Combining Texts

Ideas for 'The Statesman', 'Letters to Antoine Arnauld' and 'Through the Looking Glass'

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2 ideas

1. Philosophy / A. Wisdom / 1. Nature of Wisdom
Wisdom is the science of happiness [Leibniz]
     Full Idea: Wisdom is the science of happiness.
     From: Gottfried Leibniz (Letters to Antoine Arnauld [1686], 1690.03.23)
     A reaction: That probably comes down to common sense, or Aristotle's 'phronesis'. I take wisdom to involve understanding, as well as the quest for happiness.
1. Philosophy / A. Wisdom / 2. Wise People
Wise people have fewer acts of will, because such acts are linked together [Leibniz]
     Full Idea: The wiser one is, the fewer separate acts of will one has and the more one's views and acts of will are comprehensive and linked together.
     From: Gottfried Leibniz (Letters to Antoine Arnauld [1686], 1686.04.12)
     A reaction: [letter to Landgrave, about Arnauld] It is unusual to find a philosopher who actually tries to analyse the nature of wisdom, instead of just paying lipservice to it. I take Leibniz to be entirely right here. He equates wisdom with rational behaviour.