Knowledge and Wisdom 
Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)
About the Author
· Full name: Bertrand Arthur William Russell
· British philosopher, logician, essayist and social critic
· Best known for his work in mathematical logic and analytic philosophy.
· His most influential contributions include his championing of logicism (the view that mathematics is in some important sense reducible to logic), his refining of Gottlob Frege’s predicate calculus (which still forms the basis of most contemporary systems of logic), his defense of natural monism ( the view that the world consists of just one type of substance which is neither exclusively mental nor exclusively physical), and his theories of definite descriptions, logical atomism and logical types.
Central idea
In this essay, Russell differentiates between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge and wisdom are different things. According to him, knowledge is defined as the acquisition of data and information, while wisdom is defined as the practical application and use of the knowledge to create value. Wisdom is gained through learning and practical experience, not just memorization.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. What are the factors that contribute to wisdom?
A sense of proportion, comprehensiveness, awareness of the end of human life, impartiality and emancipation from personal prejudice are the factors that contribute to wisdom.
b. What message does the writer try to convey with the example of technicians?
The writer is trying to convey the idea that the acquisition of knowledge and skills alone is not sufficient for a fulfilling life. A deeper understanding and appreciation of the world is also necessary. He argues that while technicians may be highly proficient in their field, they may not be aware of unintended result of their inventions and broader understanding of the world. He further argues that if the composition of the atom is incidentally placed in the hands of powerful lunatics, the fate of the human race will be at danger .
c. Which leaders does Russell say were able to mix knowledge and wisdom soundly?
Russell says that Queen Elizabeth I, Henry IV and Abraham Lincoln were able to mix knowledge and wisdom soundly. According to him, Queen Elizabeth I in England and Henry IV in France lived in a world where almost everybody was fanatical, either on the Protestant or on the Catholic side. Both remained free, were beneficent and certainly not ineffective. Abraham Lincoln conducted a great war without ever departing from wisdom.
d. Why is wisdom needed not only in public ways, but in private life equally?
Wisdom is needed not only in public ways, but also it is equally needed in private life. It is needed in the choice of ends (aim/purpose) to be pursued and in emancipation from personal prejudice. Some important achievements in life can be meaningless and can even be lost in the lack of wisdom.
e. What, according to Russell, is the true aim of education?
According to Russell, teaching of wisdom is the true aim of education. For him, wisdom is gained through learning and practical experience. It allows humans to behave sensibly. Therefore, he argues that the teaching of wisdom should be one of the aims of education.
f. Can wisdom be taught? If so, how?
Yes, wisdom can be taught. It can be taught as the true aim of education. The countries which intend to teach wisdom, one of the aims of their education system should be the teaching of wisdom. Education aiming at teaching wisdom allows human to induce them to abandon their evil ways. Such education teaches humans how to overcome evils through understanding.
g. Why does the world need more wisdom in the future?
The world needs more wisdom in the future because of the increasing knowledge and skill causing complexity as well as the potential dangers due to misuse of inventions and discoveries. Human skills and knowledge seem both blessings and curse. Therefore, the world needs more wisdom to utilize the increasing knowledge and skills for the sake of humanity and to avoid unwise purposes and our capacity for evil.
Reference to the context
a. According to Russell, “The pursuit of knowledge may become harmful unless it is combined with wisdom.” Justify this statement.
According to Bertrand Russell, knowledge is defined as the acquisition of data and information, while wisdom is defined as the practical application and use of the knowledge to create value. Wisdom is gained through learning and practical experience, not just memorization
Russell believed that the pursuit of knowledge alone can lead to harm if it is not accompanied by wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge in a practical and ethical way, and to understand the limitations and consequences of that knowledge. Without wisdom, knowledge can be used recklessly or for harmful purposes. For example, a scientist who discovers a new weapon but lacks wisdom may use it to cause harm and destruction, while a scientist who possesses wisdom will use their knowledge to create something that is beneficial and has positive impact on society. Thus, the combination of knowledge and wisdom allows us to make informed and responsible decisions, and to use our knowledge in a way that is beneficial to ourselves and others.
