DEFINITION WISDOM

WHAT WE MEAN BY WISDOM

Wisdom is deep insight serving our ability to generate long-term broad benefits. It usually derives from cumulative experience, well-considered knowledge, compassionate understanding and/or transcendent realization.

Wisdom can be individual and/or collective, human and/or natural.  It expands the exercise of intelligence to embrace greater realities, increasing our ability to take into account what needs to be taken into account for long-term broad benefits.

Among the most potent sources of collective wisdom are

• the cumulative experience of nature and humanity,
• ongoing feedback from people and reality,
• expanded spiritual and systemic awareness,
• liberating our full human capacities and caring, and
• generative interactions among diverse people and perspectives.

Wise democracy nurtures and utilizes all these sources, with a particular focus on the last.