Wisdom or Wise People?

Important distinction here:

Does something such as "Wisdom" exist?

Or is it more a matter of Becoming Wise?

The one is a definable, more-or-less tangible collection of energies that are to be gained, held to, collected--and most importantly to my thinking--passed along.

The other is a state of being, an ephemeral way of existing in the universe that can be attained but not captured, lived but not given or bequeathed--earned but not received as a gift.

The answer to this question guides the direction of one who is seeking to amplify the voice of Wisdom in our families, our communities, our world.

Wisdom Scorecard: empirical assessment

In an earlier post I presented The Wisdom Scorecard, and wondered about any empirical research behind it.

Dr Ardelt is doing her homework!

When the Student is ready, the Teacher appears.

This turns out to be a rich source of information. Dr Ardelt is pursuing many of the ideas I've been studying and making notes on.

Here's a paper reflecting her review of the literature, exactly of the sort I've been hoping to locate.

Wisdom as Expert Knowledge System: A Critical Review of a Contemporary Operationalization of an Ancient Concept.

This bears close study.

Though I have to say I'm already put off by the academese being spoken here. Operationalization?

Can't avoid my interest, though. (Story of my life, I fear. But that's a story for another time.)

Wisdom?

It all starts for me with a working definition of Wisdom.

Then descends into chaos as I try to make sense of it.

Googling Wisdom, for instance, on this date returns about 106,000,000 entries. They range from a rock band to religious traditions to dense scientific treatises, and everything in between.

Here's an interesting starting point, developed by Monika Ardelt, a sociology professor at the University of Florida.

The Wisdom Scorecard

I think I'd find it of much greater interest if it included an outside assessment of an individual's style, rather than relying totally on self-report. I'd like to see the empirical basis of this particular measure, and have a better understanding of the factors it's based on.

I've got to think about this.