Wisdom

Life is a desire to live, better still a desire to live happily. As we strive to satisfy this desire, we come across many obstacles that complicate or frustrate our efforts. This complication or frustration amounts to suffering. Wisdom is designed to help us cope with this suffering. Thanks to it, happiness is conceivable and achievable in spite of everything. Philosophers, psychologists, spiritual leaders, poets, novelists, life coaches, and a variety of other important thinkers have tried to understand the concept of wisdom. Socrates' investigation reveals that those who claim to have knowledge either do not really know any of the things they claim to know or else know far less than they proclaim to know. Socrates, so we are told, neither suffers the vice of claiming to know things he does not know, nor the vice of claiming to have wisdom when he does not have wisdom. One can say Wisdom is the supreme good.

   

Perfect happiness leaves something to be desired. By definition, it excludes suffering and hence all forms of complication or frustration. It supposes that circumstances are absolutely favourable that is, not tough in any way.  Many people who believe they are not wise are correct in their self-assessment. Thus, the belief that one is not wise is not a sufficient condition for wisdom. It seems plausible to think that a wise person could be wise enough to realize that he or she is wise. Too much modesty might get in the way of making good decisions and sharing what one knows. 

Psychologists tend to agree that wisdom involves an integration of knowledge, experience, and deep understanding, as well as a tolerance for the uncertainties of life. For a person of wisdom, suffering is an opportunity to prove courageous and victorious. This victory is often strenuous and always limited, precarious, and transitory, and we are bound to lose the battle in the end; but that makes the victory all the more precious and worthy of savouring. Our growing wise depends on this study and this knowledge, The clearer we are about our purpose, the more we can live our lives with determination and passion, and so with a greater chance of succeeding and achieving happiness. The reverse is equally true. It, therefore, stands to reason that in striving after wisdom we lay the groundwork for success and happiness.