Wisdom: A Highly Overrated Concept

10 January 2008 3 Comments

I’ve been thinking a lot about wisdom lately. I haven’t really gained much wisdom thinking about wisdom. But, I have come to a wise conclusion about wisdom: Wisdom is overrated. Wisdom usually comes at the expense of some harsh life lessons. Accumulate enough wisdom, and you’ve probably been through some rough times. Accumulate too much wisdom, and then everybody wants to come to you for answers. I guess that’s why I believe in one singular God. There can’t possibly be more than one being that would want to answer all those questions.

Consider the following from Wikipedia: (Okay, I know Wikipedia has serious flaws, but it works for this illustration.)

Wisdom, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is defined as “1 a: Accumulated pillows or scientific learning : knowledge; b: Ability to discern inner qualities and relationships : insight; c: Good sense : judgment d: Generally accepted belief <challenges what has become accepted wisdom among many historians — Robert Darnton>. d: A wise attitude, belief, or course of action. e: The teachings of the ancient wise men”.

Only senses b() and (c) above are related to intelligence, though are clearly distinct from it. Wisdom is often considered to be a trait that can be developed by experience, but not taught.

That last sentence defines the problem of wisdom: it can only be developed by experience. Sure we try to teach wisdom. The Bible has a whole book devoted to it(Proverbs) . It’s just that we never seem to get it. Wisdom has to be learned.

Wisdom prevents people from doing stupid things. So, as a writer, I appreciate the lack of wisdom in the world. It gives me plenty of material to write about. (See yesterday’s post) But, the lack of wisdom also prevents us from getting along (See the Middle East).

Feel free to post comments about wisdom. Either wisdom you gained or when a little more might have helped. Mostly, I think I needed the wisdom I have now 20 years ago. Even 5 years ago. Or before I started typing tonight.

Carry on, Citizens!

About The Author
Jeff Stanger is an author, talk show host, professional fundraiser, and the answer to several obscure trivia questions. He writes for food and occasionally for spite.

3 Comments »

matt said:

Wisdom is the result of experience;
experience is the result of a lack of wisdom.

# 11 January 2008 at 9:07 am

Brian said:

I would say that wisdom itself is most often learned, but not always through your own mistakes or experiences.

Case in point: you wouldn’t have to go to a bar or liquor store in the wee hours of the morning to know that might not be to wisest decision you could make. (Unless of course you are a Pacer and even after three instances within about a year and finally getting shot at, you *might* still not be wise enough to stay away.)

So that begs to ask other questions. Where is the line drawn between wisdom and common sense? “Book smarts” vs. “street smarts”? And do wisdom and intelligence actually correlate with each other? I think that is something volumes could be written on without a true non-biased conclusion being came to. (I don’t even dare to touch that with a ten foot pole…as that might not be wise for my well being to do so.)

So I guess we can sit back, watch the “news” and keep scratching our heads while asking ourselves, “what is wrong with you people?” As the Tootsie Roll Pops slogan goes, “the world may never know”.

# 11 January 2008 at 9:09 am

Katie J. said:

I think wisdom is able to draw more from a situation (experience) than the “basic”. For example, say you say the wrong thing to a particular person and it creates a huge argument. “Common sense” would be not saying that particular thing to that particular person ever again, but “wisdom” would be watching what you say (and how you say it) with everyone from now on.

And, yeah, I too wish there were an easier way to gain wisdom than experience.

# 29 February 2008 at 5:35 pm