A few thoughts on wisdom

What is wisdom? Here are a few observations.[1]

Your wisdom is roughly equal to your ability to make good decisions.[2] That is, your judgement.

The opposite of wisdom is lack of good judgement. That is, foolishness.

Wisdom is situational. So is foolishness.

Wisdom is infinite. Absolute wisdom is unattainable. So is absolute foolishness. Imagine a scale that ranges from infinite foolishness to infinite wisdom. You are not wise or foolish. You are more or less wise; or more or less foolish.[3]

Judgement comes from knowledge. And your knowledge comes from your experience and education. People who listen, self-reflect, and ask questions increase their wisdom. People who don't listen, self-reflect, and ask questions maintain their foolishness.[4] 

Knowledge discriminates. Some knowledge improves judgement more than other knowledge. For example, learning how to avoid misjudgments might be one way to supercharge your wisdom.[5]

Notes:

[1] For more on wisdom, check out my random notes from around the web.

[2] What is a “good” decision? This depends on what you consider to be virtuous. Virtues can vary from person-to-person and culture-to-culture. This variance makes defining wisdom complex.

[3] Accepting this reality is referred to as epistemic humility. In other words, you recognize your inability to know all and become all-wise.

[4] Curiosity and wisdom are correlated.

[5] Assuming you agree with Charlie Munger’s take on what makes a “good” decision, Charlie Munger is wiser than most. For more on Munger, check out my notes on his talk, The Psychology of Human Misjudgement.