A Reflection on the Nature of Wisdom

Khazaei, Z.

doi:10.58209/jpt.1.3.173

A Reflection on the Nature of Wisdom

Document Type : Original Research

Author

Z. Khazaei

Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Faculty of Theology, University of Qom, Qom, Iran

https://doi.org/10.58209/jpt.1.3.173

Abstract

Philosophers have defined wisdom in different ways. Most definitions refer to knowledge, but they do not agree that knowledge includes or is limited to both theoretical and practical knowledge. The definition of wisdom to understanding or to justified beliefs instead of justified true belief that is knowledge is another difference. In addition to all this, the definition of wisdom to virtue, due to its variety and complexity, is another thing that makes the definition of wisdom more difficult. Linking the discussion of wisdom with the characteristics of the sage in contemporary philosophical literature due to the various debates that have been made about the necessity of each of the components of knowledge and action further obscures the exact meaning of wisdom. While analyzing the various definitions offered by contemporary analytical philosophers on the nature of wisdom, the present article explains the relationship between wisdom and knowledge; knowledge as a necessary and sufficient condition for wisdom, a necessary but not sufficient condition, and neither necessary nor sufficient condition. Then, wisdom is considered an intellectual or epistemic virtue and a necessary condition for acquiring knowledge. After evaluation, it shows that although among the proposed states, the first state with special conditions can better express the definition of wisdom than the others, wisdom has a meaning beyond propositional knowledge. Finally, it emphasizes the importance and necessity of a more accurate explanation of this phenomenon.

Keywords

Theoretical Wisdom

Practical Wisdom

Theoretical Knowledge

Practical Knowledge

Intellectual Virtue

Subjects

Epistemology (Analytical)

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