wisdom vs knowledge and humility

[Adam Blatner]

    Humility is an interesting concept, also. I view these as verbs, something you do, 
rather than something you attain (and then you "have it"). If you stop doing it, well, 
then you're not doing it, no matter how much you may have done it in the previous year. 
This applies to love-ing, faith-ing, cheerful-ing, wisdom-ing,  and so now we have another 
one for this list, and perhaps others.
       To me it's a matter of simply admitting one can be mistaken, of not asking others 
to treat them as a cultural conserve, an authority who, because of having been right (or 
thought to have been) in some respects is necessarily right in other ways.
      It fits with creativity theory, it seems to me.

        So it's possible that a person who has made mistakes can still come up with some 
good words, good ideas. The problem is when certain statements are made with a level of 
assurance mixed with the aforementioned authority---implying that who I am should 
influence how you weigh what I say---that it becomes somewhat appropriate to wonder, 
"Well, who are you, then? How pure and enlightened are you, really?"

        I, like Malcom Pines, have made my share of foolish mistakes, and I try to learn 
from them. Some I'm not even sure I've figured out yet---what exactly I did wrong---but I 
do pay attention to the clues and think about. Others I see clearly where my error lay.

      I think we've entered a new era in the last century in which it has become more 
classy intellectually to be less strident, to sprinkle assertions with some qualifications 
such as sometimes, perhaps, may, under these circumstances, etc. As I read about the 
history of science it seems as if folks often seemed more (foolishly) certain of 
themselves, less aware of the boundaries or limitations of their own knowledge, much less 
considering that perhaps they were flat mistaken.

       Yet humility-ing should not stop one from presenting an idea, speaking up and 
suggesting an alternative. That slips from humility into excessive deference, as "I don't 
know many things, so I have no right to say anything." I find the possibility of dialogue 
helps, a civil forum for exchange in which ideas can be modified, tempered, shaped in 
friendliness. Role reversal, doubling, and a spirit of encouraging and drawing out helps, 
plus opportunities to go back and forth several times rather than to feel that an initial 
statement must stand firm.

        Warmly, Adam
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <mkarp11444 at aol.com>
To: "Adam Blatner" <adam at blatner.com>; "Grouptalk" <list at grouptalkweb.org>
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 10:15 PM
Subject: Re: wisdom vs knowledge and humility


> Recently, I asked Anne Schutzenberger if she thought the Dahli Llama, with whom she has 
> worked, had humility. Anne , for the last 8 months has had a haemmorage behind her eyes, 
> making her largely blind. She can't use the computer any more, can't read or phone out. 
> She can see the kettle, the micro wave button, the light switch etc. Despite this, in 
> March she will produce a new book, "le plaisir de vivre", the "pleasure to live" and is 
> working on her next psychodrama book with the help of a secretary, plus writing a new 
> preface to her magnum opus, "Vouloir Guerir" her work on cancer, which is in its 8th 
> edition or more. All this and not being able to see at 89 years old and living alone in 
> Paris. To the question on humility and the Dahli Llama, she said, " Humility? I don't 
> know what that is. His salient quality is his sincerity. He is sincere. He is clear. He 
> is the same inside as he is outside. He doesn't try to be different. He is a clear 
> soul." I asked Malclom Pines, 82 now, a group analyst, also trained in psychodrama, my 
> neighbour in London, how did you develop humility? Malcolm, a bit embarrassed  said, " 
> Well, I have made so many mistakes. From those painful experiences, I have gained a 
> better understanding of compassion, becoming a bit wiser and gentler with others who 
> have had similar 'falls from eminence'. As you get older, you see that you don't have to 
> have all the answers. We have some of them but not the great existential ones. It 
> becomes less frightening to look at our own lives and face the questions that are left. 
> It is important to admit your mistakes and your achievements.". All the best, Marcia 
> Karp
> Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Adam Blatner" <ablatner at verizon.net>
>
> Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:41:41
> To: thana ag<anathga at hotmail.com>
> Cc: <list at grouptalkweb.org>
> Subject: wisdom vs knowledge
>
>
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>
>


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