Bertrand Russell's essay "Knowledge and Wisdom" examines the relationship between the two concepts. He begins by stating that knowledge is the more important of the two, as it is the foundation upon which wisdom is built. However, he goes on to say that wisdom is not simply the accumulation of knowledge, but rather the ability to use knowledge in a way that is beneficial to oneself and others. Russell concludes by asserting that the best way to acquire wisdom is to learn from the mistakes of others.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bertrand Arthur William Russell (1872-1970) was a British philosopher, logician, essayist, and social critic best known for his work in analytic philosophy and mathematical logic. His most influential contributions include his defense of neutral monism (the view that the world consists of only one type of substance that is neither exclusively mental nor exclusively physical), his refining of Gottlob Frege's predicate calculus (which still forms the basis of most contemporary systems of logic), and his theories of definite descriptions, logical a priori, and logical a posteriori.
Knowing a tomato is a fruit is a KNOWLEDGE…. Knowing not to put it in a fruit salad is WISDOM
SUMMARY
In this essay, Russell distinguishes between knowledge and wisdom. Wisdom and knowledge are not synonymous. Russell defines wisdom and offers numerous methods for obtaining it. He bemoans the fact that, despite vast amounts of information, there has been no corresponding increase in wisdom. Knowledge, according to him, is the gathering of data and information, whereas wisdom is the practical application and use of knowledge to produce value. Wisdom is gained through study and actual experience, not just memory.
Russel defines wisdom by describing what contributes to it. The first is a sense of scale. It is the ability to thoroughly examine all pertinent variables in a problem. It's more difficult because of specialization. For example, scientists may discover new drugs but have no idea how these drugs will affect people's lives. The medications may reduce newborn mortality. It may, however, result in an increase in population. Food shortages are possible in poorer countries. More people may lead to a lower standard of living. A crazed individual could use knowledge of the atom's composition to destroy the entire world. Knowledge can be dangerous without wisdom.
Knowledge should be linked to the overall needs of humanity. Even in-depth knowledge is insufficient. It should be linked to a clear understanding of one's life's purpose. This can be demonstrated through the study of history. Hegel, for example, wrote about history with great historical knowledge while encouraging Germans to believe they were a superior race. As a result, war broke out. As a result, it is critical to combine information with emotions. Men who have knowledge but no feelings are illiterate.
Wisdom is required in both public and private life. We need the wisdom to figure out what we want to do with our lives. We expect it to be free of personal biases. If a new idea is too big to accomplish, we may pursue it in the wrong way. People have died in search of the "philosopher's Stone," also known as the "elixir of life." They were ineffective. They were looking for simple answers to humanity's complex problems. A man may attempt the impossible, but he may endanger himself in the process.
Similarly, in order to avoid hatred for one another, wisdom is required in personal life. Two people may remain enemies as a result of their prejudice. One may despise the other because of perceived flaws. They might become friends if they learn that we all have flaws. Russel contends that rational argument can help us avoid hatred. The way to wisdom is to free ourselves from the clutches of our sense organs. As a result of our senses, our ego grows. We cannot survive without sight, sound, and touch. Our senses are the primary way we perceive the world. We discover that there are other things as we grow. We start to notice them. As a result, we no longer regard ourselves as individuals. We become wise when we begin to think about other people. We surrendered our egoism. It is difficult to completely eliminate selfishness, but we can think beyond our immediate surroundings. When we begin to place value on things that do not directly affect us, wisdom emerges. We begin to gain wisdom when we begin to love people.
Russell believes that wisdom can be taught as a goal of education. The story of the Good Samaritan teaches us to love our neighbors, whether they are friends or foes. We often miss the point of this story because we stop loving those who cause harm to society. The only way out is through understanding, not hatred. Russel, in a nutshell, advises us not to hate anyone. The author uses historical examples of Queen Elizabeth I, Henry IV, and Abraham Lincoln who were free of the mistakes made by other notable persons in the past. The dangers of hatred and narrow-mindedness may be highlighted during the course of imparting knowledge. Russell believes that knowledge and values can be integrated into an educational strategy. People should be educated to see things in the context of the larger picture. They must be encouraged to think of themselves as global citizens.
