Knowledge and Wisdom by Russell

The essay knowledge and wisdom critically examines the present trend of gaining knowledge where the importance of the wisdom has been lost. Simply having knowledge we cannot extend our level of wisdom. The time we try to define wisdom in relation to knowledge, it ceases

The essayist critically examines the modern trend of seeking knowledge does not go in the same line of wisdom seeking tendency.

He proposes that the factors that contribute the wisdom are:

1.  Sense of proportion.

He views that the development of knowledge seeking tendency should go in the same level for wisdom. It means the way we give more preference to knowledge; we must give same preference to wisdom. It means one should evaluate all possible important factors in problems and their attachment on the basis of their ground reality of connectivity. However, the people fail to do so as they give more importance to one particular substance or matter as the trend of specialized concept emerged in modern society. The preference given to in particular factor problem is the basic problems to enhance knowledge in modern society.

2.  Comprehensiveness should have certain awareness of the ends of human life:

He further views that comprehensive power may contribute people to gain wisdom if it is connected with feelings. One has to aware with the danger of comprehensiveness. It goes in the line of intellect only. Nevertheless, wisdom should go in the emotion as well. It means the proper combination of rationality and emotions. There must be proper connection and handling between mind and psyche.

3.   Emancipation from personal prejudices

The essayist advocates impartial reading of the world from prejudices in public and private life. He further says that the things that could be pursued should only be pursued. If it is not attainable one should not spend the time unnecessarily. It leads to impartial understanding of different dimension of knowledge to have wisdom,

4.  Patience and sufficient persuasiveness for impartiality

The knowledge seeking tendency leads people to get some hegemony. The egoism of the sense would be with us. It is very difficult for one to be aloof from our egocentric emotions. The indulgences with such emotions make people more personal; is the basic obstacles of gaining wisdom in the present world. This is the basic barriers of modern society to get wisdom.

   

After discussing problems of not gaining wisdom in modern society, the essayist questions if wisdom can be taught. He answers it in the positive line. However, he cannot give more stress on it. He believes wisdom can be taught through understanding but not with hate

 

 

He believes that knowledge needs various time of technical understanding. He views knowledge is nothing but the facts known by the person. It is gathered in form of learning and education.  It is merely having clarity of facts and truth.. Knowledge is information of which someone is aware. It is also used to mean confidant understanding of subject particularly with ability to use it for specific purpose. It changes in response to new information. It can be gained through learning education science reflection and reasoned and logical thought. He exemplifies knowledge with discoveries of medicine and atomic power. The innovation with medical science prevents the children from death. However, it creates the problem in food supply and lowering the standard of life as there is no balance between resources and population.

  Wisdom is ability to make correct judgments or decisions. Wisdom is the combination of experience and knowledge with power of applying them. It is an intangible quality gained through our experience. It can be gained through self-intuition, and personal experience. It defines and redefines our character.

 

 

 

Knowledge and wisdom are different things. According to Russell, knowledge is defined as the acquisition of data and information, while wisdom is defined as the practical application and use of the knowledge to create value. Wisdom is gained through learning and practical experience, not just memorization.

A sense of proportion is very much necessary for wisdom. By inventing medicine, a scientist may reduce the infant death-rate. Apparently, it leads to population explosion and shortage of food. The standard of life comes down. If misused, knowledge of atom can lead human to destruction by manufacturing nuclear weapon.

 

Knowledge without wisdom can be harmful. Even complete knowledge is not enough. For example, Hegel wrote with great knowledge about history, but made the Germans believe that they were a master race. It led to war. It is necessary, therefore to combine knowledge with feelings.

We need wisdom both in public and private life. We need wisdom to decide the goal of our life. We need it to free ourselves from personal prejudices. Wisdom is needed to avoid dislike for one another. Two persons may remain enemies because of their prejudice. If they can be told that we all have flaws then they may become friends

 

 

So, ‘Hate Hatred’ should be our slogan. Wisdom lies in freeing ourselves from the control of our sense organs. Our ego develops through our senses. We cannot be free from the sense of sight, sound and touch. We know the world primarily through our senses. As we grow we discover that there are other things also. We start recognizing them. Thus we give up thinking of ourselves alone. We start thinking of other people and grow wiser. We give up on our ego. Wisdom comes when we start loving others.

Russell feels that wisdom can be taught as a goal of education. Even though we are born unwise which we cannot help, we can cultivate wisdom. Queen Elizabeth I, Henry IV and Abraham Lincoln, are some impressive personalities who fused vigor with wisdom and fought the evil.