Abstract

A person with practical wisdom reliably grasps how to live and conduct themselves. But what is practical wisdom, how can we get it, and how can we study it? This chapter will introduce some prominent philosophical arguments and answers to these questions. After distinguishing practical wisdom from other types of wisdom, the chapter explains why studying wisdom requires combining both philosophy and empirical science. To illustrate the contribution of philosophy, the chapter describes a core philosophical conception of wisdom and invites the reader to think through some philosophical puzzles it gives rise to. The chapter is supplemented with a glossary of key terms, comprehension questions, discussion questions, and an overview of my research and its practical implications.