What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge?

Question

Is someone very knowledgeable closer to being wiser, or there is no connection whatsoever? If so, are the great advances in science and technology of the last 50 years making us any wiser?

Answer 1

Knowledge is basically WHAT you have learned (or know)

Wisdom is the basic application of such knowledge  

Answer 2

wisdom is what happens through knowledge

knowledge says 'hmmm'

wisdom says 'ah ha'

Answer 3

Great question!

Knowledge simply means learned facts.  Anyone can have knowledge and memorize information.

Wisdom is being able to take or interpret knowledge, and put it to good use (or make appropriate choices).  

Answer 4

The main difference between them is that wisdom is the practical knowledge and has awareness as an essential component, where as knowledge is entirely bookish.

I do not think, science and technology has made us any wiser, if we take a look at the end results such as global warming, changing climates, deteriorating human values and present state of global violence.

Answer 5

Wisdom comes with age, knowledge comes with education.

Answer 6

wisdom comes from living, knowledge comes from learning, i can have the wisdom from living through something and then if i tell you about it you have gained the knowledge but not the wisdom

Answer 7

Knowledge is the ability to learn new things, Wisdom is the ability to put what you learn into use.

Answer 8

Wisdom is knowledge applied

Answer 9

knowledge is gained through hearing and listening (learning).

wisdom is attained through experience.

someone knowledgeable may be closer to understanding the underlying workings of things, which in turn may lead to better focus which of course leads to wisdom.

Answer 10

Wisdom means being able to think rationally and come to a good decision.  You can have a lot of knowledge but if you do not know how to integrate it and use it to come up with a good decision its pretty much useless.  A phone book has lots of information, lots of knowledge, but it is not wise.  A human being might not know a single phone number, but he or she would be wise enough to pick up a phone book to find out!

Answer 11

Wisdom is what you get from over a lifetime of experiences. Knowledge is what you get when you learn something.

Answer 12

wisdom comes with age

knowledge comes with any age

Answer 13

Knowledge is the accumulation of data, not much different than the hard drive on your computer. One can accumulate data and be rewarded with a degree; however that person can be the most disprespectful, immoral idiot you may encounter.

Wisdom is Insight. One may have very little knowledge but a boundless supply of Wisdom. Insight is the ability to differentiate between right and wrong, temporary and abiding, true and false. American mentality prides itself on being 'open minded', allowing ALL answers to be right. This is the complete opposite of Wisdom. (Actually, it is pure Foolishness). Also, America is overbounding with knowledge and technology but is bankrupt when it comes to Wisdom (Insight).

Answer 14

Knowledge becomes understanding, and understanding becomes wisdom.

You can learn, and know, how to put together a car, for example.

Once you know that well, you acquire the understanding of how the parts fit together and function one with the other.

If a problem arises, you are now equiped with the wisdom to know what may be the problem with the car, and how to fix it.

You may also have the wisdom to make a better car, especially if your knowledge and understanding reach beyond the automotive field.

For example, cars have technologies in them now that are not related to the basic parts that are required to make a car run. There are electronics and computer and hydroelectric components, etc, now, that take the car to a new level.

So to answer the question about science and technology, I would say that it all depends on the people involved. Someone can know a lot of things about a field of science, but not know that something may also be applied to a different field of study altogether. A person can be wise in one area but not all areas.

Plus looking at it another way, you can take your knowledge and understanding and either make a bomb or make a rocketship. Bombs have been made in the past. Was that wise? Someone who argues that we need those for our defense would say yes. Others would say no.

Who has the wisdom to know where the advances in science and technology are headed and what the outcome will be? Who is wise enough to know what perils man may be storing up for himself, and yet have the power and influence to put a stop to any malignant efforts? A person may have the wisdom to know how to best use future technologies, but be powerless to control what becomes of it.

Answer 15

Knowledge is what we can learn from other people, books, and television and life experiences.  Wisdom is a gift from God.

Answer 16

wisdom is putting knowledge to good use.

Answer 17

Wisdom is how you apply knowledge

tGod bless

Answer 18

whoa... this is a loaded question but i will try to answer it anyways. in my opinion knowledge does not mean wisdom because there are knowledgeable people who lack wisdom. i personally think that wisdom is acquired through age and experiences. wisdom is insight past a situation. i.e. being able to look past your present circumstances and seeing the big picture. no matter your political affiliation, it is common knowledge that george w. bush has done a horrible job while in office. although he is a knowledgeable person (he has a cabinet filled with the "most qualified" advisers a president could need and he has "intelligence" reports given to him daily about the current state of the middle east) yet he still put america in a no win war.  congress is supposed to be filled with wise people but the truth is that most politicians are more like high school students running for homecoming court than actual leaders. if our politicians had wisdom they would have seen past the emotion of 9/11 and realised that saudi arabia is different from iraq (saudi arabia is where the terrorist who planned and executed 9/11 attacks were from). america can not and should not save every country. although bush/politicians have a phletora of information and an infinite knowledge well with advisers they still lack the wisdom needed to lead this country because wisdom is not just knowledge, it is a degree of foresight. foresight is being able to see the benefits and repercussions of your actions before you do them.

Answer 19

knowledge is knowing something;

wisdom is putting it to use.

Answer 20

Just think of the rain man. He was very knowledgeable, but not wise. Wisdom is beyond knowledge.  

Answer 21

A person can have knowledge.  And a person can have experience.  When the two are combined it is called wisdom.

Answer 22

hi, you learn knowledge at school's and work etc etc.... but wisdom oooooooo that comes with age and i think its more to do with life experiences..i don't know if i have helped in any manner but that's what i think..bye bye..

Answer 23

Perhaps it would be easier to explain with an illustration =)

Suppose a man decides to stand in the middle of some train tracks. All of a sudden, the tracks begin to rumble and the loud whistle of an oncoming train can be heard.

The man looks up at the train, and he can see it coming towards him. This is knowledge.

After watching the train barreling towards him for some time, the man realizes, "I am going to die." This is understanding.

But then, finally, the man decides to take the few steps to the side of the track, out of the way of the train. This is wisdom.

Wisdom is simply the ability to APPLY the knowledge and understanding that you have.

Answer 24

Knowledge: application of information; answers "how" questions

Wisdom: evaluated understanding (understanding answers "why" questions)  

Answer 25

Wisdom is putting knowledge into production.

Answer 26

Wisdom can be defined as the application of knowledge, skills and experience to good use. Knowledge can be acquired, experience is only through doing or going through it, whilst skills have to be learned. However wisdom generally comes with age and maturity; nevertheless not everyone can be wise in approach and nature. Wisdom that is inspired by God is hard to come by, except in cases of miraculous ending.

Answer 27

i think knowledge is the collection of facts and information

wisdom is the ability to use that knowledge

sometimes you see/meet people who are very 'book smart' meaning they have lots of knowledge. but they don't know how to apply that into everyday living

hope that helps