ISHS Acta Horticulturae 642: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Horticulture, Art and Science for Life - The Colloquia Presentations
WISDOM, SCHOOLING AND SOCIETY |
| Author: | R.J. Sternberg |
| Keywords: | successful intelligence, intelligence and wisdom, defining wisdom, teaching for wisdom |
| Abstract:
Wisdom is especially important in current times. Humans have made enormous strides in technology, including destructive technology, without corresponding advances in the wisdom required to use this technology for the common good. The result is a world at risk. Wisdom means knowing what you know, knowing what you don’t know, knowing what you can know at a given time and place, and knowing what you cannot know. Wisdom is not a quantitative trait but is about balance and about applying 'successful intelligence' to the attainment of some common good. Thus, wisdom involves an appreciation of human values. Unfortunately, just as IQ scores and ability to do well on tests generally often fail to predict success at university or in later life, even individuals demonstrating superior successful intelligence (i.e., have a healthy balance of analytical, practical and creative intelligence) may still lack wisdom. Our education systems have largely failed to teach for wisdom, wrongly assuming that wisdom can only come in later life. Research at the PACE Center supports the development of programs that can be infused into existing school curricula to help students learn to think and act more wisely, that encourage, recognize and reward wisdom. | |
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