Major Wisdom Research Questions

Return to Wisdom

1. Is wisdom real or a subjective and cultural myth?
2. Is wisdom a kind of knowledge? If so, what kind of knowledge is it? (Aristotle)
3. Can wisdom be acquired? If so, what sorts of learning and training work?
4. Is religion another form of expression of wisdom or antithetical to it?
5. What is the age of onset of wisdom?
6. Is Wisdom domain specific? (Apology 22d)
7. Is Wisdom is related to deliberation, then what theory of deliberation is needed? (Aristotle -- in Osbeck)
8. Is Wisdom more like the discovery of knowledge or a kind of making (Aristotle - Osbeck p. 70)
9. Does Wisdom mean something different to different age groups or are there just differences between the resources or abilities of people to realize wisdom at different ages (Carstensen, Time horizon view; Baltes "life span contextualism")
10. Following Aristotle, is the human good objective enough for wisdom to be "expertise" about it?
11. Is Wisdom partly the result of personal training of emotions, (especially, in relation to knowledge of reality (Stoicism) or the nature of mind (Yoga), or a view about the reality of self and change (Buddhism)? Evaluate these ancient philosophies for points of view that contribute to your theory.
12. Is the "age of onset" problem about when one thing, wisdom, appears in someone's life, or is it (also or instead) a problem about the diverse forms of wisdom that emerge at different stages of the life span?
13. Does wisdom contribute to life satisfaction?