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Devon Donovan

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Should we try to acquire wisdom even though it disappears with a person at death, whereas knowledge can be disseminated to others before?

Today, I stand upon the gold-streaked pillars - an essence - of Athena, patroness of war, to obtain that which father time hath eternally bestowed temporarily - as life is nay infinite - on relatively few men in history. It is a notion more binding and severing than even the combination of human emotion and structured logic, and yet, is ever more appealing and immeasurably more valuable than any Olympian palace. Today I seek to acquire _______?

Wisdom.

Wisdom is the conglomeration of all knowledge, experience, inferences, etc... that one has gained throughout a lifetime.

Knowledge, on the other hand, is something more easily transmitted. When we read books, we gather knowledge. It is when we combine our knowledge with the aforementioned experience, inferencing, etc... that it becomes wisdom.

So, why strive for something that, even though invaluable, by the time you obtain it, you have little time in your life to share with others? And in that little time, spreading it [wisdom] is not as possible, as say, guiding someone to it.

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Topics: wisdom
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    Sean Sorrell

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    Apr 6 2012: The quest for knowledge is a constant act of collecting and storing facts, figures, truths and lies. Wisdom is the ever evolving and selective application of this acquired knowledge. During the course of an individual's life, they will use their wisdom to reallocate their acquired knowledge to others within their life's circle. Wisdom is not a "gift" or a "goal" that is achieved at a certain end point in a persons life. I propose that we share our acquired knowledge tempered with our ever evolving wisdom throughout our life.
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      Christian Sorrell

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      Apr 7 2012: I like how you said this. I don't believe that a person hits 85 and instantly becomes "wise." I think that even a child has a certain amount of wisdom and this amount and its quality continue to grow and refine as time passes and we go on living, utilizing our knowledge within the confines of our location, our time (in regards to history), our society, and those around us.

      I believe wisdom comes to anyone who looks to better their own life as they live it. Other than that, it mustn't be actively sought out.
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    Mark Kurtz 20+

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    Apr 5 2012: We know wisdom is acquired; there is no "off the shelf, ready to use" variety. Wisdom is acquired through experience and recognition of a better way when an event or situation causes one to think. These events could be error in which someone is hurt, or gains something good, or a great danger was possible, but averted.

    It is the choosing of a better way or thought that makes real the wisdom experience. One's reputation is formed by his choices and when people recognize the goodness conveyed in wise counsel, a person is said to be wise; a noble and desirable achievement. A good quote:"Greatness lies not so much in possessing strength as in making a wise and divine use of such strength."

    Why not acquire as much wisdom as you are able and then be willing to share? The sharing may cause a better society, family, nation------we all benefit. What other method does your "world" improve? How did we humans discover the elder statesman concept?

    Why do we strive for something even though we die? It is to share so that others have greater opportunities to gain wisdom. We also need to realize another reality: some folks will not accept others' wisdom and therefore they must learn the hard way what is better. Gaining wisdom by sharing or gaining it through conflict and suffering is needed; it is better to gain by sharing and accepting the wise counsel of those who have passed through experience.

    There is more possibility of wisdom when one desires truth, beauty and goodness---all to be discovered.

    We share for personal and planetary progress. Live for it; strive for it, share it with love in the heart and take delight in others' gain of goodness. This is my take on the why of your comments and questions on this very good topic.

    Peace.
    Mark K.
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    Obey No1kinobe 50+

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    Apr 5 2012: Funny, I see wisdom as a kind of practical knowledge. Applying what you know or learnt to good effect in real life.
    I don't see why you can't pass on both.

    I'm not sure if your question is just to have some debate.

    You could ask why strive for anything that benefits your life given you are going to die.

    Why not make the most of our short time on earth
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    Heather White 10+

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    Apr 5 2012: Although I agree that wisdom can be gained from a combination of fact gathering, experience and time (sometimes known as the School of Hard Knocks or the University of Life), I actually believe in the accumulation of wisdom as a process. Wisdom being available to accumulate as part of the process of learning through living. Indeed, "learning" could be understood as the process of applying knowledge wisely in life. Simply accumulating facts can make us clever - but there are plenty of clever fools in the world already.

    However, wisdom is not always correlated with age - even the youngest children can be incredibly wise "Out of the mouths of babes".

  • Jacob Drake

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    Apr 5 2012: Instead, I would argue that death does not make everything we do it in worthless, but all the more worthwhile, since we know that there is a limited period of time in which we may enjoy the things we can find in life. Knowledge and wisdom and great things to strive for, even though it may mean you are closer to death. They allow us be proud and carry on lineage.
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