Practical wisdom is a concept that has been around for over 2,400 years, with its roots tracing back to Ancient Greece. Aristotle, one of the most influential philosophers of all time, attempted to distinguish different kinds of knowledge and believed that practical wisdom was the highest intellectual virtue.
But what exactly is practical wisdom?
In this article, we will explore Aristotle’s definition of practical wisdom and the skills and attributes required to become practically wise. Join us as we delve into the world of philosophy and discover what it means to be truly wise in our everyday lives.
What Is Practical Wisdom According To Aristotle
According to Aristotle, practical wisdom is the ability to know what is good, right, or best in a particular set of circumstances. It involves making sound judgments and decisions based on experience, perception, an informed intellect, and deliberative skills.
One of the key components of practical wisdom is understanding the telos, or purpose, of a particular role or objective. Every person has a general telos of eudaimonia, or human flourishing, but each individual also has a unique telos based on their roles in life. For example, a teacher’s telos is to help students learn and enrich their minds to the best of their ability, while a janitor’s telos is to clean a building as thoroughly as possible.
Perception is also crucial to practical wisdom. In order to know how to act in a particular situation, we must be able to perceive and understand the circumstances before us. This involves considering the facts of the situation, its history, and how others feel about it.
An informed intellect is another important aspect of practical wisdom. Aristotle believed that understanding absolute truths was necessary in order to be practically wise. We must contemplate the nature of every virtue and vice in order to inform our intellect of these absolutes.
Experience is also essential for developing practical wisdom. Aristotle believed that practical wisdom could only be gained through experience and likened it to a skill like carpentry or masonry. The more decisions we make and experiences we have, the more practically wise we become.
Deliberation is another key component of practical wisdom. We must weigh both sides of an issue, examine the salient factors, and listen to our conscience in order to make sound judgments and decisions.
Finally, action is crucial for practical wisdom. It’s not enough to know what the wise thing to do is; we must actually take action and implement our decisions.
The Importance Of Practical Wisdom In Everyday Life
Practical wisdom is not just a theoretical concept, but an essential skill that can greatly benefit our everyday lives. It can help us make better decisions, navigate difficult situations, and ultimately lead a more fulfilling life.
One way to develop practical wisdom is by listening to others and being caring and loyal. This involves being empathetic and understanding towards others, which can help us make better decisions that take into account the needs and feelings of those around us.
Another important aspect of practical wisdom is behaving with honesty and a sense of justice. This means being truthful and fair in our dealings with others, which can help us build trust and respect in our relationships.
Practical wisdom also involves emotional regulation, self-reflection, acceptance of uncertainty, decisiveness, and spirituality. These psychological processes involve the fronto-limbic circuitry and help us to make better decisions in various situations.
Moreover, practical wisdom tends to increase with active aging, enabling older adults to contribute to promoting the fitness of younger kin. This is known as the “Grandmother Hypothesis” of wisdom.
The Skills And Attributes Required For Practical Wisdom
To become practically wise, one must develop a set of skills and attributes that enable them to make sound judgments and decisions. These skills and attributes include:
1. Understanding the telos: Knowing the purpose or telos of a particular role or objective is essential for practical wisdom. It enables us to understand what we need to achieve in a given situation.
2. Perception: Perception involves being able to deftly perceive and understand the circumstances before us. This requires considering the facts of the situation, its history, and how others feel about it.
3. An informed intellect: Practical wisdom requires an understanding of absolute truths, which act as boundaries for us while we exercise practical wisdom. Understanding absolutes requires an informed intellect that is informed by contemplating the nature of every virtue and vice.
4. Experience: Practical wisdom can only be gained through experience. The more decisions we make and experiences we have, the more practically wise we become.
5. Deliberation: Deliberation involves weighing both sides of an issue, examining the salient factors, and listening to our conscience in order to make sound judgments and decisions.
6. Action: Finally, taking action is crucial for practical wisdom. It’s not enough to know what the wise thing to do is; we must actually take action and implement our decisions.
