Wisdom is a virtue that relates to the acquisition and use of knowledge.
In Positive Psychology, wisdom can manifest in five distinct strengths in our lives:
Creativity [originality, ingenuity]: Thinking of innovative and productive ways to conceptualize and do things (out of the box)
Curiosity [interest, novelty-seeking, openness to experience]: Taking an interest in ongoing experience for its own sake; finding subjects and topics fascinating; exploring and discovering
Open-mindedness [judgment, critical thinking]: Thinking things through and examining them from all sides; not jumping to conclusions; being able to change one’s mind in light of evidence; weighing all evidence fairly
Love of learning: Mastering new skills, topics, and bodies of knowledge, whether on one’s own or formally; obviously related to the strength of curiosity but goes beyond it to describe the tendency to add systematically to what one knows
Perspective: The product of knowledge and experience, which is more than the accumulation of information. It is the coordination of this information and its deliberate use to improve well-being. In a social context, perspective allows the individual to listen to others, to evaluate what they say, and then to offer good (sage) advice.
(Adapted from
Petersen C, Seligman MEP (2004). Character Strengths and Virtues A Handbook and Classification.
New York, Oxford University Press)