Recently, MEA guest faculty member Karen Skerrett sent some excerpts from a fascinating white paper called “The Science of Wisdom in a Polarized World” that explores how character and wisdom are kissin’ cousins. This is one of the questions this heady paper poses: “Is wisdom one of many virtues linked to creativity, open-mindedness, perspective, and innovation, and distinct from humility, prudence, or justice? One thing I took from reading the paper is that wisdom is the tool which tells you which character strength is most needed at this moment.
Their Wisdom Task Force suggests that wisdom is “a morally-grounded excellence in social-cognitive processing.” Author A.N. Whitehead suggested wisdom was “grounded knowing” and his philosophy consistently emphasized that robust knowledge:
- Begins with lived, concrete experience
- Rises to imaginative or abstract insight
- Returns to enrich and transform living reality
Whitehead consistently links character to experience—both individual and collective—and to how we harness knowledge in concrete life.
Final musing: If you’re developing your character, you’re likely growing your wisdom.
-Chip