[mkirkpatrick]

Wisdom is the flow of truth that is aligned with intuitive understanding,and is by nature
naturally inclusive,and joins by wholly seeing the apparent seperate parts,knowledge on
its own has none of these.


regards michael.

[r.p.bibra]

Pl. don’t mess up local conventions---forced or otherwise---with finest human values, which are embodied with the innate nature of human life. Whereas the former are outward behavioral traits of one particular race, region or religion and are susceptible to local conditions of caste, creed, or cultural influences, the latter are related to inner-self (the inner evaluator), and are not subject to change. Their intrinsic values remain the same, whatever the caste, colors or religions of the regions are. These are truth, righteousness, love, peace, non-violence. Purity of thought, word and deed, though individual, but their message is universal. Compassion, sacrifice, humility and, perseverance; virtuous life and nobility of character; fear of sin and remembering God are not high profile adjectives. These are necessary tools with which one keeps ones senses and mind within bonds and lead them Godward. The definition of wisdom has been diluted to very low grade. Now it is the sum-total of our intellectual acumen---read academic degrees, but we are fairly familiar with the kind of junk we have been hoarding into our brains in the name of knowledge. (By the way, the ls. did not use the words ‘lifetime achievements!). If the purpose of wisdom is not to seek and realize Truth, then definitely it has lost its meaning and thus has deviated from its assigned path. If a philosopher is not living a life of truth, by truth and for truth, s/he is a theoretician not a teacher of truth/phil. With regards. ls

[mkirkpatrick]

Thanks Ls for your comments,wisdom is knowledge that has been coated with experience
and understanding,without this coating knowledge can seem stark and unfriendly.

It can at times be difficult to detect the difference,but as one understands the inner
workings of being the differences become more apparent.



regards michael.

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by r.p.bibra

These are truth, righteousness, love, peace, non-violence. Purity of thought, word and deed, though individual, but their message is universal. Compassion, sacrifice, humility and, perseverance; virtuous life and nobility of character; fear of sin and remembering God ... are necessary tools with which one keeps ones senses and mind within bonds and lead them Godward.

These are good, and most of them are self-explanatory. I agree with your statement that the definition of wisdom has been so diluted that the vitality of the word has been lost. I wonder if "virtue" has also been diluted in much the same manner, and is also subject to influence by local conventions.

[mkirkpatrick]

For me as I previously mentioned on this thread,the beginning of wisdom is in accepting
your own ignorance,recognizing that there is much to learn and to understand.

I spent many years counselling those with severe alcohol and drug dependencies,
in all that I experienced doing this,was the feedback from those who said that,when
they felt understood,it opened up a space for them to be able to "take-stock" and
stop using.Knowledge alone was no use to them,they wanted to be understood and
accepted as an equal.

These experiences taught me the difference between knowledge and wisdom.


regards michael.

[baudrunner]

Hello Elizabeth, and welcome to the quest for the Theory of Everything.

Is it wise to presume that such a theory can possibly exist? While the quest for more knowledge of the properties and useful applications of radium had wise intentions yet the wisdom of the folly of that pursuit would have precluded any continued investigation, something that we learned because the engagement therein ultimately killed its discoverers. One might say that hindsight is the most wise of reflections, and yet...

Does wisdom preclude cynicism? I would say yes, especially in a world filled with the temptations to lead one away from it so that one acquires it. Wisdom might be proportional to knowledge and therefore she who has the most knowledge is the most wise. But insomuch as intelligence is not so much determined by the ability to store and retrieve data but by the degree of the processing of that information so knowledge might not necessarily be proportional to wisdom.

What is certain is that wisdom implies intelligence. Not venturing forth because of the absence of all the knowledge of an experience beforehand is wise. But this does not lead us to a more complete understanding of the experience, it only keeps us alive longer. As to whether it is wise to dwell in ignorance and live a long life or to bravely go where no man has gone before and be damaged by the process but in that process acquire learning from the greatest teacher of them all - experience - is a matter of subjective reasoning.

Does it matter how long we live? Is it necessarily wise to care?

[Elizabeth]

Ah, Baudrunner - thank you for posing some questions - I enjoy that.

You asked if it is wise to presume such a theory exists, and I propose that this would depend on the nature of the individual presuming. Some require such a presumption to supply motivation to look for it - and in that case such a presumption could be wise. Some, if they presume something to be, may falsely see their goal. If a presumption could skew the analytical features in an individual, than the presumption would be unwise. I suspect that a wise person could do away with presumptions and still make an effective TOE quest.

I agree that cynicism is not wise, but there is also limited wisdom in optimism. There are uses for each - but IMO only realism is wise.

I also agree that one must be judicial about the path to wisdom, as the path does kill and maim unsuitable pilgrims. Questioning whether or not it is worth the risk should be done, but a judicious answer lies in a realistic assessment of the pilgrim.

Caring how long we live or even assessing whether or not it matters is only relevant to the values and goals at hand. Obsessing over our lifespan or having a strong attachment to something that may be personally unrealistic sounds to me like a distraction from higher goals, and therefore unwise. A lack of appropriate self care, however, would be irresponsible.

[Lloyd Gillespie]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth

Ah, Baudrunner - thank you for posing some questions - I enjoy that.

You asked if it is wise to presume such a theory exists, and I propose that this would depend on the nature of the individual presuming. Some require such a presumption to supply motivation to look for it - and in that case such a presumption could be wise. Some, if they presume something to be, may falsely see their goal. If a presumption could skew the analytical features in an individual, than the presumption would be unwise. I suspect that a wise person could do away with presumptions and still make an effective TOE quest.

I agree that cynicism is not wise, but there is also limited wisdom in optimism. There are uses for each - but IMO only realism is wise.

I also agree that one must be judicial about the path to wisdom, as the path does kill and maim unsuitable pilgrims. Questioning whether or not it is worth the risk should be done, but a judicious answer lies in a realistic assessment of the pilgrim.

Caring how long we live or even assessing whether or not it matters is only relevant to the values and goals at hand. Obsessing over our lifespan or having a strong attachment to something that may be personally unrealistic sounds to me like a distraction from higher goals, and therefore unwise. A lack of appropriate self care, however, would be irresponsible.

Hi Elizabeth, I am only going to paraphrase authors from the past. We recognize wisdom when we see our perception of, truth and reality, in self-reflective equilibrium with itself. I know it's cold and old, but I think still quite valid...

Regards,
Lloyd