For Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860), wisdom is an effect of philosophy. I define wisdom as practical ethics, that is, a set of principles that enables humans to make quick decisions in all life’s situations. Wisdom is not necessarily sophisticated, but it must rest on sound philosophical footing. According to Schopenhauer, wisdom is a practical outcome from philosophical study, especially from the study of the will (“life force”), which he regarded as the driving force of living creatures. In his book “The world as will and representation” (1818), Schopenhauer outlined his theory of the will and analysed its implications. The more you study the will, the higher your self-awareness and self-reliance, which constitute the basis for all wisdom. Schopenhauer considered it impossible to develop wisdom without a profound understanding of the will. Why? Because the will is continuously driving humans to ensure their survival and reproduction. In addition, the will is prompting humans to seek pleasure without looking at costs, risks and consequences. The acquisition of wisdom consists of negating the will. It is a process that starts with acknowledging the negative influence of the will, identifying countermeasures, and carrying them out consistently. Wisdom is the opposite of the will. Schopenhauer described the will as irrational, eternal, relentless, wild and insatiable. He advised countermeasures aiming at developing wisdom. Those countermeasures encompass self-awareness and self-reliance, foresight, prudence, and adopting adequate margins of safety. According to Schopenhauer, the unwillingness or failure to develop wisdom is tantamount to losing control of one’s life. If you fail to adopt countermeasures, the will is going to take full control and drive you to make harmful decisions. Schopenhauer considered it impossible to achieve happiness without wisdom. Happiness is the destination, and wisdom is the path. Lack of wisdom leads to stress, anxiety, and all sorts of suffering. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/schopenhauers-views-on-wisdom/

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