Wisdom? The study of philosophy in general is often thought of as the gaining of knowledge. At least, so it is for many philosophy students embarking upon a college course that attempts to introduce them to the cannon of Western thought and to give them the basis for asking the right questions about their daily lives and their daily getting of wisdom, in class and outside of class.

After reading the philosopher Socrates, who stands at the beginning of the Western tradition of thought relating to wisdom, one might be tempted to equate wisdom with simply getting a clear and unbiased or 'truthful' view of the world and human nature. Unvarnished truth, in all of its ugliness ultimately gives one the greatest access to a true form of happiness and thusly, to true wisdom. This is why, according to Socrates, it is better to face death in a logically coherent...
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