I think Midgley's critique of Dawkins is pretty pertinent. Personally, my view is that wisdom goes beyond intelligence and knowledge, although they are components of it. I would regard it as a dynamic state arising from the creative continuous interchange of intelligence, knowledge, experience and emotional and moral maturity. I'd therefore put forward Nelson Mandela as an excellent example of a wise man (and, in doing so, belatedly wish him a happy birthday :-))
Francis On 20 Jul., 18:41, ornamentalmind <[email protected]> wrote: > Many would posit that Dawkins is wise. Others, not so much. Take Mary > Midgley, is her view as wise, less wise or more wise than that of > Dawkins? How one answers this question I think will flesh out the > issue somewhat. > > http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/apr/20/religion-p... > > On Jul 20, 8:14 am, deripsni <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > I would not consider this statement as a collection of 'truths'. I > > would say that some humans have these 'traits', and others do not. > > Also, I would say wisdom may be partially a by-product of high moral > > standard, but not actually a moral trait. One may be morally sound, > > but not necessarily wise, from my experience. > > > On Jul 20, 10:38 am, Slip Disc <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Confucius declared..... "Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three > > > universally recognized moral qualities of men". > > > > Would these be the truths that apply to everyone in some way? > > > > On Jul 20, 8:59 am, Molly Brogan <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Truth, yes, but not relative truth, or the truth as you see it which > > > > is different than the truth as I see it. Application of this will > > > > indeed create winners and losers. However, there are truths that > > > > apply to everyone and can be applied wisdom that allows everyone to > > > > win in some way. > > > > > On Jul 20, 5:29 am, Slip Disc <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > An attempt to define wisdom can result in various conceptions. > > > > > However, the side affects of wisdom do not alter that which wisdom > > > > > is. Wisdom may not always be helpful to all. Sometimes wisdom can > > > > > inflict pain on some in a decisive moment that considers the benefit > > > > > of the whole. Helpfulness and hindrance are dimensions of wisdom but > > > > > they do not define wisdom. The Judgment of Solomon demonstrates how > > > > > wisdom, while divining truth, had both a positive and negative effect, > > > > > one must gain while the other must lose. I think there is a fixed > > > > > quality of wisdom, that being truth. > > > > > > On Jul 20, 12:06 am, Vamadevananda <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > " Wisdom then, is, ultimately, the ability to provide answers to > > > > > > dilemma, provide insight beyond the obvious and present a clear > > > > > > perspective of a conundrum." > > > > > > > Yes, Slip ! But, just a little more ... the helpfulness dimension > > > > > > of > > > > > > wisdom. I believe, like beauty, wisdom is what it does to me : at my > > > > > > need to decide and act, to be filled with feeling / emotion that > > > > > > strengthens me, to think positively about the future from the > > > > > > situation I am in, to know clearly, and to be able to trust myself > > > > > > ... > > > > > > my knowledge, my thoughts, my feeling, my decision and my action. > > > > > > > Likewise, would wisdom affect whosoever receives it. > > > > > > > On Jul 20, 5:33 am, Slip Disc <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > > I'm suggesting that wisdom is the ability to impart information > > > > > > > ordinarily unknown to an individual or a group. The information > > > > > > > is > > > > > > > based on knowledge and experience gained through living, > > > > > > > meditation > > > > > > > and clairvoyance or an innate sixth sense. Wisdom and logic are > > > > > > > intertwined as the acquired knowledge must be sorted, > > > > > > > rationalized and > > > > > > > compartmentalized in order to be presented as being valid. > > > > > > > Wisdom is > > > > > > > only useful within correlating situations. Wisdom then, is, > > > > > > > ultimately, the ability to provide answers to dilemma, provide > > > > > > > insight > > > > > > > beyond the obvious and present a clear perspective of a conundrum. > > > > > > > I'm thinking that being wise is only the opposite of being > > > > > > > ignorant. > > > > > > > As I said before, the moron is a genius around a group of idiots, > > > > > > > so > > > > > > > even a moron can exhibit traits of wisdom. Just some thoughts.- > > > > > > > Hide quoted text - > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Minds-Eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
