What Is Wisdom?

Introduction: What is Wisdom?

When the question, "What is Wisdom?" is asked, philosopher's always have a view from the question. Each philosopher has their own interpretation of what wisdom is. But, what does wisdom really mean? Is it knowledge, science, or just common sense? I believe it is a mixture of all these things and more. There are many books written on the subject; from the dictionary, which defines it, to the Bible and Socrates. Webster's New World Dictionary defines the word wisdom as "the quality of being wise; power of judging rightly and following the soundest course of action, based on knowledge, experience, understanding, etc.; good judgment; sagacity (penetrating intelligence and sound judgment)". In this paper, I will present my interpretation of one instance of how wisdom is obtained and hopefully passed on.

Problem: Why is wisdom hard to define?

I perceive wisdom as the ability to make the best decision or to select the best course of action according to the current situation with respect to prior similar situations and their outcomes. Wisdom is what I like to call acquired knowledge over time and experience. Wisdom is often associated with formal education. On the other hand, you may not be formally educated, but still considered wise. Daniel Kolak, the author of Lovers and Wisdom and a philosopher, has defined wisdom, as knowing the extent of your knowledge, and able to apply it as rationally and morally. Kolak has suggested that the interpretation from the definition is that the more you know the more wise you become as a person. Wisdom might mean having a wise attitude and