Hello,
Thank you for your interesting question.
My trusty Oxford English dictionary defines wisdom as “being wise,
soundness of judgment,” and also defines the word wise as “having [an
individual possessing] knowledge.”
(Oxford University Press, 4th Edition 1994)
The common sense definition for wisdom is based largely on the above
definition. We generally think of someone who is wise (when not using
the slang for the word ‘wise’ as in wise-guy) as having knowledge in
various fields and generally someone with good sound judgment.
Generally people tend to think that wisdom comes with age, a young
person is often said to be a genius or to be smart, and not usually
described as being wise.
From a religious point of view wisdom can be defined as: “the exercise
of sound judgment either in avoiding evils or attempting good.” Quote
from: http://logosresourcepages.org/despising.htm
This shows again that the common sense definition for wisdom is using
knowledge to make good decisions.
Another resource reaffirms what has been demonstrated so far defining
wisdom as "the ability to make sound choices, good decisions. The best
decision. Wisdom is intelligence shaped by experience. Information
softened by understanding." (Jerry Ortiz y Pino as quoted by):
The Wisdom Page
http://www.cop.com/wisdompg.html
Let us now move on to philosophy and the differences from the common
sense definition and the philosophical definition: Philosophy itself
can be defined as “love of wisdom.”
“Good judgment with respect to abstract truth or theoretical matters
(in contrast to prudence in concrete, practical affairs). For Plato,
wisdom is the virtue appropriate to the rational soul, and for
Aristotle, it is the highest intellectual virtue.”
Source: http://www.philosophypages.com/dy/w9.htm#wisdom
From this definition you will see a slight deviation from the common
sense definition of our term. Whereas the common sense definitions
define wisdom as being more “the exercise of sound judgment,” in
philosophy we tend to move more to the abstract and theoretical. The
ability to argue your views, the ability to come up with theories
using logic would apply better and be more important in philosophical
definitions. It is no longer necessary to be practical to be wise, for
a philosopher who thinks outside the box (like Aristotle and Socrates)
are more in line with the academic philosophical version of the word.
A satirical definition of wisdom as it applies to philosophy published
in the book “The Philosophical Lexicon,” is “A state of clarity and
understanding so complete and exhaustive, yet also so detailed and
complex, as to be totally incommunicable.” (Daniel Dennett as quoted
by):
http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~philos/undergrad/text/nytimes_about_philosophy.html
Whereas in philosophy the ability to clearly understand complex
abstract topics is defined as wisdom, the common sense definition
deals more with using knowledge (in a useful way) to make good sound
judgments.
I also want to mention that you are not likely to find any two
philosophers who completely agree on a definition of wisdom (or who
agree on anything for that matter!). Philosophers are known for having
their own strong opinions on various subjects, but the main difference
between common sense and philosophical definitions is as outlined
above.
To give you a taste of two distinct philosophical definitions consider
these:
“The word "philosophy" means the study of wisdom, and by "wisdom" is
meant not only prudence in everyday affairs, but also a perfect
knowledge of all the things that mankind is capable of knowing, both
for the conduct of life and the preservation of health and the
discovery of all manner of skills.” (Michel de Montaigne)
What is Philosophy?
http://faculty.ccri.cc.ri.us/paleclerc/intro/what_is_philosophy1.shtml
“What is wisdom? As Phil Washburn points out in his book Philosophical
Dilemmas: Wisdom is a correct worldview. A worldview is a set of
answers to questions about the most general and fundamental features
of the world and our experience of it. At least in one sense of the
word, philosophy is the effort to achieve answers to the following
fundamental, momentous, and universal questions.”
A Concise Introduction to Philosophy
http://www.lakecity.cc.fl.us/courses/tmoses/aconintrophil.htm
I hope this is the answer you were looking for. If you have any
questions or need clarifications, I will be happy to further assist
you.
tisme-ga
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