Practical Wisdom Vs. Theoretical Wisdom
Aristotle distinguished between two types of wisdom: practical wisdom and theoretical wisdom. Theoretical wisdom, or sophia, is concerned with unchanging truths and is the kind of knowledge that comes from standing back and looking on. It is concerned with reasoning about or in a way that is aimed at truth. On the other hand, practical wisdom, or phronesis, is concerned with what is good or right in a particular set of circumstances. It involves reasoning about or in a way that is aimed at the good.
While theoretical wisdom deals with universals, practical wisdom deals with particulars. Theoretical wisdom is concerned with fundamental principles, while practical wisdom is concerned with deciding what a good course of action for a particular situation is. Aristotle believed that theoretical wisdom was superior to practical wisdom because it studied things that were more divine than human action. Theoretical wisdom was concerned with things like the cosmos and the universe, while practical wisdom was concerned with human action.
However, Aristotle also believed that practical wisdom was essential for living well or having a good life. He believed that practical wisdom was necessary for making sound judgments and decisions based on experience, perception, an informed intellect, and deliberative skills. Practical wisdom involved understanding the telos of a particular role or objective, perceiving and understanding the circumstances before us, having an informed intellect, gaining experience, deliberating carefully, and taking action.
Examples Of Practical Wisdom In Action
Practical wisdom in action can be seen in various situations. For instance, it involves understanding that life is not always black and white. A person may perceive a situation in a certain way, but that does not necessarily mean it is the right choice for everyone involved. Therefore, practical wisdom requires considering the perspectives and feelings of others before making a decision.
Another example of practical wisdom in action is the exercise of discretion in decision-making. As society becomes more complex and bureaucratic, there is a tendency to rely on externally-dictated rules and regulations. However, this approach can lead to unintended consequences, such as zero tolerance policies in schools that result in kindergarteners being expelled for accidentally bringing a pocketknife to school. Practical wisdom suggests that rules and regulations should be applied with discretion, taking into account the context of each situation.
Practical wisdom also involves understanding the purpose or telos of a particular role or objective. For example, a doctor’s telos is to make the patient healthy, and this requires using practical wisdom to determine the right amount of medicine or surgeries to achieve this goal. Incentives can sometimes hinder practical wisdom by causing people to do the wrong thing at the wrong time or for the wrong reasons. For instance, some doctors may recommend unnecessary procedures because they are paid more for doing so.
Finally, practical wisdom involves taking action based on sound judgments and decisions. It requires weighing both sides of an issue and examining all relevant factors before making a decision. For instance, a teacher who exercises practical wisdom will consider the unique needs and abilities of each student before deciding how best to help them learn and grow.
How To Develop Practical Wisdom In Your Life
Developing practical wisdom in your life requires a deliberate and intentional effort. Here are some practical steps you can take to develop practical wisdom:
1. Learn critical thinking skills: Critical thinking is the ability to analyze and evaluate information objectively. It involves questioning assumptions, considering alternative viewpoints, and weighing evidence. By developing your critical thinking skills, you’ll be better equipped to make sound judgments and decisions.
2. Refine your goals and core values: Understanding your goals and core values will help you make decisions that align with your telos. Take time to reflect on what’s important to you and what you want to achieve in life.
3. Expand your intellect: Aristotle believed that practical wisdom required an informed intellect. Reading widely, pursuing higher education, and engaging in intellectual discussions can help you broaden your knowledge base and develop a deeper understanding of the world.
4. Understand the circumstances of a situation: Before making a decision, take time to gather information about the situation at hand. Consider the facts, history, and perspectives of others involved.
5. Embrace failure: Making mistakes is an essential part of developing practical wisdom. Instead of fearing failure, embrace it as an opportunity to learn and grow.
6. Seek advice: Don’t be afraid to seek advice from others who have more experience or expertise in a particular area. Listening to different viewpoints can help you make more informed decisions.
7. Take action: Practical wisdom requires action. Once you’ve made a decision, implement it with confidence and conviction.
By incorporating these practices into your daily life, you can develop practical wisdom and make better decisions that lead to true human flourishing.
