Combining Texts

Ideas for 'works', 'A Free Will' and 'Virtues of the Mind'

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5 ideas

1. Philosophy / A. Wisdom / 1. Nature of Wisdom

19693	There is practical wisdom (for action), and theoretical wisdom (for deep understanding) [Aristotle, by Whitcomb]
	Full Idea: Aristotle takes wisdom to come in two forms, the practical and the theoretical, the former of which is good judgement about how to act, and the latter of which is deep knowledge or understanding.
	From: report of Aristotle (works [c.330 BCE]) by Dennis Whitcomb - Wisdom Intro
	A reaction: The interesting question is then whether the two are connected. One might be thoroughly 'sensible' about action, without counting as 'wise', which seems to require a broader view of what is being done. Whitcomb endorses Aristotle on this idea.

20186	Unlike knowledge, wisdom cannot be misused [Zagzebski]
	Full Idea: A distinctive mark of wisdom is that it cannot be misused, whereas knowledge surely can be misused.
	From: Linda Trinkaus Zagzebski (Virtues of the Mind [1996], I 1.2)
	A reaction: She will argue, with Aristotle, that this is because wisdom (and maybe 'true' knowledge) must include 'phronesis' (practical wisdom), which is the key to all the virtues, intellectual and moral. This idea is striking, and obviously correct.

1. Philosophy / A. Wisdom / 2. Wise People

19694	Wisdom is the property of a person, not of their cognitive state [Zagzebski, by Whitcomb]
	Full Idea: Zagzebski takes wisdom as literally properties of persons, not persons' cognitive states.
	From: report of Linda Trinkaus Zagzebski (Virtues of the Mind [1996], p.59-60) by Dennis Whitcomb - Wisdom 'Twofold'
	A reaction: Not sure about this. Zagzebski uses this idea to endorse epistemic virtue. But knowledge and ignorance are properties of persons too. There can be, though, a precise mental state involved in knowledge, but not in wisdom.

1. Philosophy / C. History of Philosophy / 2. Ancient Philosophy / e. Late classical philosophy

23335	In late antiquity nearly all philosophers were monotheists [Frede,M]
	Full Idea: I am inclined to think that almost all philosophers in late antiquity were monotheists.
	From: Michael Frede (A Free Will [1997], 08)
	A reaction: I'm not sure when late antiquity begins, in this remark. Maybe as early as 100 CE. Epictetus talks of Zeus as if he is supreme.

23326	In the third century Stoicism died out, replaced by Platonism, with Aristotelian ethics [Frede,M]
	Full Idea: By the second century CE Aristotelianism and Platonism had begun to eclipse Stoicism, and by the end of the third century Stoicism had no followers. All philosophers now opted for some form of Platonism, but including Aristotle's ethical principles.
	From: Michael Frede (A Free Will [1997], 04)
	A reaction: The idea that Aristotelian ethics dominated that period is new to me. Stoic influence remained strong in Augustine, and hence in Christianity.