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Wisdom

Monday, April 12, 2010

Stephen S. Hall explores the history of wisdom and its journey from philosophy to science. He looks at how wisdom became one of our most cherished ideals, and at the efforts of modern science to penetrate the mysterious nature of it. In Wisdom: From Philosophy to Neuroscience he reveals how wisdom became the provenance of philosophy and religion, how it has been a catalyst for social change, and how, in the last fifty years, psychologists, economists, and neuroscientists have begun to shed light on the biology wisdom.

Guests:

Stephen S. Hall

Comments [9]

Ro from SoHo

Corey J # 8: Corey - we're talking science here. Not religion.

Wisdom is certainly being able to know the difference!

Apr. 17 2010 02:55 PM
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Corey J

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom"
Psalm 111:10 Proverbs 9:10

Apr. 12 2010 02:36 PM
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listener from Brooklyn NY

Mr. Lopate has just reminded me of an line from Aristotle: "The unexamined life isn't worth living." Having a family certainly induced me to re-examine a good deal. Closeness to other (perhaps not family) seems to me healthy for the cultivation of wisdom.

Apr. 12 2010 01:59 PM
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Erica P. from NJ

Stephen S. Hall: "It's always dangerous to generalize." Love it, although I'm sure he has that one always at the ready, for casual dropping.

Apr. 12 2010 01:59 PM
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Aaron from Brooklyn

If altruism is biological, why would it be considered an element of wisdom? Wouldn't that suggest that it's already hardwired from day one?

Apr. 12 2010 01:56 PM
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listener from Brooklyn NY

Perhaps this was already mentioned, but the word "philosophy" comes from the ancient Greek for "love of wisdom".

Apr. 12 2010 01:51 PM
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Elizabeth from Queens

Wrong. Wisdom is divine. Solomon had wisdom because God gave it to him. Solomon prayed for it after he became God's king of the Hewbrew nation. Solomon had wisdom while he was young because it was given based on God's will, not his age. Age-based wisdom is a natural occurence.

Apr. 12 2010 01:48 PM
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listener from Brooklyn NY

Bravo, Mr. Lopate!

Apr. 12 2010 01:36 PM
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Troy from Carroll Gardens

I once read that, "Intelligence tells you it's raining, wisdom tells you to get inside." Granted, that's straight from the Dungeons + Dragons Player's Manual...

Apr. 12 2010 12:48 PM
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