Encyclopedia of sacred theology - pagina 143

Chap.

§ 45.

II]

WISDOM

119

and the unity of science is gone. The one cannot be forced to accept what the other holds as truth, and what according to his view lie has found to be truth. Thus, taken by itself, the triumph of Scepticism ought to result from this, and Pilate's exclamation, "What is truth," should be the motto of highest wisdom. But the process of history

is

a protest against this.

has lifted up

standing for

its

However

often Scepticism

has never been able to maintain a and with unbroken courage and indefati-

head,

itself,

it

gable power of will thinking humanity has ever started out

anew upon the search

after truth.

And

this fact claims

an

explanation. § 45.

The threatening and

Wisdom

of itself almost necessary

dominion

upon the ever more or less problematical phenomenon which is called Wisdom. In order to appreciate the meaning of this phenomenon, the combinaof Scepticism, stranded first

tion " philo-sophia " should not claim our first attention, since it identifies " wisdom " too greatly with " science," and the leading characteristic of " wisdom " is that it is not the result of discursive thought. illiterate

being a

An

uneducated and even an

man may convey in large measure the impression of ivise man while, on the other hand, scientifically ;

developed persons often

fall

short in

wisdom

of sense.

The

etymology of the words, by which the conception of "wis-

dom "

is

expressed in different languages, makes this dis-

between a

and a disposition for and science (scientia) are not the same. Sapere means to taste, to try, and in its metaphoric use points to a knowledge of things which expresses itself not theoretically, but practically, and works intuitively. The Greek word cro'^o? (wisdom), in connection with aa(f)7]'i, (ra7rp6<?, and perhaps with otto'?, belongs evidently to the same root, and points also to a radical-word which indicated the action of smelling or tastmg. The Germanic word " wise " takes no account with the origin of this peculiar knowledge, but with its outcome. Wisel is the wellknown name of the queen of the bees, who, taking the lead,

tinction

wisdom

scientific disposition

to be clearly seen.

Wisdom

(sapientia)

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