Viewing Thread:
"What's Wise?"

Have you ever found yourself at a crossroads where there's an easy path that rolls downhill, there's a difficult path which winds uphill, and there's a sensible path which is straight and narrow. Something tells you that you should take the more difficult path, but the easier path is more tempting because you can breeze downhill in a wave of carefree indulgence. And then there's the sensible path, which is the road that most around you advise you to take.

Have you ever found yourself in this position? In two/three minds, not knowing which path to take, not knowing which way to turn.

Wisdom, its a strange thing. Its subjective nature means that different people have different views on what it means to be wise.

-Some will say: "Live For The Moment". Adopt the hedonistic approach. Why dwell on the future when the vision you have of your future may never happen. Even the best made plans can go wrong. Be happy-go-lucky. Live dangerously. This is wisdom.

-But then others will say: "Plan For The Future". Don't be a reckless fool, be sensible. One day you'll look back on your life and wonder where it's gone. Think about your place in the scheme of things more diligently. Hard work, self-sacrifice and realistic plans will bring you happiness in the long run. This is wisdom.

-And then there are those who will say: "Follow Your Dreams". Forget other people's limited expectations. Do what is deeply important to you. Do what you think is right. Even if your dream seems impossible, follow it. If you don't you know you'll end up looking back full of regret. If you fail, at least it'll be glorious failure. This is wisdom.

Someone once said to me that "a wise man is a man who keeps good advice to himself", but the person who told me this turned out to be a cynical back-stabber.

It's easy to be wise after the event. Hindsight isn't wisdom. But foresight is different. To have a clear-minded dose of foresight, now that is wisdom. So What's Wise?

I'm beginning to think this is a dead topic, but what I'm trying to say is that a personal outlook heavily influences your behaviour, your beliefs, your reaction to things, etc.
No one wants to spend their life looking back and saying repeatedly: "If only I'd done that, if only I hadn't done that, if only, if only" - living in a twilight world of being wise after the event. Like I said, hindsight isn't wisdom, foresight is, but what's the wisest outlook to adopt?
Do you play it safe? Do you live for the moment? Do you seek meaning or do you cast caution to the wind in the knowledge that real meaning doesn't exist?
Do you seek to improve the world or do you simply indulge self in the transcient pleasures of now? Do you do both? Does it matter? because one day you'll be six feet under, just bones in a black suit.
Should you care about world events, about the suffering of others, and if so, what form should your caring take? Should you philosophize with a hammer or with a feather?

... is this a dead topic?

I am the wisest of all.

Well, it's perfectly in line with the dictionary definition, which cites "common sense" and "decision making".

All it is is knowing enough about stuff and having the sense and acumen to be able to use your knowledge in the best possible way.

I wouldn't say tat defined wisdom, more like decisivesness ?

Wisdom is over-rated. It's essentially understanding the possible consequences of your possible actions, and making an informed decision based on what you know.

So, it's basically a combination of knowledge, intelligence and common sense.

Hardly an alien concept.

I think that, no matter what the choices, a person usually knows what they want to do, the words of others simply give them reassurance it is right, or play on the doubts of self they have.

It sounds soppy, but I believe that in your heart you always know the answer. Bah, I really should change my name back to Belldandy...

Have you ever found yourself at a crossroads where there's an easy path that rolls downhill, there's a difficult path which winds uphill, and there's a sensible path which is straight and narrow. Something tells you that you should take the more difficult path, but the easier path is more tempting because you can breeze downhill in a wave of carefree indulgence. And then there's the sensible path, which is the road that most around you advise you to take.

Have you ever found yourself in this position? In two/three minds, not knowing which path to take, not knowing which way to turn.

Wisdom, its a strange thing. Its subjective nature means that different people have different views on what it means to be wise.

-Some will say: "Live For The Moment". Adopt the hedonistic approach. Why dwell on the future when the vision you have of your future may never happen. Even the best made plans can go wrong. Be happy-go-lucky. Live dangerously. This is wisdom.

-But then others will say: "Plan For The Future". Don't be a reckless fool, be sensible. One day you'll look back on your life and wonder where it's gone. Think about your place in the scheme of things more diligently. Hard work, self-sacrifice and realistic plans will bring you happiness in the long run. This is wisdom.

-And then there are those who will say: "Follow Your Dreams". Forget other people's limited expectations. Do what is deeply important to you. Do what you think is right. Even if your dream seems impossible, follow it. If you don't you know you'll end up looking back full of regret. If you fail, at least it'll be glorious failure. This is wisdom.

Someone once said to me that "a wise man is a man who keeps good advice to himself", but the person who told me this turned out to be a cynical back-stabber.

It's easy to be wise after the event. Hindsight isn't wisdom. But foresight is different. To have a clear-minded dose of foresight, now that is wisdom. So What's Wise?