Finally, the author identifies five factors that contribute to wisdom. They are as follows: comprehensiveness, proportionality, emancipation, impartiality, human needs awareness, and comprehension. Our ability to do evil grows in lockstep with our knowledge. To make appropriate use of our knowledge, we would need more and more wisdom. More wisdom is required to make the best use of our growing knowledge. Only then can we realize our life's purpose and achieve our objectives.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q1) What is the relationship between wisdom and knowledge according to Bertrand Russell?
Ans: In Bertrand Russell's view, wisdom is not simply a matter of knowledge. Rather, wisdom is a combination of knowledge and understanding. Knowledge is a matter of knowing facts, while understanding is a matter of interpreting and applying those facts.
Q2) What is the difference between a clever man and a wise man? And how can one become wise?
Ans: A wise person has both insight and foresight, whereas a clever person may or may not. A clever person can seize the present moment, but a wise person can see further. A clever man reacts quickly to external changes, but a wise man can see through the changes and make the right decision. Wisdom requires a broad vision and an unbiased mind, and one can gain a lot of wisdom through constant thinking and experiencing.
This is an argumentative text. Russell believes that a variety of factors contribute to wisdom. A wise man has a broad vision and is capable of considering all relevant aspects of a problem and giving equal weight to each of them. A wise man is also aware of the end of his life.
It is considered foolish to pursue a goal that is impossible to achieve. Russell also mentions that one aspect of wisdom is the emancipation from personal prejudice as much as possible.
You may gain wisdom as your thoughts and feelings become less personal.
Q3) What message does the writer try to convey with the example of technicians? (para 2)
Ans: The author attempts to convince us that knowledge alone cannot save the world. Knowledge without wisdom will not benefit the world and, in some cases, will endanger humanity. As a result, a wise person must have a broad perspective.
Q4) How can wisdom help one in his/her pursuit of a life-long career? (para 4)
Ans: Wisdom can aid in the selection of a lifelong pursuit. When making a major career decision, one must consider whether it is possible to achieve one's goals. If it is too difficult to achieve, he should learn to give up and focus on a more manageable goal.
Q5) What, according to Russell, is the essence of wisdom? And how can one acquire the very essence?
Ans: The essence of wisdom, according to Russell, is impartiality, or the ability to defy the physical world.
Russell believes that growing wise entails separating oneself from the physical and emotional worlds and entering a higher stage, the spiritual world.
The first paragraph serves as an introductory paragraph.
The author introduces the subject of the relationship between knowledge and wisdom.
1st paragraph:
Most people believe that knowledge is not the same as wisdom because history has shown that acquiring knowledge does not always result in an increase in wisdom. He explains the goals of the
Writing, he expresses his desire to discuss what contributes to the wisdom and how to teach wisdom.
2nd paragraph:
This section is the essay's main body. The first four paragraphs define wisdom.
Q6) What factors contribute to wisdom according to Russell?
Ans: Russell believes that the following factors contribute to wisdom: a sense of proportion, an awareness of the purposes of human life, and freedom from personal prejudice.
Q7) What does "sense of proportion" mean?
Ans: The writer defines "sense of proportion" as the ability to consider all of the important factors in a problem and assign appropriate weight to each, or the comprehensive view of a problem's situation. In other words, it refers to the ability to get a comprehensive view of a problem while also noting which aspects are more important and which are less important.
Q8) Is it easy to get the right sense of proportion?
Ans: No. Because of the breadth and complexity of the specialized knowledge required of various types of technicians, it has become more difficult than it used to be.
Q9) Why is the wisdom needed when we choose the end we want to pursue?
Ans: We should be wise enough to recognize that some noble goals are inherently impossible to achieve. So it is critical to consider the viability of noble ideas.
I believe that the essence of wisdom is to look beyond the confinement of the physical and emotional worlds.
Q10) What does “tyranny of the here and now” mean?
Ans: According to the author, people cannot avoid being biased. The difference between a wise and an unwise man is that the former has less partiality. As one's impartiality grows, so does his wisdom.
