, for every second they spend on earth. A person who receives wisdom in their thoughts can only guide by the example they set and the credibility of the life they live. By example, people with wisdom stand the test of time. Every baby on earth is born with wisdom dancing in every cell and molecule of their being. It can only be hidden by a clever mature mind that has forgotten the keys to wisdom's treasures .... La - De - Da!


"Wisdom is the capacity to distinguish between authentic meaning and erroneous meaning, which translates into the adaptiveness to live joyfully in a constantly changing world."

-- Michael Levy

cheers :)

Answer 2

I guess it depends on what you mean by "real meaning." You gave some real meanings in your question. It is actually the case that they have served as meanings for the word.

The standard philosophical definition is a good one.

By the way, Aristotle also said that wisdom is the correct use of knowledge.

The Oxford Dictionary of the English Language (complete, unabridged) ought to break it down rather well. It's the most authoritative, and the most massive.

There exist more ideas about wisdom than you have mentioned. None of this means that we do not know what the thing is. We made up the word, and we define it. We use it to refer to something meaningfully. Exactly how we define it evolves through time. That's ok.

Again, a good dictionary is a good guide. Legitimately so.

Answer 3

Wisdom, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is defined as the "1 a: Accumulated philosophic or scientific learning-knowledge; b: Ability to discern inner qualities and relationships-insight; c: Good sense-judgment d: Generally accepted belief . 2: A wise attitude, belief, or course of action. 3: The teachings of the ancient wise men".

Most psychologists regard wisdom as distinct from the cognitive abilities measured by standardized intelligence tests. Wisdom is often considered to be a trait that can be developed by experience, but not taught. When applied to practical matters, the term wisdom is synonymous with prudence. Some see wisdom as a quality that even a child, otherwise immature, may possess independent of experience or complete knowledge. The status of wisdom or prudence as a virtue is recognized in cultural, philosophical and religious sources. Some define wisdom in a utilitarian sense, as foreseeing consequences and acting to maximize the long-term common good.

As such, in general, wisdom is looked at his/her ideals and principles that govern all actions and decisions. Applications of personal wisdom include one's ethical and social guidelines in life that determines one’s unique style of personality, the particular nature of short and long-term goal(s) pursued in life (spiritual or materialistic for example), perspective on life, social attitudes, etc.

Answer 4

Wisdom is a matter of opinion. All leaders are considered to be wise by their followers. Yet look at how many bad ones we've had.
"Understanding" is a simpler concept. It is the act of standing "under" the tree of knowledge. This requires Humbleness. So I would say that Wisdom is the goal of understanding. Yet it is unreachable, more like a direction.

Answer 5

A student asked his teacher, "What is love?" The teacher said, "to get an answer to your question, go to the wheat field, get the biggest wheat grain, and come back." But the rule is - you can go through the field only once and cannot turn back to pick." The student went to the field, gone through the first row, and saw one big wheat grain. But he wondered....may be there is a bigger one else where. Then he saw a bigger one. But may be there is a still bigger one waiting.... Later, when he finished more than half of the wheat field, he realized that the wheat grains there are not as big as the previous one. He realized that he has missed the biggest one. So, he ended up the search and went back empty hand. The teacher told him, "That is love! If you keep looking for a better one, you could have missed the right person!" "Then, what is marriage?" the student asked. The teacher said, "to get an answer to your question, go to the same wheat field again, and get the biggest corn. Same rule as before!" The student went to the corn field. This time he is very careful not to repeat the previous mistake. When he reached the middle of the field, he picked one good sized corn. He felt satisfied, and came back. The teacher told him, "You have looked for one that is just good for you, instead of coming back empty handed. That is marriage!" "What is Friendship then?" the student asked. The teacher said, "in order to answer that question, go to the same field and choose the wheat that appears nice to you. The rule is is the same." The student went to the field. This time he is very careful. As he started scanning the field, he has picked many grains that suited his taste and come back to the teacher. The teacher told him, "You looked for one that is just nice for you, and did not look for the best. That is Friendship".

Answer 6

The Ancients were so wise that there society no longer exists. Our society is so wise that we adopted the ways and thinking of a civilization that killed itself.

"The best use" of knowledge is subjective.

We are so wise and full of wisdom that we pollute our own environment and make life for our offspring virtually impossible.

Any claims of wisdom are easily disputed.

Answer 7

I think wisdom grow with age..the older the people tell more facts and truth....
if you just based on books mentioned and never been through all the hard things and bad time... you will never know what is it actually all about.
In chinese, there is a phrase to describe this "zi shan tan bing" , which means you talk everything is logic, but it does not apply to real lives.

Answer 8

Can wisdom be being content with you knowledge and / or lack of knowledge?

Answer 9

woe I'm in the class room reading.j/k I like you ok I like long story short though that's why I'm in poll and survey.I know most of them but I just want to make it briefly.(sure)I can learn anything I want I got wings(sure)I'll look into it I don't have much time.

Answer 10

the ability to ask deep, well-thoughtout questions and thirst for knowledge, i know that's not a very decent answer, but that's what i've come up with. and that's what i believe.

Answer 11

wisdom is not only taking in Knowledge , but knowing how to use it,