论智慧(On Wisdom)

ithinktheessenceofwisdomisemancipation,asfaraspossible,fromthetyrannyofthehereandthenow.wecannothelptheegoismofoursenses.sightandsoundandtouchareboundupwithourownbodiesandcannotbemadeimpersonal.ouremotionsstartsimilarlyfromourselves.

aninfantfeelshungerordistress,andisunaffectedexceptbyhisownphysicalcondition.graduallywiththeyears,hishorizonwidens,and,inproportionashisthoughtsandfeelingsbecomelesspersonalandlessconcernedwithhisownphysicalstates,heachievesgrowingwisdom.thisisofcourseamatterofdegree.

noonecanviewtheworldwithcompletejustice,andifanyonecould,hewouldhardlybeabletoremainalive.butitispossibletomakeacontinualapproachtowardsjustice,ontheonehand,byknowingthingssomewhatremoteintimeorspace,and,ontheotherhand,bygivingtosuchthingstheirdueweightinourfeelings.itisthisapproachtowardsjusticethatconstitutesgrowthinwisdom.

canwisdombetaught?and,ifitcan,shouldtheteachingofitbeoneoftheaimsofeducation?ishouldanswerboththesequestionsintheaffirmative.idonotthinkthatknowledgeandmoralsoughttobetoomuchseparated.eventhebesttechniciansshouldalsobegoodcitizens:andwhenisay

"citizens,"imeancitizensoftheworldandnotofthisorthatsectornation.witheveryincreaseofknowledgeandskill,wisdombecomesmorenecessary,foreverysuchincreasestrengthensourcapacityofrealizingourpurposes,andthereforestrengthensourcapacityforevil,ifourpurposesareunwise.theworldneedswisdomasithasneverneededitbefore:andifknowledgecontinuestoincrease,theworldwillneedwisdominthefutureevenmorethanitdoesnow.