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From: norm@chico.uucp (Norman E. Andrews [ MT 2C-402 9089575786 NC6241000 ])
Subject: Re: Wisdom...
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Date: Sun, 13 Nov 1994 19:14:52 GMT
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Bob Garth <bgarth@protree.com> On Sat, 12 Nov 1994 02:03:29 -0700 asked:

   Would anyone like to take a stab at defining what the word "wisdom"
   means?  I don't mean the dictionary definition, I mean, what it means
   to you individually.      -Bob

My view is that anyone, regardless of their intelligence or ability,
who consistently _exercises_ good judgement is wise.  Such wisdom is
not causeless, however.  It is the product of a person, within the
limits of his ability, _choosing_ to think, _choosing_ to integrate
his knowledge and keep his abstractions tied to reality.  Sometimes
it is wise to postpone acting or making a judgement until more
information is available or more thought and consideration have been
made.

So to achieve wisdom, one must learn how to consistently (of course
error is possible) make good judgements.  This leads to such questions
of value, method, principle and virtue.  I find that Ayn Rand's
philosophy of Objectivism is an excellent place to start in learning
about the philosophical underpinnings of wisdom.  And the best place to
start with Rand is with her psychological novel (The Fountainhead) and
her philosophical novel (Atlas Shrugged), for they show how theory
is related to practice, and how with the right moral code there is
no conflict between the moral and the practical.

Norm Andrews, n.e.andrews@att.com



