Contemporary research on wisdom includes several approaches, inherited from diverse philosophical and religious contributions. The author introduces a new approach based on integral theory, which provides an encompassing conceptual framework and facilitates the integration of cross-cultural perspectives. The contemplative traditions point to a further kind of wisdom, which is transconceptual seeing. In this article, I focus on a theoretical approach to wisdom. The Varieties of Mind: The Evolution of a Metaphysical Model
The underlying assumption of Nozick's theory is that wisdom is a result of rational evaluation and understanding. As such, existential wisdom aims to provide insight into the informational nature of reality. Moreover, Eastern spiritual practices harness psychological modalities of intuition and identification, which potentially lead to insight into an eternal reality and its carrier of form. In addition to these two types of wisdom, existential and practical knowledge are mutually supportive.
Nozick and Kekes argue that wisdom consists of a wide range of different forms. Neither can be defined with a single concept. Rather, wisdom encompasses a diverse range of forms. The main idea of this interdisciplinary approach is that each of these approaches is complementary. It is possible to have different types of wisdom, depending on the context. It is important to understand the differences between these views before interpreting any of these models.
Howard Gardner describes wisdom as an ability to see the bigger picture and consider various options. For example, life-centered wisdom involves evaluating everyday situations from many points of view. In this regard, Howard Gardner defines wisdom as a wide breadth of perspectives and a capacity for considering different courses of action. It involves asking questions such as: Will this work? What are the consequences? Will this serve my purpose? Does this make sense? What are the consequences? Does this move fit my goals?
Similarly, life-centered wisdom seeks to assess situations from different points of view. In this approach, the person will evaluate their actions from various perspectives and weigh their consequences. Such wisdom is characterized by a variety of perspectives. If the person is wise, they will also make the best decisions, regardless of the consequences. And if they are wise, they will make the best choices in the end.
The Varieties of Wisdom are not one type of knowledge. They are many. Some are more complex and deeper than others. While we all have our own unique perspectives on life, we should be open to all kinds of experiences. This is where wisdom comes from. For example, the Buddhists are open-minded, and they strive to cultivate the virtue of compassion and empathy. They practice the art of mindfulness, which is a means to attain inner peace.