The adage that wisdom comes with age is simply simple, too simple.
Lock a person in a closet, the degree of wisdom they will acquire is tiny.
Could they grow wiser? Perhaps.
But waiting for it is foolish.
What is wisdom?
We know what intelligence is: The ability to manipulate our bodies (mind included) to relate to the rest of reality effectively and in innovative ways.
Whether a dance or a mathematician, an author or a lawyer, intelligence is required.
American developmental psychologist Howard Gardener described 9 types of intelligence (1983, (Howard Gardner’s official website contains links to scientific papers):
- Naturalist (nature smart)
- Musical (sound smart)
- Logical-mathematical (number/reasoning smart)
- Existential (life smart)
- Interpersonal (people smart)
- Bodily-kinesthetic (body smart)
- Linguistic (word smart)
- Intra-personal (self smart)
- Spatial (picture smart)
It is an arrogance of modern society to assume that the brain is for "thinking" when in truth it controls every aspect of existence (even if it is now what you think it is, it is not 'you").
We'll discover more forms of intelligence as we understand what the brain actually controls.
Is wisdom education?
I am certain my educators wished they could teach wisdom, but the sheer number of people, educated people, who do unwise things makes clear that is not the case, and what schools teach is information and how to manipulate it ("manipulate is not a 'bad' word, it is simply an accurate word since we manipulate anything when we attempt to change the situation).
Wisdom is quite simply the ability to see things as they are.
Instead of seeing an illusion that switches between a vase and two faces, one sees both.
Instead of feeling conflicted because either God is evil, or negligent, or doesn't exist, one accepts that one does not know the motive of God nor does one imagine one has all the possible motives to choose from.
Wisdom is freedom from interpretation; perceiving reality as it is.
Does anyone perceive reality that way? It is said that a number of people have had experiences like that, sporadic, chronic and acute.
An excellent book called Cosmic Consciousness: A Study in the Evolution of the Human Mind, published in 1901 by the psychiatrist Richard Maurice Bucke. He explores the concept of cosmic consciousness, which he defines as "a higher form of consciousness than that possessed by the ordinary man". Some very famous people have had such experiences.
Often such experiences cut through our preconceptions about reality.
Does one have to wait for wisdom?
No.
We'll discuss how to gain wisdom in coming posts.
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