The Wisdom Page 

 

Values That Various People Have Associated With Wisdom

Jason Merchey’s 38 “values of the wise”:
(From http://valuesofthewise.com/)

acceptance of the absurd

ingenuity

modesty

self-worth

altruism

integration

morality

strength

courage

integrity

optimism

tolerance

creativity

justice

passion

truth

dedication

kindness

peace

vision

development

knowledge

progressivism

will

education

liberty

respect

willingness to risk

fulfillment

lightheartedness

responsibility

wisdom

honor

magnanimity

self-awareness

 

humor

meaning

self-confidence

 

The 52 virtues list:
(From The Virtues Project, http://www.virtuesproject.com/index.php)

assertiveness

faithfulness

kindness

respect

caring

flexibility

love

responsibility

cleanliness

forgiveness

loyalty

reverence

compassion

friendliness

mercy

self-discipline

confidence

generosity

moderation

service

consideration

gentleness

modesty

steadfastness

courage

helpfulness

obedience

tact

courtesy

honesty

orderliness

thankfulness

creativity

honor

patience

tolerance

detachment

humility

peacefulness

trust

determination

idealism

prayerfulness

trustworthiness

enthusiasm

joyfulness

purposefulness

truthfulness

excellence

justice

reliability

unity


The being-values or b-values of Abraham Maslow’s self-actualizers:
(From Abraham Maslow’s Toward a Psychology of Being, Second Edition, New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1968, p. 83)

aliveness

goodness

playfulness

simplicity

beauty

honesty

reality

truth

completion

justice

richness

uniqueness

effortlessness

perfection

self-sufficiency

wholeness

Also on page 83, Maslow provided further detail concerning just what his self-actualizers meant by these words. Maslow scholar Sam Cannon has the complete list on his http://www.maslow.org website as well as as much additional information about Maslow and his work

Chapter headings from John McCain’s book Character is Destiny:
(John McCain. 2005. Character is Destiny. New York: Random House)

aspiration

dignity

honesty

responsibility

authenticity

diligence

hopefulness

righteousness

citizenship

discernment

humility

self-control

compassion

enthusiasm

humor

selflessness

confidence

excellence

idealism

tolerance

contentment

fairness

industry

 

cooperation

faith

loyalty

 

courage

forgiveness

mercy

 

courtesy

generosity

resilience

 

curiosity

gratitude

respect

 

Richard Trowbridge’s wisdom-related values:
(From his “Sol Sapientiae” diagram and wisdom-course syllabus)

acceptance

fairness

nurturance

self-knowledge

authenticity

generativity

openness

serenity

benevolence

humility

pragmatism

understanding

contemplation

humor

reflectiveness

 

creativity

information gathering

relationship skills

 

critical thinking

life review

risk-taking

 

detached concern

love

self-acceptance

 

empathy

moderation

self-investigation

 

Copthorne Macdonald’s list:
Wise values express themselves in wise attitudes and wise ways of being and functioning. Below are some expressions of wisdom that Copthorne aspires to make his own, along with his take on the values that appear to be involved:

  • Feeling fully responsible for one’s life choices and actions
    Underlying values:  responsibility, integrity, clarity about what is


  • A positive, “let’s make the most of it” attitude
    Underlying values:  betterment, positivity, passion


  • A reality-seeking, truth-seeking orientation
    Underlying values:  openness, truth, clarity about what is, reality


  • A desire to learn, and a feeling of responsibility for one’s own learning
    Underlying values:  curiosity, wonder, passion, commitment


  • A desire to grow, to develop, “to become all I am capable of becoming”
    Underlying values:  self-actualization, transformation, wisdom, commitment


  • Being attentive: aware of mind events and mental processes as well as what is happening around us
    Underlying values:  attentiveness, self-awareness, self-knowledge, clarity about what is


  • Being creative: producing uniqueness and novelty that has value
    Underlying values:  creativity, joy, wonder, passion, completion


  • Being a two-brain-hemisphere person, with intellect and intuition working together
    Underlying values:  intuitive understanding, insight, creativity, clarity about what is


  • Being self-disciplined: able to work now for a reward later
    Underlying values:  self-discipline, patience, passion, commitment, completion


  • Being courageous: able to face dangers and fears with clarity and skill
    Underlying values:  courage, self-discipline, passion, commitment, completion


  • Being aware of one’s own eventual death to the degree that it helps guide one’s life
    Underlying values: clarity about what is, courage, completion


  • Being able to deal with situations appropriately, using a large repertoire of approaches and techniques. Choosing the approach that best fits each situation: appropriate planning, appropriate timing, appropriate problem-solving, dealing with commitments appropriately, etc.
    Underlying values:  empathy, caring, clarity about what is


  • Being non-reactive: able to deal skillfully with powerful emotions
    Underlying values:  equanimity, serenity, clarity about what is


  • Being deeply loving, and able to manifest love in appropriate ways
    Underlying values:  empathy, love, caring, commitment


  • Having a sense of wonder
    Underlying values:  wonder, gratitude, respect


  • Being compassionate
    Underlying values:  empathy, compassion, caring, clarity about what is


  • Behaving in ways that benefit others
    Underlying values:  generosity, caring, compassion, respect, empathy, joy


  • Possessing a deep happiness that is independent of externals
    Underlying values:  joy, serenity, equanimity, clarity about what is


  • Recognizing that there are limits to personal knowledge and to the ability of our species to know
    Underlying values:  humility, clarity about what is

The consolidated values list:

attentiveness

equanimity

love

self-actualization

betterment

generosity

openness

self-awareness

clarity about
what is

gratitude

passion

self-discipline

commitment

humility

patience

self-knowledge

completion

insight

positivity

serenity

creativity

integrity

reality

transformation

curiosity

intuitive understanding

respect

truth

empathy

joy

responsibility

wonder