It’s about wisdom

I have to say I believe in the intrinsic value of knowledge. People wonder why I study all fields of study, and am fascinated by everything. In the end, you can apply so many things to your life that you don't realize, and knowledge isn't just purposeful for your ends, but it is an end in itself.

When you say wisdom, what do you mean? Do you want to study and research and become knowledgeable? Because I think there is a difference between knowledgeable and the ability to apply and interpret knowledge. There is more to wisdom than applying the past to the future. You say wisdom is seeing life whole, but I'm of the opinion that many people who are wise have a very skeptical view of life and are not necessarily positive about it. If you are looking to see your life whole, I think you are on more of a quest for a fulfilling life than on a quest for wisdom.

But I also read too much Plato. His idea of the meaningful life is one in which our acquisition of knowledge never ends... And he definitely believed that this didn't leave you very happy with life in general, as blissful ignorance is much more fulfilling and people often look down on those who are knowledge-seeking, as it's not a very practical way of life (doesn't make you much $).

I have to say I believe in the intrinsic value of knowledge. People wonder why I study all fields of study, and am fascinated by everything. In the end, you can apply so many things to your life that you don't realize, and knowledge isn't just purposeful for your ends, but it is an end in itself.

When you say wisdom, what do you mean? Do you want to study and research and become knowledgeable? Because I think there is a difference between knowledgeable and the ability to apply and interpret knowledge. There is more to wisdom than applying the past to the future. You say wisdom is seeing life whole, but I'm of the opinion that many people who are wise have a very skeptical view of life and are not necessarily positive about it. If you are looking to see your life whole, I think you are on more of a quest for a fulfilling life than on a quest for wisdom.

But I also read too much Plato. His idea of the meaningful life is one in which our acquisition of knowledge never ends... And he definitely believed that this didn't leave you very happy with life in general, as blissful ignorance is much more fulfilling and people often look down on those who are knowledge-seeking, as it's not a very practical way of life (doesn't make you much $).

-"sarasnee"

I think that there are at least three forms of intellection: textual intellection is what we do when we reason in text form, artistic intellection is reasoning in artistic form, and practical intellection is what we do in our day-to-day living.

I think that one must acquire a significant degree of understanding in each of these three forms of intellection to qualify for the distinction of “seeing life whole”.

Winston was an accomplished painter, he was a historian with many books to his credit and he was accomplished broadly in practical intellection as he demonstrated in his political career.

I think that the world would be a better place if more people were as attracted to self-leaning as you are.

Hobbies are ways in which many individuals express their individuality. Those matters that excite an individual interest and curiosity are those very things that allow the individual him or her to self-understanding and also for others to understand them. Interests define individuality and help to provide meaning to life. We all look for some ideology, philosophy or religion to provide meaning to life.

When examining psychosis the psychiatrist advises either the establishment of an interpersonal evolvement or for finding interests and perhaps new patterns of thought. Many of us find that our work provides that means for identity and personal fulfillment.

None of us have discovered our full potentialities or have fully explored in depth those we have discovered. Self-development and self-expression are relatively new ideas in human history. The arts are one means for this self-expression. The artist may find drawing or constructing sculptures as a means for self-discovery. The self-learner may find essay writing of equal importance. Consciousness of individuality was first become a possibility in the middle Ages. The Renaissance and further the Reformation enhanced the development of individual identification.

The word “individual” moved from the indivisible and collective to the divisible and distinctive. In this we see the development of an understanding of self-consciousness thus illustrating the dramatic change taking place in our developing understanding of the self as a distinct subject not just a cipher in a community. This was part of the Renaissance.

I recommend that each of us develop the hobby of an intellectual life. We could add to our regular routine the development of an invigorating intellectual life wherein we sought disinterested knowledge; knowledge that is not for the purpose of some immediate need but something that stirs our curiosity, which we seek to understand for the simple reason that we feel a need to understand a particular domain of knowledge.