Immanuel Kant is a hard read. You know this if you’ve ever read Kant or any number of philosophers who are relied upon, even today, to glean the wisdom in their words. Science and wisdom are two distinct areas of human searching.
When I look at science I think about the discovery the process of science provides. Science answers questions. Furthermore, science provides us with new ways to look at the world around us.
Wisdom is about discovery as well but we arrive at our conclusions in a different way. Some of our wisdom is gained from watching others. We also gain wisdom by reading or hearing it.
Science discovers things on the micro level. It edges us along piece by piece as scientists make one small discovery here and another there. Each of these little pieces can lead us to yet greater discovery. Sometimes science discovers that one particular thread of inquiry is an absolute dead end, while other threads lead to great learning and unlock secrets that before were unknown.
Wisdom involves a knowingness. In many cases you cannot prove wisdom–it just is. We know it when we see it. We know it when we hear it. We know it when we experience it.
Science and wisdom are both necessary for humankind. One propels us to better living through the discoveries science brings us, the other propels humans to a higher state of consciousness–a new way of looking at the same thing with different “eyes”.
Science tells us more about life. Wisdom tells us more about living.
Until next time…
Dave
Daily Ramblings... 