Words of Wisdom

Who exactly are we supposed to call "the wise ones" here?😕 😕

To goes out to everyone who sees things my way.😁

And by the way, it’s "whom," not "who." That’s just basic grammar, though knowing the rule doesn't necessarily mean you have any actual wisdom.

Here’s a little bit of my own narcissism for you:
A wise person is one who understands, rather than one who simply knows things.😉

SVJESTAN said:WHO SHOULD WE ACTUALLY LABEL AS "WISE"?😕 😕

😕 The person who actually kicks off a thread by asking WHO we should... etcetera...😉

Otherwise, it’s probably just those folks capable of taking their own life lessons and actually applying them to whatever mess they find themselves in, aiming for the most logical outcome.

There aren't many of them, though; people tend to be remarkably wise when they're busy judging everyone else's mistakes.🙂

I’ve always felt that truly wise individuals are those who possess the ability to take their own knowledge and find meaningful, effective ways to actually put it to use in the real world... 🙂

To act rightly and to possess wisdom are one and the same. - M. Aurelius

Atlantic, I’m really glad you finally cleared up what your signature actually means. Honestly—you’re one of my favorites on here.
👍

I'm curious about how various philosophical and religious traditions interpret the concept of wisdom. I can't recall if this discussion has been had here before, but in my view, it remains one of the most fundamental questions in any philosophical debate.😉

Wisdom is essentially a combination of intellect and spiritual fortitude—though there is a distinction to be made. You acquire intellect through raw talent or life experience, but true spiritual strength? That only comes from unearthing the subconscious depths within yourself.

The path toward wisdom invariably begins with sorrow.

Miller said:Wisdom is a blend of intellect and spiritual depth. While intelligence is something you sharpen through experience or raw talent, true spiritual strength comes from tapping into your own subconscious.

The road to wisdom usually starts with heartbreak.

I disagree!
Wisdom is simply what you gather by living life and observing the world around you.
Think of it as practical knowledge put into action!

Miller said:Wisdom starts with sorrow.

So does that mean I actually have a shot at becoming wise? 😕
😢 You already are.

What exactly is wisdom? I’m honestly not sure. Right now, the only thing that comes to mind is that nagging, humbling realization of just how little I actually know...

Real wisdom? It's knowing exactly when to shut your trap...

I am of the opinion that wisdom has absolutely nothing to do with observing the world—that is to say, the external reality—but rather concerns the internal landscape: the profound realization of one's own unconscious thoughts.

If we were to apply empirical knowledge to this, we would essentially be embarking on a formal thesis discussion. Perhaps such an argument could hold water if one were to categorize knowledge into "internal" and "external" domains and then attempt to synthesize them, but I would have to exert a significant amount of mental effort to formulate a proper rebuttal to that proposition! And frankly? I have no time for it!

The concept of "awareness of one’s own ignorance" might actually serve as the antithesis to my point—it is, in essence, an awareness of one’s own unconsciousness, a gradual process of transcending or uncovering the true self. It is through this that one truly attains consciousness regarding what they are not. That might be viewed as a negative definition, yet the prompt specifically calls for a positive one, does it not?

I suspect that sorrow plays a monumental role in this journey, or at the very least, marks its inception. However, I am referring to that genuine, soul-crushing sorrow that arises during the moment of self-discovery—the moment when one finally confronts their own unconscious impulses and hidden ideas.

obelix said:Wisdom is really just the sum of all those life lessons you actually put into practice. You pick it up through lived experience; it’s got nothing to do with how much schooling you had or how many facts you've memorized.

Exactly,
you don't need a genius-level IQ to be wise, and you certainly don't need a PhD or some massive intellect to get it.

True, applying life philosophies in a practical sense makes perfect sense.
I also believe that wisdom isn't inherently tied to how much schooling someone has. It’s possible for naturally gifted individuals to reach profound insights and use them for the greater good, but for the rest of us who lack those innate predispositions, we probably need some training—or perhaps "practice" is a better word.
Furthermore, while life experience can certainly help, it isn't a guarantee. We all know people who have lived through a million different things yet still lack any real wisdom.
Some argue that wisdom is simply realizing one's own ignorance or grasping the inherent sadness of the human condition. However, if we've agreed that wisdom is supposed to be liberating, then merely recognizing our predicament won't cut it. I think we need actual skills and tools to figure out how to move past an unsatisfying state of being.
Illegals says a wise person knows when to stay silent. Perhaps it's more accurate to say a wise person knows when to hold their tongue and when to speak up with the right words.

If you look at it from a purely practical standpoint, wisdom is basically just experience in disguise. It’s funny—sometimes someone with tons of experience actually gives a much better answer than someone who hasn't lived through it yet. And honestly? That happens more often than not. Usually, wisdom belongs to the older generation who have already seen it all, so since I’m still pretty young myself... I’m not really looking to debate the whole concept of wisdom right now. I’d rather just do what young people do—have some fun! Catch ya later.

The great Zen master Sheg Yen once distilled the essence of Wisdom in a few sentences.
''Wisdom isn't some abstract concept, nor is it just experience. Wisdom is simply the absence of ego.''