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Knowledge and Wisdom

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JMJ


I had the following thought a while ago as I read yet another article of the sad state of the world and the viral death spiral of the various humans stuck in the doom loop.

 Man amasses knowledge yet learns nothing. A empty shell with no wisdom.

I'm not certain how to break this down. So ... this I will be relying on the principle of progressive elaboration.

Someone can learn how to use a handgun - that is knowledge.  Then they can decide whether or not to shoot at a steel plate beside them.  That is where wisdom / judgement comes into play.

Those with wisdom know the risks of a ricochet coming back at you. The sound of a bullet twirling in the air as it comes back at you is not comforting, it is terrifying.  The wise man or woman doesn't take the risk.

So the fact is that we are in the midst of one of the worst crises of the Catholic Church. That is probably the worst part - we are surrounded by every aspect of this crisis. The perspective of experience is not available to us. We can't tell if we're nearer the beginning, middle or end.  Without that perspective the only tools we have are the Virtues (link), Dogmas and Doctrines (link) and Principles (link).

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is not putting it on a fruit salad

So we use all of the above to give us perspective and one final ingredient: A full spiritual cup (link). 

Once you have the ingredients then you will know the difference between Wisdom and Knowledge.

P^3

Knowledge:

noun: knowledge; plural noun: knowledges
  1. 1.
    facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.
    "a thirst for knowledge"
    Similar:
    understanding
    comprehension
    grasp
    grip
    command
    mastery
    apprehension
    expertise
    skill
    proficiency
    expertness
    accomplishment
    adeptness
    capacity
    capability
    savoir faire
    know-how
    learning
    erudition
    education
    scholarship
    letters
    schooling
    science
    wisdom
    enlightenment
    philosophy
    familiarity with
    acquaintance with
    conversance with
    intimacy with
    information
    facts
    data
    intelligence
    news
    reports
    lore
    info
    lowdown
    gen
    Opposite:
    ignorance
    illiteracy
    • what is known in a particular field or in total; facts and information.
      "the transmission of knowledge"
    • PHILOSOPHY
      true, justified belief; certain understanding, as opposed to opinion.
  2. 2.
    awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a fact or situation.
    "the program had been developed without his knowledge"
    Similar:
    awareness
    consciousness
    realization
    recognition
    cognition
    apprehension
    perception
    appreciation
    cognizance
    Opposite:
    unawareness

KNOWLEDGE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

Wisdom:

noun
noun: wisdom
  1. the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise.
    "listen to his words of wisdom"
    Similar:
    sagacity
    sageness
    intelligence
    understanding
    Opposite:
    • the soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment.
      "some questioned the wisdom of building the dam so close to an active volcano"
      Similar:
      sagacity
      sageness
      intelligence
      understanding
      Opposite:
    • the body of knowledge and principles that develops within a specified society or period.
      plural noun: wisdoms
      "the traditional farming wisdom of India"
      Similar:
      knowledge
      learning
      erudition
      scholarship
Phrases
in someone's wisdom — used ironically to suggest that an action is not well judged.
"in their wisdom they decided to dispense with him"



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