Introduction
Do knowledge and wisdom mean the same? Of course not. Knowledge is the acquisition of information through education and sometimes experience. On the other hand, wisdom is a person’s capacity to act and behave prudently using the knowledge gained. Some consider knowledge a justified true belief. That is, a true and justifiable belief is categorized as knowledge. However, Socrates rejected this definition.
According to Socrates, wisdom is understanding why things are a certain way. Romans and Ancient Greeks considered wisdom a virtue and personified it as Goddess Minerva and Athena respectively. Wisdom also refers to a person’s skill in dealing with questions pertaining to life that are seemingly unanswerable. Moreover, it is the ability to assess an action’s consequences.
Knowledge Vs. Wisdom
Knowledge refers to a person’s awareness and understanding of facts. Wisdom is the ability to utilize knowledge to make the right decision.
Difference Between Knowledge And Wisdom In Tabular Form
| Parameters of Comparison | Knowledge | Wisdom |
| Definition | Propositional knowledge is a form of true belief. | According to Ancient Greeks, it is a virtue. |
| Sources | Knowledge is accumulated by perception, introspection, and inference. | Wisdom is an innate ability to use knowledge the right way. It can be further developed through day-to-day experiences. |
| Influence of Time | More and more knowledge can be gained with time. | Wisdom is uninfluenced by time. Either a person possesses wisdom, or they don’t. Mere acquisition or development of knowledge and skill does not constitute wisdom. |
| Approach | Accumulation of knowledge is a theoretical approach. | Wisdom is a practical approach to life. Some consider it a spiritual way of life as they associate it with the soul. |
| Value | It is valuable because it is useful. One must have enough information to identify a problem to deal with it. | It is valuable because it makes the lives of the persons who possess it and those around them better. |
What Is Knowledge?
Knowledge is familiarity with objects, places, cultures, and various other subjects. It is developed through studies, observations, and research. Awareness of the fact that certain chemicals when mixed react in a specific way is knowledge. Even mundane facts about various objects add to a person’s existing knowledge. Moreover, scientific knowledge is reliable and replicable.
Knowledge is reproduced through communication, and the sociology of knowledge (study of the relationship between thought and society) treats it as a synonym of culture. The saying ‘knowledge is power’ is popular because a knowledgeable person will never be caught unaware.
Types Of Knowledge
Propositional and non-propositional knowledge are the two major types of knowledge. However, there are several other important types as well.
Propositional Knowledge
Propositional knowledge is a form of theoretical knowledge. The whys, what, and who that explains facts is categorized as propositional knowledge. Occurrent and dispositional knowledge are the types of propositional knowledge. The former is known as active knowledge, as it refers to a person’s present thoughts. The latter is the information stored at the back of one’s mind.
Non-propositional Knowledge
Procedural knowledge and knowledge by acquaintance are well-known types of non-propositional knowledge. The former is concerned with skills (for example knowing how to fish), and the latter is concerned with familiarity of an individual or an object through experiential contact.
A Priori And A Posteriori Knowledge
Knowledge acquired through experience is a posteriori knowledge. Knowing that a dog is growling when one hears the sound because of prior interaction with dogs is an example of a posteriori knowledge. A priori knowledge is the knowledge acquired without prior experience. Knowing 2 + 2 = 4 is an example of a priori knowledge. This type of knowledge does not require to be confirmed. Some argue that gaining knowledge is not possible without some kind of experience. Plato counter-argued that the soul knows everything, and it only needs to recollect what it already knows.
Self-Knowledge
Self-knowledge is concerned with knowledge about one’s own thoughts, emotions, sensations, beliefs, psyche, and so on. Realistic knowledge about the personality, preferences, and social identities of the self is also referred to as self-knowledge, which is different from self-concept (includes unrealistic perceptions of oneself).
Higher And Lower Knowledge
Lower knowledge refers to mundane facts required for day-to-day functioning. However, higher knowledge refers to knowledge of God or ultimate reality. Religions often posit that God is the source of knowledge, and knowledge of God frees people from the cycle of rebirth.
Common And Domain knowledge
Common knowledge is the facts everyone in a community or a specific group is aware of and is distinct from general knowledge. Persons outside the group will not know common knowledge. General knowledge refers to information people collect throughout the years about numerous subjects. Domain knowledge refers to knowledge of a specific activity, discipline, or field. Those who possess this type of knowledge are usually specialists.
Meta-Knowledge
Meta-knowledge is awareness of information about knowledge. It is a fundamental concept in the domains of knowledge engineering (all aspects related to building, maintaining, and using knowledge-based systems), knowledge management (methods relating to creating, sharing, and using an organization’s knowledge), and other studies related to knowledge.
Philosophical Skepticism
Philosophical skepticism posits that humans lack knowledge (global skepticism). Perceptual experience is a source of knowledge; however, dreaming provides information that may or may not be accurate. A person’s inability to discern dreams from reality makes it possible for philosophers to argue that perceptual experience does not exist.
A less radical argument (local skepticism) is that knowledge of a specific discipline cannot exist. For example, everything one knows about the world is known with the help of the five senses. Sometimes, the senses can be deceiving, and faulty impressions are formed. Yet others argue that moral knowledge cannot possibly exist as there is no way to determine the truthfulness of a moral claim.
What Is Wisdom?
