Science, the ant and wisdom

Now that more and more science types (e.g. Sam Harris) are offering science as a substitute for traditional wisdom it might do well to take a brief look at the subject.

Quotes and comments;

1. “What the world needs now? More wisdom,” is the headline of a press release from Concordia University reprinted by PhysOrg. While the headline is true, is science the one to tell anyone how to get it? Isn’t science concerned with natural laws and material processes?
Dolores Pushkar defined wisdom as “something that benefits society as a whole as well as the self.” [1.]

- This isn't very helpful. e.g. how do you know benefit means? what constitutes a true benefit as to an illusory one? How to weigh the benefits of society against the benefits to self. This defintion actually doesn't tell us a thing. e.g. how do you know what society is? how do you define it? how to you quantify it? is there such a thing as society?

Who says her definition is true? How would anyone know? If all is matter in motion, wisdom doesn't exist.

The Christian believes God's word is wisdom; true wisdom, and the basis of all other wisdom. ie. wisdom must conform (be consistent with) God's word.

"Go to the ant,'' the bible writer says, ''and it will teach you." You can indeed learn a lot from the ant; but you can't learn anything about how man should live, how he should treat others, how he should relate to his creator. (I'm not an expert on the ant, but I think that what you learn from the ant, is what it is to be an ant.) The 'wisdom' of the ant was pre-programmed into it at the creation. The 'wisdom' programmed into man was the ability to learn. Because the ant doesn't need to learn it has instincts, because man needs to learn he has an unquantifiable degree of freedom. [3.]

2. “No single definition of wisdom exists,” the press release admitted. [2]

- To be wise is to know the truth, to know the reality of a situation. Only God's wisdom can be universal; the wisdom of a human being is finite, partial and particular. The goal of the Christian isn't simply wisdom; it's far more important to be righteous. Scientific discoveries can help us to be wise, but they cannot help us to be righteous. (ie. know what is morally good.)

Science can help us to acquire wisdom in the sense it can help us to see more clearly; but it cannot tell us how we should live our lives. (Scientism is the claim there is no knowledge that can't be acquired by the scientific method; ie. the study of the material universe.) Science shouldn't be turned into a totalitarian project. There are things it does wonderfully well, and there are some things it cannot do at all. (The same is true of most things.)

Science is in the business of providing single defintions. If it can't give a single definition of X, it's likely X isn't a scientific subject. (ie. something that can be known by an investigation of the material world.) True laws of nature allow single definitions. Universals lend themselves to single deefinitions... while particulars do not. (People are different, they will never agree on what wisdom is.) The flux of human experience doesn't lend itself to single definitions. The more X changes over time the less able science is able to deal with it. In general science deals with things that aare unchangeable (or relatively so.)

3. Wisdom;
'The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight.'
- The American Heritage definition is very different from the one this author gives. I'd like to know how you can tell us what wisdom is if you can't even define it. We don't learn where the definition she uses comes from. It sounds political; something pols would come up with; something self-serving.

4. "Wisdom and intelligence aren't the same thing," she points out, estimating that only 5 percent of the population can be described as truly wise and that advanced insight begins after adolescence as the brain matures.

- Want a bet these 5 percent are people who agree with her? This estimate is just plain silly. I imagine these would be people who know what is good for society and for the individual... as determined by ms. Pushkar. (You don't need a mature brain to be wise; certainly not to act wise. Anyone who knows children knows this.)

5. 'No single definition of wisdom exists, but hallmarks include knowledge, deep understanding of human nature, life contentment, empathy and the flexibility to see issues from others' perspectives.
- Well; that leaves Sam Harris out.

6. "Bitterness," Pushkar counters, "disqualifies a person from being considered as wise. It means they haven't learned any beneficial lessons from their experience."
- That leaves Richard Dawkins out. (Now, I don't know this for sure; but I get the feeling he thinks he's pretty wise.)

Mike Johnson

Notes;
1. Researchers Violate Separation of Science and State - Creation/Evolution Headlines 04/08/2011
'Wisdom science: To whom do you go for wisdom? A pastor, priest, or rabbi? A holy book? A trusted friend or academic? Never fear; science is here – science in the form of psychology.
2. What the world needs now? More wisdom PhysOrg
3. It's also true that man was made in the image of god; this means that when man has a heart for god he finds god's word and law to be true and admirable; when man rebels against God what was admirable becomes hateful to him. He still possesses the image of god within him, but now he finds it hateful. i.e. his conscience is a plague to him. If his rebellion continues long enough the still small voice of conscience within him at last becomes silent. (It's my guess that as long as the conscience is still alive men rage against god, but when the voice goes silent they stop raging against god and just 'quietly' go about their deeds. God (in this sense) has died, and there is no longer any reason to rage against him.
4. "Wisdom has an impact on how people cope in situations and whether they are more or less satisfied with life," explains Etezadi, a PhD student under Pushkar's direction.
- You need a PHD for this? And they claim we don't have enough scientists :=}
5. The science of wisdom! Sure.