This subject is a necessary digression for my story telling.
I searched for a good explanation on this, but was disappointed. So here comes my own definitions and comparisons -
Knowledge is collected information.
Intelligence is an ability to understand, reason, think, and solve problems.
Wisdom is distilled knowledge that one obtains by properly processing amassed raw knowledge (and often necessarily experience, if that is not counted as knowledge) using intelligence. And yet, the outcome of wisdom is not guaranteed. Wisdom enables one to discern, or judge, what is right and wrong, good and bad, and subsequently make sensible decisions.
Let me put it this way : if one wants wisdom, the distilled beverage, one has to have knowledge and experience as grain/fruit, intelligence as the brewing kit, a pursuing heart as the willing brewer. And we all know eventually wines differ significantly in terms of color, smell, body, acidity, tannin, etc. Some wine sells at $5 per bottle, and others $3,000 per bottle.
As a nerd, I will conclude this way : wisdom = knowledge + experience + intelligence + a pursuing heart + epsilon the random factor.
There is life wisdom, human wisdom, engineering wisdom, finance wisdom, and so on. As this thesis is about life, I will only speak of life wisdom.
Here I have a beautiful case that exemplifies the relation:
“Can anyone who has heard this music [Beethoven's Appasionata], I mean truly heard it, really be a bad person?” -from the movie the lives of others (2006)
Yes, what's the use to know all the background information of every music masterpiece yet have no emotional response while immersing in one? What's the use to memorize all the Buddhism scripts yet lose temper when getting elbowed accidentally on subway? What's the use of being a vegetarian allegedly out of the mercy towards every sentient being yet keep lying to loved ones? And, what's the use to possess the knowledge of the entire universe, yet find no joy in life?
I think gaining wisdom for any individual is as instrumental as the invention of tools for the evolution of human beings. Joy is the fountainhead of life, of production, and wisdom opens up and unclogs the channels for the vitality to spread into every aspect of one's life.
I searched for a good explanation on this, but was disappointed. So here comes my own definitions and comparisons -
Knowledge is collected information.
Intelligence is an ability to understand, reason, think, and solve problems.
Wisdom is distilled knowledge that one obtains by properly processing amassed raw knowledge (and often necessarily experience, if that is not counted as knowledge) using intelligence. And yet, the outcome of wisdom is not guaranteed. Wisdom enables one to discern, or judge, what is right and wrong, good and bad, and subsequently make sensible decisions.
Let me put it this way : if one wants wisdom, the distilled beverage, one has to have knowledge and experience as grain/fruit, intelligence as the brewing kit, a pursuing heart as the willing brewer. And we all know eventually wines differ significantly in terms of color, smell, body, acidity, tannin, etc. Some wine sells at $5 per bottle, and others $3,000 per bottle.
As a nerd, I will conclude this way : wisdom = knowledge + experience + intelligence + a pursuing heart + epsilon the random factor.
There is life wisdom, human wisdom, engineering wisdom, finance wisdom, and so on. As this thesis is about life, I will only speak of life wisdom.
Here I have a beautiful case that exemplifies the relation:
“Can anyone who has heard this music [Beethoven's Appasionata], I mean truly heard it, really be a bad person?” -from the movie the lives of others (2006)
Yes, what's the use to know all the background information of every music masterpiece yet have no emotional response while immersing in one? What's the use to memorize all the Buddhism scripts yet lose temper when getting elbowed accidentally on subway? What's the use of being a vegetarian allegedly out of the mercy towards every sentient being yet keep lying to loved ones? And, what's the use to possess the knowledge of the entire universe, yet find no joy in life?
I think gaining wisdom for any individual is as instrumental as the invention of tools for the evolution of human beings. Joy is the fountainhead of life, of production, and wisdom opens up and unclogs the channels for the vitality to spread into every aspect of one's life.
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