Q:Hello, Wisdom. Why can’t I find you?
A: Can’t never could do nuthin’
R: Oh wow! You must be from my neck of the woods with top-notch grammar like that. Are you sure we haven’t met?
My wife and I were southbound on I-77, driving through the Appalachian Mountains, when I popped the question. The one that came to mind anyway. ‘Do you know any wise people?’
Let me give you some background. My mind is an untamed space. There is no rhyme or reason to how it charts its point-by-point course, and each stop can be as fleeting as a falling star. I’m left wondering, how did I get here? I see a leaf fall—oh, it’s autumn—that’s apple time, with cider, pie, dumplings, chicken and dumplings, kebabs, corn dogs, fudge popsicle, and finally the stick test (you don’t want to know). I end up thinking about work, oblivious to the required steps that got me here. Occasionally, the domino toppling breaks stride and leaves a thought stationary long enough for me to turn that morsel into a nugget. Enter the above question.
The ensuing conversation led us to an agreement. We both grew up hearing about the wonder of wisdom, but from our experience, only a small percentage of people truly embody this trait. A seemingly grand characteristic, yet so few attain it. My wife considered the possibility that the air of wisdom has been inflated to such an extent that it’s most always out of reach. I’m on board with this because I don’t have a clear definition of wisdom and naturally assign it the highest value.
Considering our intellectual institutions, this gem is completely overlooked. There are test after test after test to evaluate the knowledge and intelligence we hold so dear. What I haven’t seen is a clickbait ad claiming that only people with a WQ (wisdom quotient and not real) in the 95th percentile can answer this question.
In the nineteen aughts, psychologist Herbert Goddard introduced the first IQ test in America, adapted from a European version created a few years prior. This assessment has evolved since its inception and now serves various purposes, including military placement and the establishment of exclusive groups such as Mensa.
Over a century later, in 2017, we see wisdom testing in its early stages with the San Diego Wisdom Scale. A coveted quality that dates back thousands of years has only recently gained traction in the scientific community. Currently, there is no single clear definition of wisdom. One article lists 20+ options, all derived from scientific sources. Still, I want to learn more about this elusive excellence and identify the steps necessary to achieve it. During this expedition, I will analyze various interpretations and evaluate the fundamental components of wisdom. If I can understand and strengthen the core values, it will lead me in the right direction. Join me on this journey, and let’s make America wise.
Coming soon: Hello, Wisdom. How do I find you?
