What should I study in order to become as wise as I can?

Answer 1

Philosophy, the Liberal Arts, and Humanities

Philosophy will teach you to think with an open mind and to explore the world around you critically.

Liberal Arts will provide you with a sufficient understanding of the basics of many fields so that you can relate each to the other and so that you can select what will become your passion.

Humanities will teach you to see and appreciate beauty in the world around you and to possibly contribute to it.

A foundation in these will prepare you to go out and gather experiences of value, particularly peak experiences. It is through gathering peak experiences that we reach self-actualization and "wisdom".

Understand that we don't study to become wise, nor do we gather experiences for that purpose. We do this to become the achieved self, the self-actualized self has become "wise" over time as a secondary result.

Many people will disagree with me as this plan doesn't prepare you for a job. Those miss the point that a job is not the ultimate purpose or value of education or experience.

Answer 2

Study is not directly related to wisdom and you cannot acquire wisdom by study.

Having said that, you may consider it advantageous to practice some wisdom in choosing a subject to study. The wise choice for you will mostly depend on your own interests, your capabilities and your wishes and priorities for what to make of your life. However their subject of study usually strongly influences most people's lives but at the very time when most have to make the choice they have little awareness of what the choices really mean and the schools offer little guidance.

You may also consider it wise to recognise that, sooner or later, most people want to make lots of money (nice house, good schooling for the kids etc.) to the extent that they feel unfulfilled and even unhappy if they fail to do so (whatever failure may be). However they often do not realise this at the time of choosing a subject to study - it hits them later.

Life's experiences will help you acquire wisdom and in particular your contacts with other people. More ambitious choices of study and career will certainly bring you into contact with brighter and more demanding (not necessarily wiser) people and present you with higher challenges to your wisdom

With all that in mind and not knowing either your inclinations or ability here are a few suggestions:

Medicine or dentistry- if you want to help people and don't mind working very hard and long hours. If you're less motivated to study then physiotherapy, radiology or nursing are (less lucrative) alternatives

Law - will give you a good general view of how your society works and that knowledge will provide a highly practical basis for many career directions you might like to try.

Banking, accounting, commerce. If you want to make money go where the money is but be prepared for long hours and tough competition. Only the few top jobs carry the really big pay checks.

Science and Technology. If you're inclined, gives you plenty of scope for challenges, further development and changes in career direction as you progress but you'd do well to combine it with some accounting qualification if you're aiming high on the "success" scale.

Optics. Well paid, plenty of contact with "real" people, not so technically demanding as say physics. Working hours maybe not out of site and you can relatively easily have your own business (a great practical wisdom-maker).

Philosophy would seem to be a top choice but by and large the discipline is disappointing and has failed to give us much direction. I think psychology would be a more practical provider of a wisdom base and might be your best choice if the cash is really not going to be your major concern.

Many other study choices will depend even more strongly on your own inclinations (fashion, photography, sport, ...) so it's difficult to comment.

Finally your best source of wisdom will be your dealings with other people so go where that is most intense and most demanding and always be highly self-critical.

Bramble.

Answer 3

You can become a habitual student but you have to experience the world out side of the school walls and learn to deal with the world out there, to really become educated.

You first have to have a curious nature and the need to know at least something about everything.

I had associates that I worked with, who had all sorts of diplomas and certificates (my name for them are sheep skins) hanging on their wall.

The were educated to the fullest but depended on me to advise them.

Some were like talking to a stump.

I have a poem that I have framed for all to see when they enter my home and I would like to share it with you.

"Never mistake knowledge for wisdom,
one helps you make a living,
the other helps you make a life".
James Oppenheim

Hope this answer is of help to you.

One more thing.

You must enjoy being with just yourself and THINK.

Answer 4

For over-all wisdom in all aspects of life study the Bible. Especially the Proverbs and Song of Solomon.

Answer 5

Human nature.

Answer 6

that depends. what do you wnt to become wise in? everything? then study everything

Answer 7

retardation