Synthetic wisdom
Viewing wisdom as a capacity for synthetic understanding, this book argues for the need for philosophy, even at a time when all of us have much to learn from the sciences.
Abstract
Wisdom is a special kind of virtue. It is not to be identified with any outstanding cognitive ability—like having a prodigious memory or knowing a lot. Rather it consists in seeing what is most important and most valuable, either within a particular domain or in life as a whole. In the life of a wise person, that insight should be accompanied by traits of character, enabling the person to pursue what is seen as valuable. Viewing wisdom as a capacity for synthetic understanding, I argue for the need for philosophy, even at a time when all of us have much to learn from the sciences.