It is possible to become more impartial by learning about history and the future, as well as other parts of the world, and by showing respect and interest in various things.
Q11) What are the factors that contribute to wisdom?
Ans: Bertrand Russell discusses several factors that contribute to wisdom in his essay "Knowledge and Wisdom." According to him, the following factors contribute to wisdom:
i) a sense of proportion, ii) aware comprehensiveness and feeling iii) emancipation from personal prejudices iv) impartiality and v) intellectual element
Q12) What message does the writer try to convey with the examples of technicians?
Ans: The author uses examples of technicians to convey a message about dangers. He believes that if technical knowledge is applied without wisdom, it can be harmful to humanity. For example, technicians may be pleased that the world's infant mortality rate has been reduced, but this results in a lack of food supply and a lower standard of living. Similarly, knowledge of atomic theory can be abused to create atomic bombs that destroy the human race.
Q13) Which leaders does Russell say were able to mix knowledge and wisdom soundly?
Ans: According to Russell, leaders such as Queen Elizabeth I of England, Henry IV of France, and Abraham Lincoln can successfully combine knowledge and wisdom. Queen Elizabeth I and Henry IV were both free from the errors of their time, and by doing so, they were both beneficent and certainly not ineffective. Similarly, Abraham Lincoln led a great war without ever deviating from sound judgment.
Q14) Why is the wisdom needed not only in public ways but in private life equally?
Ans: Wisdom is required not only in public, but also in private life. It is required in the selection of goals to pursue as well as in the emancipation from personal prejudice. We may fail to choose our life's goal and achieve success due to a lack of wisdom.
Q15) What, according to Russell, is the true aim of education?
Ans: According to Russell, the true goal of education is to instill wisdom in people. Wisdom motivates us to apply our knowledge in practical ways that benefit humanity rather than harm it. To be good citizens, people must have both knowledge and wisdom.
Q16) Can wisdom be taught? If so, how?
Ans: Yes, wisdom can be learned. The teaching of wisdom should include a greater intellectual component than moral instruction. The disastrous consequences of hatred and narrow-mindedness to those who feel them can be mentioned incidentally while imparting knowledge. For example, while teaching the composition of an atom, the disastrous consequences of its misuse, such as the creation of an atom bomb, must be taught.
Q17) Why does the world need more wisdom in the future?
Ans: When we look at the current growth of knowledge in various sectors, it is clear that there will be even more development of knowledge in the future. In the absence of wisdom, most people misuse knowledge, resulting in a variety of negative consequences, and this reality will continue in the future if knowledge is not combined with wisdom. Only wisdom causes people to use their acquired knowledge wisely. More wisdom is required for a brighter future.
Q18) According to Russell, "The Pursuit of Knowledge may become harmful unless it is combined with wisdom." Justify this statement.
Ans: Humans are curious creatures and they always want to learn new things. Most people have spent their entire lives seeking knowledge. Some knowledge is noble and beneficial to humans, whereas other knowledge is harmful to us. Knowledge combined with wisdom is beneficial to us because it addresses all of humanity's needs. Because it is used to make bombs, knowledge of atomic composition has become harmful to humanity. Similarly, Hegal, despite his extensive knowledge of history, led the Germans to believe that they were a superior race. It resulted in the great and disastrous wars. As a result, it is necessary to combine knowledge with a sense of humanity. We require an event to determine our life's purpose. It liberates us from our personal prejudices. In the absence of wisdom, even noble things are applied iniquitously.
Q19) What, according to Russell, is the essence of wisdom? And how can one acquire the very essence?
Ans: The essence of wisdom, according to Russell, is freedom from the tyranny of being partial. It depersonalizes our thoughts and feelings and makes us less concerned with our physical states. Wisdom moves us to a higher level of spirituality by making us care about and love the entire human race. It enables us to make sound decisions by instilling in us a broad perspective and objectivity. We can obtain the very essence by breaking the chain of our sense egoism, understanding the ends of human life, wisely applying our knowledge for the benefit of humans, finding noble and attainable goals in our lives, controlling our sensory perceptions, gradually becoming impartial, and loving others.
