The real crisis? We stopped being wise

[qwerty]

"Barry Schwartz makes a passionate call for practical wisdom as an antidote to a society gone mad with bureaucracy. He argues powerfully that rules often fail us, incentives often backfire, and practical, everyday wisdom will help rebuild our world."



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA-zdh_bQBo

First five minutes defines wisdom per Aristotle: Moral Skill plus Moral Will using the janitor's job as an example.

Then talks about how when things go wrong in society, the response is to come up with rules and incentives.

In the short term these work, but in the long term rules restrict peoples ability to practice moral skill, and incentives sap their moral will. Reference made to the call to fix the financial markets with more regulations and better incentives.

His hope though is that people deep down want the chance to do the right thing (rather than follow the rules robotically, and take advantage rather than cooperate with people) and this opportunity needs to be provided.

[FRED]

Re: The real crisis? We stopped being wise

"Barry Schwartz makes a passionate call for practical wisdom as an antidote to a society gone mad with bureaucracy. He argues powerfully that rules often fail us, incentives often backfire, and practical, everyday wisdom will help rebuild our world."



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA-zdh_bQBo

First five minutes defines wisdom per Aristotle: Moral Skill plus Moral Will using the janitor's job as an example.

Then talks about how when things go wrong in society, the response is to come up with rules and incentives.

In the short term these work, but in the long term rules restrict peoples ability to practice moral skill, and incentives sap their moral will. Reference made to the call to fix the financial markets with more regulations and better incentives.

His hope though is that people deep down want the chance to do the right thing (rather than follow the rules robotically, and take advantage rather than cooperate with people) and this opportunity needs to be provided.

The ancient Greeks had it down. You can't beat Aristotle.

[BiscayneSunrise]

Re: The real crisis? We stopped being wise

Or as Thomas Cahill subtitled one of his books, "Why the Greeks Matter"

Speaking of hospital janitors, quick story:

A friend of mine, Ivy league trained surgeon in Boston began interacting with the floor janitor. However, he went beyond the usual name and how's your family bit. He told the janitor that she was an integral part of the operating team, just as important as the nurses and the doctors themselves. The janitor was even included in the pre-op briefing among the surgical team members.

Result? Faster turn times and fewer infections.

[cjppjc]

Re: The real crisis? We stopped being wise

Wisdom. That's interesting. If we are to believe wisdom like knowledge, and kindness are in infinate supply, I would agree. However I think EVERYTHING is matter of one kind or another. As such there can only be a certain amount of it.

[Spartacus]

IMHO people are wiser today than any time in history

in that they know morally what to do via an internal compass.

and are today less enslaved by ideologies and externally-imposed morality from church, state, family, community, coven, whatever. External morals are extremely bad from my perspective because the external source can change its tune anytime it wants, and those whose morals are externally-implanted are subject to this more than the internally-motivated.

The problem is that greed has grown faster than wisdom over the last century.

Knowing what to do and actually doing it are 2 different things, especially when the competition is a base emotional need that has been fed and amplified for years.

[cjppjc]

Re: IMHO people are wiser today than any time in history

External morals are extremely bad from my perspective because the external source can change its tune anytime it wants, and those whose morals are externally-implanted are subject to this more than the internally-motivated.

.

There is really no such thing as morality. It is subject to change. How can something be moral in one era and not in another. Moral for some people and not for others. What we refer to as morality, is subjective morality. It would be very good if people realized this. Then they could begin to talk to each other.