Wisdom? It's not just what you know, it's how you live

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. ... the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. — James

Wisdom is something we value. Though rarely spoken of in everyday life—when did you last hear a news story that referred to wisdom?—the world would be poorer without wisdom. In the story of Solomon, when given by God the choice of gifts to receive, Solomon chose wisdom. For such a good choice, God gave Solomon not only wisdom but wealth and victory over his enemies too.

Wisdom is such a rich idea! But like many important aspects of life it's difficult to say just what it is. When you encounter a wise person you know it. But if asked to say just what it is that makes a person wise it is difficult to put into words.


Two ideas can be mistaken for wisdom: "know what" (Greek episteme) and "know how" (Greek techne). Know what is the kind of knowledge a teacher needs. You can't teach if you don't know the subject you are teaching. But simply to know what, is not wisdom. Know how is the skill to make things work, to fix things. If the teacher knows what, the plumber knows how. Simply to know how is not wisdom either. The teacher or the plumber may be foolish, for wisdom is more than knowing what or knowing how—though wisdom may know both what and how. Wisdom knows in which way to apply the what and the how.

For ancient Greeks and ancient Jews alike wisdom was a very important idea. The Greeks gave us philosophy. The Jews gave us the wisdom tradition. It is not an exaggeration to say that the Hellenistic and Jewish traditions have been the most important factors in the development of western culture. The heart of both is wisdom.

James, writing from within the Jewish tradition, shows a certain understanding of wisdom. It's not so much what you know about things, it is the way you live that demonstrates wisdom. Gentleness, peacefulness, willingness to yield, mercy, and no partiality are all born of wisdom, he says. In other words, a wise life is one characterized by certain virtues. The virtues are those that make for good and wholesome relationships—relationships without violence, strife, and prejudice.


Philosophy is often said to be the love of wisdom. The English word is derived from two Greek words: philia (love) and sophia (wisdom). A philosopher is one who loves wisdom. There is an alternative reading. Philosophy is not the love of wisdom, but rather the wisdom of love (Levinas, Irigaray). Philosophy is about how we relate to the Other in loving ways. The philosopher in this reading is one who has learned the wisdom of love. The wisest decision in any situation is the most loving decision, with the most loving intention seeking the most loving outcome.

Wise counsel works toward peaceful solutions. Wise advice is always gentle. Wisdom in conflict situations is willing to yield and merciful to those who are guilty of offense. A wise life is a loving life.