Saturday, April 26, 2014

A-Z Challenge. Wonder and Wisdom

"Wisdom begins with wonder." - Socrates


"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." - Socrates

"Socrates liked to tease his interlocutors by saying that the only thing he knew was that he knew nothing. There is a deep insight in this, for the one thing that is more dangerous than true ignorance is the illusion of knowledge and understanding. Such illusion abounds, and one of the first tasks of philosophy – as wonderfully demonstrated by Socrates in Plato's "Meno" – is to explore our claims to know things about ourselves and the world, and to expose them if they are false or muddled. It does so by beginning with the questions we ask, to ensure that we understand what we are asking; and even when answers remain elusive, we at least grasp what it is that we do not know. This in itself is a huge gain. One of the most valuable things philosophy has given me is an appreciation of this fact." - Anonymous quote

To wonder is to keep alive and fresh the child's curiosity. For, indeed, there lies the beginnings of wonder and wisdom. And the beauty of life.

2 comments:

  1. After listening to the news the past few days about what a certain person says he wonders about, I realize that people can articulate their wondering so that they are not responsible for the ignorant statements they make.

    The View from the Top of the Ladder

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  2. I love both these Socrates quotes- so very true. Great post for W!
    Visiting from A-Z :)

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