Jason A. Merchey - Wisdom: A Very Valuable Virtue That Cannot Be Bought

WISDOM

A Very Valuable Virtue That Cannot Be Bought

Copyright 2022 Jason A. Merchey

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, please write to the publisher.

Published by Values of the Wise, LLC

Ebook ISBN-13: 978-1-0879-3062-6

Print ISBN-13 978-0-578-31679-6

First Values of the Wise Edition March 2022

Gratitude

This book is dedicated to my wife, Angela, to whom I am closest. We talk about wisdom, directly or indirectly, quite often, and she has only helped me to better understand myself, America, and humanity in general. She wants what is best for me, and that is a fantastic thing.

I dedicate it to my mother as well, without whom I would not be where I am today.

I wish that statement was pure praise, but it isnt. However, she no doubt possesses much that is good and admirable, and has passed some of it on to me in one way or another. Paradoxically, it is perhaps my mothers shortcomings that have contributed more to my interest in wisdom! It might be that the challenge, vexation, and frustration I feel at times require that I dig deep to pull out the best within me. If true, I probably would not have written a book of this size and subject if I were a happier, more well-adjusted son. Fortune is certainly an interesting and sometimes counterintuitive thing!

Of Dwarfs and Giants...

I am very impressed by a 2010 book by Stephen S. Hall titled Wisdom: From Philosophy to Neuroscience . About it renowned neuroscientist Joseph LeDoux writes: Stephen Hall has done it again. He masterfully explains how wisdom comes out of the brain without oversimplifying the enormously complex topic. Not only do I cite his words and findings often in this book, but also I used it as a springboard from which to begin to write the present work!

I cite Halls book liberally so that the reader can benefit from the wisdom it offers. To be conservative and respectful, I will suggest that the reader purchase and read Wisdom: From Philosophy to Neuroscience when they next pick up a book on wisdom, science, philosophy, etc.

We [the moderns] are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants [the ancients]. Our glance can thus take in more things and reach farther than theirs. It is not because our sight is sharper nor our height greater than theirs; it is that we are carried and elevated by the high stature of the giants.

Bernard of Chartres

* * *

When I allow myself to hope that the world will emerge from its present troubles, and that it will someday learn to give the direction of its affairs not to cruel mountebanks, but to men possessed of wisdom and courage, I see before me a shining vision: a world where none are hungry, where few are ill, where work is pleasant and tolerable, where [kindness and connectedness to others] is common, and where minds released from fear create delight for eye and ear and heart. Do not say this is impossible. It is not impossible.

Bertrand Russell

Rational or free action involves no exemption from having ones actions caused, and no absence of passion. It does not even involve any exemption from the universal human condition of walking in darkness. Through the darkness, however, philosophers walk with a torch of self-knowledge.

Csar Dumarsais Chesneau

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

Philosophy begins in wonder, the renowned philosopher Plato revealed centuries ago. Philosophy has at least three meanings: the academic discipline, the college course, and the valuable, challenging tool (or subject, method, or process) we all have free access to. The latter is an excellent way to try to apprehend wisdom, and though philosophizing is not a simple process, it is by no means too complex to be considered useful or intriguing (as I personally consider mathematics to be). The late philosopher par excellence, Bertrand Russell, shares the following enlightening aspect of this beautiful method: Philosophy, though unable to tell us with certainty what is the true answer to the doubts which it raises, is able to suggest many possibilities which enlarge our thoughts and free them from the tyranny of custom.

For nearly 3,000 years, the wise lived among us and, occasionally, became noted political, religious, or military leaders. But just as the citizens of Athens voted to execute Socrates in 379 B.C.E., today we seem to underappreciate wisdom. Or at least, it is difficult to hear wise voices above the din, the distraction, and the disinformation that now plague society! Teachers, religious leaders, scholars, and philosophers have much to teach Americans, yet it is the titan of industry, the business mogul, the sports star, and the celebrity who garner the lions share of resources, attention, and respect. I often wonder what has gone so awry in America, and this book directly features important questionsand indirectly offers potential answers from ostensibly wise individuals (and me, too).

War is an interesting case in point for contemplating and understanding wisdom. War is hell, it has rightfully been claimed. Clearly, as the Vietnam War (from the perspectives of both sides) showed, the negative results of violence and aggression can be atrocious. Yet, societies from ancient Assyria to modern America valorize it, profit from it, and gain various political and material advantages from it. It has been with us, and based on the fact that the United States is the number one arms dealer to the world, and we collectively have over four hundred million firearms, it doesnt seem to be going away anytime soon! Individuals can talk inspiringly of peace and of independence, but what do you do if youre the leader of the ancient Israelites and hostile neighbors are breathing down your neck? Or France in the late 1930s? At times in history, as illustrated so adeptly by J. R. R. Tolkien in his Lord of the Rings trilogy, the choice is clear: fight or die.

When it comes to aggression and violence in our hearts and our past, history describes what happened , and psychology asks, what do human beings do ? But it is philosophy that poses penetrating and fascinating questions about such matters (and that can be difficult to answer successfully). Ever since a Greek poet known to history as Homer compiled oral traditions from as long ago as 3,000 years, in the epic poem The Iliad , or the historian Thucydides penned the History of the Peloponnesian War , it has been a philosophical quest to discover answers to big questions such as: why do human beings fight so?; what is the nature of envy ?; are we peace-loving or vengeful at heart ?; and, how can humanity transcend violence ? And ethics delves into matters such as: when is it right to fight ?; under what conditions is aggression justifiable ?; and, what ought I/we to do ? One can respect the truth in history, or the utility of psychology, but one can surely see the wisdom inherent in philosophizing about debatable matters such as anger, violence, and hatred.

Whether by choice or by necessity, war has been a constant throughout human history, according to Nicholas Day. He adds, All civilizations have had to grapple with the questions it raises. The stories we tell of war, the justifications we find for violence, and the condolences we seek for loss all reveal something about our values. Yet, many thousands of very compelling quotations about peace, mercy, and love of ones neighbor have come down to us through the centuries. This is because peace is a bona fide value that humanity longs for, needs, and benefits from.