Wisdom
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Abstract
This chapter is the concluding account of the humanistic conception of wisdom that has emerged from the preceding chapters. Human wisdom is to form and maintain throughout the adversities and contingencies of life a sense of proportion, and reasonable, realistic, but at the same reduced expectations. It enables us to compensate for the loss of some of what we value by the enjoyment of others and to recognize that the contingencies of life may also benefit and not just harm us. If we possess sufficient depth, we do not confuse basic assumptions with our personal evaluative commitments, persevere in our lifelong effort to cultivate reflective understanding and depth, and to do so especially when the contingencies of life and our faults frustrate even our most reasonable efforts.