Chapter 111
Real Wisdom vs Mental Gymnastics
1.You have asked me to give you a Latin word for the Greek sophismata. Many have tried to define the term, but no name has stuck. This is natural, inasmuch as the thing itself has not been admitted to general use by us; the name, too, has met with opposition. But the word which Cicero used seems to me most suitable: he calls them cavillationes. 2. If a man has surrendered himself to them, he weaves many a tricky subtlety, but makes no progress toward real living; he does not thereby become braver, or more restrained, or loftier of…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Smart vs. Wise Audit
Think of three recent situations where you had a choice between appearing smart or becoming wiser. For each situation, write down what you actually did and what the 'wise' choice would have looked like. Then identify one pattern you notice about when you default to performing intelligence rather than practising wisdom.
Consider:
- •Look for moments when you corrected someone unnecessarily or dominated a conversation
- •Notice times you chose being right over being helpful or connected
- •Pay attention to situations where you avoided admitting you didn't know something
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone's character impressed you more than their cleverness. What did they do differently that made such an impact on you?
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