Ancient Wisdom

story from Cheng's blog about Words and Truth reminded me of 2 different philosophers:

1. Socrates. who was perplexed when the Oracle at Delphi said that he was the wisest man alive, because he felt that he knew nothing. then he realised that that was why indeed he was the wisest man. that he knew that he knew nothing
2. Lao Tzu. who said, "The Way that can be spoken is not the Eternal Way. The Name that can be named is not the Eternal Name." and "Know that you don't know, that is good. Don't know but think you know, that is bad."

do we know anything at all? perhaps about the physical world. and even then we have a set of assumptions and beliefs which cannot be proven to be correct and are thus subject to constant changes. but what about things like morality, courage, justice, wisdom? do we know anything about these things?

perhaps we do. but, like the proverbial elephant, we are unlikely to be able to describe them but might be able to recognise them.

which is actually fine until you have to actually do something just, moral, wise and courageous. and what's worse, if other people's lives, present and future, depend on you doing the right thing. in many of such situations, doing the right thing becomes an art that needs to be honed by constant practise and no small amount of talent rather than an academic pursuit that you can learn by reading books and listening to lectures.