Wisdom: From Philosophy to Neuroscience

by Stephen S. Hall

Book Overview

We all recognize wisdom, but defining it is more elusive. In this fascinating journey from philosophy to science, Stephen S. Hall gives us a penetrating history of wisdom, from its sudden emergence in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0307269108
• ISBN13: 9780307269102
• Release Date: March 2010
• Publisher: Knopf Publishing Group
• Length: 333 Pages
• Weight: 1.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.6" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

A Book for Our Times

If you were looking for one of those self-help books that purports to teach you how to be wise in 10 minutes a day, this book is not for you. If, however, you are looking for an engaging, thoughtful discussion that attempts to answer the centuries-old question "What is Wisdom" from both a philosophical and scientific perspective then this book will delight you. It is literate and enlightening. And although, it is definitely not a "how-to" book, you will probably have many "ah-ha" moments as you read it. I particularly like this book because it manages to tell about the latest research in neuroscience pertaining to wisdom, then compares and contrasts it with classical philosophy without putting the reader to sleep with obtuse, academic language. On the contrary, each chapter is a fascinating examination of one particular component of wisdom. One of my favorite chapters was the chapter entitled "Dealing with Uncertainty". In it Mr. Hall states, "Emotion always assumes the amount of knowledge in hand is adequate to govern a decision, even when it may not be." Now those are wise words indeed, especially for today. "Wisdom From Philosophy to Neuroscience" is a wonderful book for a discussion group whether you are a member of a formal book discussion group or Socrates Club or just enjoy more informal discussions with friends and family. In his book the author describes a curriculum on wisdom that was developed for the Saddle Brook School System in New Jersey. I wish it were required for every politician and CEO. In the meantime, I would advise them to read this book.

Fulfilling Read

What I really liked about this book is that I went away from it with a deeper sense of what wisdom means to me rather than some universal understanding of the meaning of wisdom. If you choose to read this book you will likely take in the research, stories, and various perspectives on wisdom with your personal experience in mind, and that is one reason why this book is a fulfilling read. At the onset Hall discusses the elusiveness of wisdom, yet emphasizes that simply because wisdom has normally evaded scientists that science, as well as philosophy, can tell us a great deal about it. The neuroscience research he references are given meaning and substance through real-life examples and philosophical viewpoints. If you are looking for wisdom to be concretized or for a "how to" manual you will be disappointed. If you want to think differently about a subject science and philosophy will likely never be able to get a full grapple on, but can tell us a lot about, you'll get a great deal out of this book.

Reviewing "Wisdom: From Philosophy to Neuroscience"

Stephen Hall's book on Wisdom manages to integrate the empirical research that's been conducted over the last thirty-five years in a style and convivial manner that has eluded the scientific community. I felt the book delivered on its promise: it offered much information about the ways we go about making complex life decisions. It reflected honestly on the real life shortcomings of people who have always been perceived as wise historically, such as Solomon. In my opinion, the best part of the book was delivered by offering examples of how adopting a wisdom based approach can affect how things are done in settings such as the classroom and the boardroom. This is not a "How to be wise" manual. If you like labyrinths, and recognize that many paths can lead to the center of things, this is the book for you. Like many portraits in an art gallery, you will find yourself pausing at various junctures to look more carefully at this or that quality of wisdom - be it patience, humility or compassion. Fortunately, there is no 'closing time' to this gallery. At the end of my visit, I personally felt a sense of gratitude that a writer could capture such an illusive topic without diminishing its potential for further study in matters both personal and societal. ----Vivian Clayton, PhD