Single Idea 5333

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / A. Wisdom / 1. Nature of Wisdom]

Full Idea

Any good philosophy will need to offer wisdom about who we are as well as about how we ought to be.

Gist of Idea

Philosophy needs wisdom about who we are, as well as how we ought to be

Source

Owen Flanagan (The Problem of the Soul [2002], p. 14)

Book Reference

Flanagan,Owen: 'The Problem of the Soul' [Basic Books 2003], p.14


A Reaction

This sop should be accepted gratefully by fans of bioethics, who seem inclined to think that describing 'how we are' is all that needs to be said. Maybe the key wisdom lies in the relationship between the 'is' and the 'ought' of human nature.