Lets be Practical About This

In a study like this we have to avoid what I call contrasting. When discussing the merits of an area of life we tend to search for a superior one. This requires making others inferior. It is a human tendency to look for shortcuts. Comparisons and making oneself superior by pointing other’s deficiencies is one of the ways people try to acquire goodness and character without actually possessing it. In order to have an honest assessment of our own life and to have good judgment, we have to lay comparisons aside. Insecurities and pride are based in the arena of comparisons and contrast. Instead we should look at what is best for ourselves as individuals and what can benefit others. When we look at areas of the soul, we are looking at how to make the best use of each one of them. In order to do this intuitively and creatively, having a grasp on what the actual areas are is a good start. That is what we are doing with this study.

The philosophical side of wisdom is considered the part where we take comfort and settle on our purpose for being here. We look at lofty things such as origins, eternity and the cosmos. It has little practical application but it does help us to have a settled soul when we form conclusions about our lot in life. This is the goal of every philosophy.

Practical wisdom is about bringing good to us and figuring out what is advantageous to us as humans. It is concerned about taking each situation and making them turn out good. There are the particulars we are looking at and the good ending we want. We might call this “thinking straight”. Things can turn out well by chance or they can turn out well because of the influence of others. Someone might appear to have practical wisdom for a while. But for this kind of wisdom to be consistent we use other areas of our soul.  

Deliberation is a form of good inquiry and calculation. Knowledge can be either correct or incorrect; opinions are either true or false. Good deliberation isn't simply knowledge or opinion but it is the faculty that takes time to weigh the options and is looking for the best one. Someone who is given to vice might think an option is better but it ends up damaging his life. Good can be obtained even for those who obtain them by the wrong means. Sometimes we can make good decisions off the cuff. A person can be good at deliberation all the time or just happen to make the right choice in one particular circumstance. For a person to be good at deliberation, he will have the good character, time and consistency it takes to excel.  Excellence in deliberation helps a person reach the goals that practical wisdom sets.

Understanding is similar to practical wisdom but it isn't looking for something to accomplish. An understanding person will have empathy because they can see both the big picture and the particular situation a person is going through. He sees practical options.  Judgment is having a grasp on keeping things equal. A person who has good judgment has a combination of sympathy and equity. These all converge to help us make good choices in life...