In philosophical circles, a common discussion surrounds the differences between wisdom and intelligence. This is likely a result of frequent confusion of the terms. While the average person might define the two traits somewhat differently, they are commonly used interchangeably, or spoken of as if they were one and the same. But a deep dive into the true essence of wisdom vs intelligence reveals otherwise, and here we will investigate the unique aspects of both, and how they exist only because of one another. Further, we will explore where all intelligence and wisdom come from.
Intelligence is commonly defined as the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills. It encompasses problem-solving abilities, logical reasoning, and the capacity to learn from experiences. Intelligence can be measured through IQ tests and is often associated with academic success and cognitive capabilities. Wisdom, on the other hand, is characterized by the ability to make sound judgments based on knowledge, experience, and a deep understanding of human nature. It involves discerning what is right or beneficial in complex situations and often incorporates emotional intelligence and empathy. Wisdom is typically seen as a quality that develops over time through life experiences.
Aristotle spoke of wisdom as two kinds: theoretical wisdom (sophia) and practical wisdom (phronesis). He saw intelligence as a component of wisdom, and understood wisdom to be a science of what is most “honorable”. For him, wisdom was a composition of the knowledge of first principles, scientific understanding, and the ability to reason from these principles.
Plato saw wisdom as the ultimate form of knowledge (a derivative of intelligence). His perspective on wisdom incorporated a moral element; he saw it as a practical virtue. He further viewed it as the primary goal of philosophical inquiry, attainable only by trained philosophers.
Plato said this of wisdom:
For a man to be wise, he must know how to make the right use of his knowledge.
https://wisdomshort.com/philosophers/plato/on-wisdom
And here is the key: wisdom is the ability to use knowledge, or intelligence. Without wisdom, you can still have intelligence, but without intelligence, you cannot have wisdom.
Intelligence comes in various forms such as adaptive capability, memory, abstract thinking, and others, but by itself, intelligence does not make one’s life or the lives of those around him better. That requires wisdom. As Plato said, it is the “right” use of knowledge (a by-product of intelligence). And thus, this axiom prods the ultimate question: WHAT IS “RIGHT”?
There are numerous intelligent people in the societies of the world. Many are on stages speaking, others are writing books, and others are giving lectures in circles of academia. They are opining on podcasts and news reels and Internet chat rooms. Intelligence, partly genetic and partly developed through education and training, is at its core, the ability to perceive information, to retain it as knowledge, and to apply it to solve problems. But it stops there.
But what is right? Depends on who you ask. The answers to this question vary as much as the people who answer it might vary. If one who is intelligent seeks wisdom, and understands that wisdom is a factor of what is right, then he must find out what is “right”. According to the law of noncontradiction, there can only be one, ultimate right. To learn what is genuinely right, wise men must turn to the final, authoritative word on wisdom and righteousness: the Word of God.
In the book of Job, Job asks this piercing question while in the midst of his great suffering: “But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?” Job 28:12. The answer for this question comes a few verses later in the passage, where the seeker answers himself, when he says: “Then He saw it and declared it; He established it and also searched it out. And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” Job 28:27,28
Intelligence is vital for the advancement of humankind. People of high intellect throughout history have created inventions, solved difficult problems, developed progressive societies, and inspired innumerable advancements. But intelligence alone may not be a good thing. I would argue an advanced degree of intelligence was instrumental in fabricating some of the worst atrocities in history; the massive slaughter of innocent people, widespread oppression, and orchestrated slavery.
As with any form of power, intelligence must be guided by wisdom to produce good, and not evil. And since one man’s view of good may differ entirely from the next man’s view of good, we are wise to defer to the One who created wisdom from the very beginning, and that is God Himself. As He spoke of wisdom by the pen of Solomon, in Proverbs chapter 8:22-24:
“Yahweh possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old. From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.”
Wisdom predated the creation of the world. Wisdom predated human beings, and all human thought and knowledge, and all human activity. It was necessarily so, for God’s wisdom had to exist before any human intelligence could have come into being, since it was the mind of God and His wisdom which created them. Therefore, how could anyone logically say they have wisdom beyond that of their Creator? The fact is, they don’t. God is the original cause of what is both good and wise.
While they are interrelated and integral to one another, wisdom and intelligence are distinct. Intelligence is a faculty entirely of the mind. Wisdom emanates from the mind and heart. Intelligence can stand on its own, devoid of wisdom, and unfortunately often does, as evidenced in societies the world over. Wisdom, however, is non-existent outside of intelligence, for wisdom requires a sharp mind, honed in experience, using cognitive ability to navigate the complexities of the environment and solve problems for the better.
Ultimately, the wisdom vs intelligence puzzle leads us back to where all queries ultimately lead us: to God Himself. No matter how hard we try to make sense of the world around us and the mysteries inside of us, only knowing God will provide satisfying answers. Why? Because He is the ultimate source of all intelligence, and the founding author of all true wisdom.
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