A Handbook of Wisdom: Psychological Perspectives

by Edited by Robert Sternberg , Jennifer Jordan

• ISBN13: 9780521541824
• ISBN10: 0521541824
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-06-13
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

A topic ignored in mainstream scientific inquiry for decades, wisdom is beginning to return to the place of reverence that it held in ancient schools of intellectual study. A Handbook of Wisdom explores wisdom's promise for helping scholars and lay people to understand the apex of human thought and behavior. At a time when poor choices are being made by notably intelligent and powerful individuals, this book presents analysis and review on a form of reasoning and decision-making that is not only productive and prudent, but also serves a beneficial purpose for society. A Handbook of Wisdom is a collection of chapters from some of the most prominent scholars in the field of wisdom research. Written from multiple perspectives, including psychology, philosophy, and religion, this book gives the reader an in-depth understanding of wisdom's past, present, and possible future direction within literature, science, and society.

Table of Contents

List of Contributors	vii
Foreword	xi
Monika Ardelt
PART I: THEORIES OF WISDOM ACROSS TIME, CULTURE, AND PEOPLES
1. Wisdom in History	3	(29)
James E. Birren and Cheryl M. Svensson
2. Cultural Foundations of Wisdom: An Integrated Developmental Approach	32	(29)
Masami Takahashi and Willis F. Overton
3. Philosophical Theories of Wisdom	61	(23)
Lisa M. Osbeck and Daniel N. Robinson
4. From the Inside Out: People's Implicit Theories of Wisdom	84	(26)
Susan Bluck and Judith Glück
5. The Psychology of Wisdom: Theoretical and Empirical Challenges	110	(29)
Ute Kunzmann and Paul B. Baltes
PART II: THE DEVELOPMENT OF WISDOM ACROSS THE LIFESPAN
6. Young and Growing Wiser: Wisdom during Adolescence and Young Adulthood	139	(21)
M.J. Richardson and M. Pasupathi
7. The Quest for Wisdom in Adulthood: A Psychological Perspective	160	(31)
Jennifer Jordan
PART III: WISDOM AND THE PERSON
8. Wisdom and Personality	191	(29)
Ursula M. Staudinger, Jessica Dörner, and Charlotte Mickler
9. The Role of Emotions in the Development of Wisdom	220
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and Jeanne Nakamura
PART IV: WISDOM IN SOCIETY
10. Morality, Ethics, and Wisdom	245	(27)
Joel J. Kupperman
11. Crossing Boundaries to Generative Wisdom: An Analysis of Professional Work	272	(25)
Jeffrey L. Solomon, Paula Marshall, and Howard Gardner
12. Wisdom in Public Policy	297	(34)
Lloyd S. Etheredge
PART V: THE ABSENCE OF WISDOM
13. Foolishness	331	(22)
Robert J. Sternberg
Discussion	353	(16)
Warren S. Brown
Author Index	369	(8)
Subject Index	377