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Question of the Month

Is Philosophy Still The Friend Of Wisdom?

Each answer below receives a book. Apologies to the many entrants not included. Thanks to Finn Janning for suggesting this month’s question.

If becoming wise involves making effective choices that lead to a morally improved life, it should then follow that philosophy – that rational search for wisdom – becomes its chief means of acquisition. By studying to be wise, perhaps by reflecting upon the experiences of others or reading philosophy books, we can improve our understanding of the world around us. This could make it easier to handle life’s many challenges; for instance when it comes to distinguishing between our individual rights and our moral obligations. Wisdom offers an objectivity that is more helpful than our own narrow, selfish interests. There should be no mistaking wisdom for mere opinion, prejudice, bias, or whim because true wisdom is consistently right and not subject to contradiction or change.

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