Wisdom is a person’s expertise in dealing with complex situations in life. Previous experiences help further develop and hone a person’s wisdom. Many philosophers want educational institutions to focus on nurturing wisdom rather than the pursuit of mere knowledge. Most cultures have profoundly wise proverbs and sayings. Wisdom is seen as the capacity of foresight. A wise person has foreknowledge of a situation, knows the consequences of various courses of action that can be taken, and chooses the best course of action.
Importance Of Wisdom
Not all knowledgeable people are wise, but all wise people are knowledgeable. So, why is wisdom important? Wisdom ensures that people know the best way to handle any situation. Will Graham would have run away from Hannibal the minute he realized the extent of the danger the latter presented if he had been wise. He would not have been forced to jump off a cliff with Hannibal.
Wise people think about how their actions will influence others. Since man is a social animal, he must be wise to develop mutually beneficial relationships. Emotions are often at odds with wisdom, and it is vital to learn to regulate one’s emotions. And why should people do that? Because letting their emotions rule will cloud their judgment, which is not wise. In short, wisdom provides clarity and penetrative understanding, which is what most people search for in life.
Religious Perspectives Of Wisdom
According to Christian theology, wisdom is gained from God. The book of James explains that heavenly wisdom is pure, impartial, and sincere. One must use wisdom to help those who are not as fortunate as one is in life. In Buddhism, wisdom leads to a profound understanding of everything. Wisdom counters the poisonous ignorance and frees one from suffering.
A wise person knows the difference between right and wrong and is the guardian of justice. Merely gabbing away (no matter how giftedly) about something is not wisdom. Calmness, lack of hatred and fear, and willingness to perform unpleasant actions that yield good results are marks of wisdom.
According to Hinduism, wisdom leads one from the dark to the light and brings a state of peace. Wisdom is also stated as the state of self-awareness. Saraswati, the Goddess of wisdom, is depicted holding a book, a water pot, a rosary, and a veena. The book symbolizes all forms of learning, and the water pot symbolizes the ability to discern right from wrong (both objects refer to an aspect of wisdom).
One of the most interesting Norse Mythology regarding wisdom is the story of Odin. It is believed that Odin plucked out his eye as an offering to the guardian of the well of wisdom. In return, he was allowed to drink from the well. In Greek Mythology, Athena is the Goddess of Wisdom. Her victory against Poseidon to be the Patron God of Athens shows that she possessed wisdom in spades. It was a significant strategic move offering the people something that would be useful for years to come.
Types Of Wisdom
According to Christian beliefs, wisdom is of three types. The lowest form of wisdom is Earthly Wisdom, while the highest form is Godly Wisdom.
Human/Earthly Wisdom
Human wisdom refers to intelligence and knowledge gained from experiences, observations, and books. It is considered inferior to the other types of wisdom. A person with this type of wisdom knows how to apply knowledge but values logic over spirituality.
Demonic/Satanic Wisdom
Demonic wisdom paves the way for manipulation and cunningness and is believed to be acquired by Lucifer’s influence. Wanting to know how everything works and trying to make sense of it is also classified as satanic wisdom. Any form of wisdom that contradicts or challenges Godly wisdom is demonic.
Godly Wisdom
Seeking peace and desiring purity is considered Godly wisdom. Demonic wisdom helps people acquire precious treasures on Earth but pulls them into Hell. In contrast, Godly wisdom is believed to aid people in attaining a place in Heaven.
Wisdom In Popular Culture
Master Yoda is considered the wisest fictional character. His speech pattern may seem weird; nevertheless, his words are wise. His words about how there is only doing or not doing and no in between struck a chord in the hearts of millions. Another fictional character who oozes wisdom is Professor Albus Dumbledore. He made Potterheads understand that one must not dwell in dreams.
Moreover, his opinion that choices and not one’s ability determine character and personality is wise beyond measure. Several other characters such as Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings, Mufasa from The Lion King, and Mr. Miyagi from The Karate Kid are also considered wise because of their perspective of life.
Main Difference Between Knowledge And Wisdom (In Points)
- Knowledge refers to understanding a topic, concept, subject, or person. Wisdom is knowing what is right, true, or fair and using that information efficiently.
- Knowledge is familiarity with a theory, whereas wisdom is the application of those theories. In this sense, the latter encompasses the former.
- Knowledge is power; without knowledge one cannot be successful in life. However, wisdom aids in understanding the true meaning of life.
- Wisdom helps to ascertain the value of life. A wise person understands why a life (be it theirs or others) is worth so much. A knowledgeable person in his pursuit of knowledge may do more harm than good (for example, look at what atomic bombs did to Hiroshima and Nagasaki).
- Wisdom develops from internal sources like analysis, self-reflection, and empathy. On the other hand, external sources affect knowledge accumulation.
- Knowledge is not influenced by moral or ethical values. However, emotions, morals, and ethics are some of the factors affecting wisdom.
Conclusion
It is impossible to be wise without knowledge, and mere knowledge without wisdom can be catastrophic. Therefore, people must strive to gain more knowledge to have a strong foundation for nurturing their wisdom. Some view wisdom as a burden or a curse because the wise are always expected to do what is right no matter how unpleasant it is to do. However, isn’t that life? Dealing with whatever life throws our way is a familiar routine by now, is it not? Wisdom is neither a blessing nor a curse; it is a virtue.
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisdom
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2021/03/28/why-you-need-wisdom-and-how-to-be-more-wise-according-to-science/
- https://www.disciplenationschurch.org/sermons/three-types-of-wisdom/
- https://upjourney.com/what-is-the-difference-between-knowledge-and-wisdom
