FYS: Wisdom: Global Perspectives and Practices

3 Credits.

Where is wisdom to be found? And where is the place of understanding? These probing questions from the Hebrew bible's Book of Job arose from a wisdom tradition that was rooted in a particular time, place, and group identity. Yet versions of these same questions can be found the world over. Is true wisdom the exclusive power of a divine being in heaven, or can it found on earth, in human intelligence, learning, and virtue? Who is rightly considered a sage—the enlightened monk, the Stoic teacher, the ruler who dispenses justice, the hermit-saint communing with God? Is the perfection of wisdom an attainable goal or only an impossible ideal? Why do some cultures personify Wisdom as a female goddess, attributing to her voice, agency, and cosmic creative powers? This First-Year Seminar places these questions under a cross-cultural lens by visiting the wisdom traditions of ancient Israel, Greek and Roman philosophy, early Christianity, medieval mysticism, and Buddhism. Course materials are drawn from the Old and New Testaments, ancient dialogues, Buddhist sutras and Zen koans, and other sources. We will also look at a variety of visual images, from holy portraits and devotional icons to mystical diagrams and Tibetan mandalas. When existence is hard enough as it is, why do we seek wisdom? Can today's culture of fortune-cookie philosophy, meditation apps, and self-help accessories really help us attain it? We'll engage in a series of practical experiments in the "art of living," testing for ourselves the possibilities, challenges, and joys of living with wisdom.