Seek Wisdom

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In my Knowing More By Knowing Less post I stressed the importance of understanding, and aggregating, concepts in today’s world:

It’s the aggregation of concepts where one can really extend their learning. An imagination filled with an understanding of concepts creates value in today’s world.

I’ve now found a nice way to layout the reasons why one should “effectively use the tools that allow you to forget.”

Thanks to Nivi, who quoted Ackoff:

Learning is the acquisition of data, information, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.

Data consists of symbols that represent objects, events, and their properties. For example, the speedometer in a car presents data.

Information is data that has been made useful. Information answers who, what, where, when, and how many questions. Information is helpful in deciding what to do, not how to do it. For example, the information that you are driving at 120 mph will help you decide whether to speed up or slow down. But information won’t tell you how to do it.

Knowledge consists of instructions and know-how. Knowledge answers how questions. For example, your driving knowledge tells you how to control the car’s speed.

Understanding consists of explanations. Understanding answers why questions. For example, you understand why you are in the car in the first place: because you are driving your kids to get ice cream.

Wisdom is the ability to perceive outcomes and determine their value. It is useful for deciding what should be done. For example, the wise may decide that driving recklessly may lead their children to do the same in the future.

As Nivi says, “an ounce of wisdom is worth a pound of understanding, an ounce of understanding is worth a pound of knowledge, and so on.”

See, the beautiful thing is that advances in technology allow us to all but forget about data and information, freeing us to focus on the higher valued levels of learning – knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.

The area I’d first strive to obtain wisdom in is, ironically, how to obtain information. Armed with that wisdom, returns from learning increasingly become efficient.

On a slightly different note, I’m starting to believe that the real value in numerous diverse areas results from the act of aggregation.

  • Leigh

    Hum…..Having worked in research/strategy for a while now, I find a lot of people present data, called it information and derive little knowledge or wisdom from it. Pieces of data to me are all about patterns and all about the ‘whys’ behind the development of those patterns. Interesting post F and great quote Nivi.

  • http://leighhimel.blogspot.com Leigh

    Hum…..Having worked in research/strategy for a while now, I find a lot of people present data, called it information and derive little knowledge or wisdom from it. Pieces of data to me are all about patterns and all about the ‘whys’ behind the development of those patterns. Interesting post F and great quote Nivi.

  • Fraser

    That’s where I owe another post connecting a few thoughts re. how I learn. Because, for me, it isn’t about totally forgetting the data/information. It’s about knowing, let’s say, the outline of the data and information, aggregating a lot of it, and being able to easily fill in the outline through technology when you want to reference it.

  • http://www.disruptivethoughts.com Fraser

    That’s where I owe another post connecting a few thoughts re. how I learn. Because, for me, it isn’t about totally forgetting the data/information. It’s about knowing, let’s say, the outline of the data and information, aggregating a lot of it, and being able to easily fill in the outline through technology when you want to reference it.

  • Dean

    We should call this Ackoff’s Hierarchy of Learning. Just like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, if you starve yourself of a basic item (knowledge) then its impossible to obtain a higher item (wisdom).

  • http://www.foleeo.com Dean

    We should call this Ackoff’s Hierarchy of Learning. Just like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, if you starve yourself of a basic item (knowledge) then its impossible to obtain a higher item (wisdom).

  • Fraser

    Well put Dean. I think technology lowers the amount of the lower items required to avoid starvation. How’s foleeo coming along?

  • http://www.disruptivethoughts.com Fraser

    Well put Dean. I think technology lowers the amount of the lower items required to avoid starvation.

    How’s foleeo coming along?

  • Andrew

    I think any discussion about wisdom and all ideas it entails requires a detachment from semantics. What seems to be the limiting problem is that wisdom, knowledge, understanding, etc. are trying to be given solid definitions. This is good and all and it helps us grasp the meaning and function of each. However, wisdom should be considered an attainable perspective (which is in the form of comprehension and knowing) that is informed infinitely by prudence, but more importantly, with wisdom, one is able to find a balance in life. This ubiquitous balance is observed in all situations at all times by a wise person. So, by recognizing that balance is necessary even in the role of learning and memorizing data, one can hope to learn that life is all about a healthy and equal indulgence in all things as long as said indulgence is informed through proper and right judgment.

  • http://www.ResumeBuilderPlus.com resume building

    like God said to solomon what do you like to have from me, and solomon chosen wisdom. he became the wisest and the richest man in the world. wisdom is more important than knowledge.

  • JarmanDaniels8788

    It's realy nice i posted ur story on my blog

    respect
    jimmy banger
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