To conclude, wisdom allows us to use knowledge to create value and apply for practical purposes. It encourages us to prevent the spread of evil and enhances greatest degree of the good things that we wish to preserve. Thus, combination of knowledge and wisdom is essential for the survival and prosperity of humanity.
b. What according to Russell, is the essence of wisdom? And how can one acquire the very essence?
According to Bertrand Russell, the essence of wisdom is emancipation, as fat as possible, from the tyranny of the here and now. It is the ability to use knowledge in a practical and ethical way. He believed that wisdom involves understanding the limitations and consequences of knowledge, and being able to make informed and responsible decisions.
Russell believed that wisdom can be acquired through a combination of education, experience, and self-reflection. Education provides us with knowledge and understanding of the world, while experience allows us to see how that knowledge applies in real-world situations. Self-reflection allows us to examine our own beliefs and actions, and to consider how they align with our values and goals.
To conclude, one can acquire the essence of wisdom by combining education, experience, and self-reflection, we can develop the ability to use knowledge in a practical and ethical way. It allows us to make responsible decisions.
Reference beyond the text
a. Why is wisdom necessary in education? Discuss.
Wisdom is necessary in education for several reasons:
First, wisdom helps to ensure that knowledge is used in a responsible and ethical way. Education is not just about acquiring data and information about particular disciplines, but also about understanding how to use them in a way that is beneficial to ourselves and others. Wisdom helps us to understand the limitations and consequences of our knowledge, and to make informed and responsible decisions.
Second, wisdom allows to promote critical thinking and problem-solving. Education should not just be about memorizing facts, but about developing the ability to think critically and solve problems. Wisdom allows us to consider different perspectives and to understand how different pieces of knowledge are connected.
Third, wisdom encourages us to foster personal and social development. Education should not just be about acquiring knowledge, but also about becoming a all-rounded individual who can contribute to society. Wisdom helps us to understand our own beliefs and actions, and to align them with our values and goals. This in turn helps us to become responsible and ethical individuals who are able to make a positive impact on society.
Lastly, wisdom is necessary in education to help students to be able to apply their knowledge in real-world situations. Wisdom allows them to identify the relevance of what they learn in class to the world around them, making their education more meaningful and practical.
To sum up, wisdom is an essential component of education, as it helps to ensure that knowledge is used in a responsible and ethical way, promotes critical thinking and problem-solving, fosters personal and social development.
b. How can you become wise? Do you think what you are doing in college contributes to wisdom?
We can become wise by attaining wisdom, which is defined as the practical application and use of the knowledge to create value. It is gained through learning, and practical experience, not just memorization. To be wise, one of the aims of our education should be teaching of wisdom.
I think what we are doing in college contributes to wisdom as we learn to behave sensibly along with achieving technical knowledge of particular subject imposed to us. Many activities and college rules and regulations are likely to teach wisdom. Theoretical knowledge and skills are accompanied with practical application. Our college offers various opportunities to gain practical experience. We don’t only acquire data and information of some special subject or discipline, rather we are being taught to entertain an intellectual life. College teaches us to abandon the evil ways. Hatred of evil is itself a kind of bondage to evil. The way out is through understanding, not through hate. We learn there how to prevent the spread of the evil. We gain several and varied soft skills in the college. These skills are really behaviour shaping and allow us to adjust in different situations.
To conclude, college education offers us knowledge and skills and also teaches us to put theoretical knowledge into practice. We become well-equipped with soft skills to apply data and information in the right field in the right time. Wisdom is taken as an essential component of education. The college is so functional that trains the students use knowledge in a responsible and ethical way, promotes critical thinking and problem-solving, fosters personal and social developments. Thus, what we are doing in college contributes to wisdom.
