Wisdom

The first part of the article retraces shifts in the understanding of wisdom from antiquity to modern times. Having originally, as with the Seven Sages of Greece, betokened practical-political expertise, "wisdom" for Plato became a specifically theoretical notion, and for Aristotle the highest praxis as philosophy. In Hellenistic and Roman philosophy the sage was once again conceived of as an expert in practical matters of human life. In modern times, when philosophy came to be associated increasingly with science, wisdom still remained important on the practical side but was also criticized more and more.

The second part of the article focuses on a contemporary understanding of wisdom. It is shown that particularly concepts in recent theoretical - not practical - discourse exhibit traits fruitful for wisdom. Nietzsche, Quine and Wittgenstein among others provide elements suitable for a new, epistemologically inspired, understanding of wisdom: this is centered around circumspection, awareness of plurality, limits of justification and competence in dealing with uncertainty. From this a renewal of philosophy's role as a powerful source of wisdom could result.