Practical Wisdom

Wisdom

How Bad Intentions Can Destroy Good Ideas: The Case of Microcredit

Kenneth Sharpe on January 18, 2011

When you do the right thing for the wrong reason, it eventually stops being the right thing.

When you do the right thing for the wrong reason, it eventually stops being the right thing.

Career

Do Grades As Incentives Work?

Barry Schwartz on January 9, 2011

The limits of grades as incentives for students.

The limits of grades as incentives for students.

Happiness

What Hairdressers Can Teach Us about Practical Wisdom

Kenneth Sharpe on December 29, 2010

Aristotle thought that our fundamental, mundane social practices demanded wise judgment, like the judgment displayed every day by hairdressers.

Aristotle thought that our fundamental, mundane social practices demanded wise judgment, like the judgment displayed every day by hairdressers.

Alcoholism

Practical Wisdom: The Right Way to Do the Right Thing

Barry Schwartz on December 23, 2010

Practical wisdom develops as we try to do the right thing, and fail, and learn from our mistakes. Rules that protect against mistakes are the enemy of wisdom.

Practical wisdom develops as we try to do the right thing, and fail, and learn from our mistakes. Rules that protect against mistakes are the enemy of wisdom.

Career

The Right Way to Do the Right Thing

Kenneth Sharpe on December 18, 2010

The principle of patient choice" sounds like a great principle. Choice resonates with the underlying values of freedom and self-determination that are so much a part of American culture. Yes, patient autonomy is a good principle. But sometimes, this good principle and good treatment conflict. And it takes a wise doctor to know how to manage the conflict.

The principle of patient choice" sounds like a great principle. Choice resonates with the underlying values of freedom and self-determination that are so much a part of American culture. Yes, patient autonomy is a good principle. But sometimes, this good principle and good treatment conflict. And it takes a wise doctor to know how to manage the conflict.

Wisdom

Practical Wisdom: The Right Way to Do the Right Thing

Barry Schwartz on December 13, 2010

We Americans are growing increasingly disenchanted with the institutions on which we depend.  In our new book, Practical Wisdom: The Right Way to Do the Right Thing, we argue that what philosopher Aristotle called practical wisdom is what's needed to make our instutions run better.

We Americans are growing increasingly disenchanted with the institutions on which we depend.  In our new book, Practical Wisdom: The Right Way to Do the Right Thing, we argue that what philosopher Aristotle called practical wisdom is what's needed to make our instutions run better.