Practical Wisdom Eudaemonia: long-lasting happiness that is Eleanor - PDF document

15/12/2011 Aristotle Phronesis: wisdom to know what to do in particular circumstances Practical Wisdom Eudaemonia: long-lasting happiness that is Eleanor Stewart, PhD the goal of life; human flourishing John Dossetor Health Ethics Centre Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry 9 December 2011 Aristotle’s forms of virtues The Golden Mean • Character virtues • Virtues represent the mean between – Courage excess and deficiency – Temperance • Use rational judgment based on – Justice consideration of all the facts in a particular – Self-respect situation • Intellectual virtues – Science – Art – Philosophy What does practical wisdom How does practical wisdom consist of? develop? • Knowing what to do (do the right thing) • Aristotle > practice, experience, = habit • Knowing why you do it (right reason) • Knowing when to do (at the right time) • Cognitive science > perception, emotion • Knowing to whom (to the right person) 1

15/12/2011 Why is practical wisdom A short story… important? (challenges) • As a counterbalance to: Why are you so angry? – Overreliance on evidence (especially when there is none) – Overreliance on experts (not thinking) – Overreliance on rules and procedures Another story (or two)… Can practical wisdom be taught? 3 times, You’re Out! Sellman (2009) offers a re-direct – Can phronesis be learned? It’s not what you think What can we do? And in the end… • Community • Stories Be like Mr. Dress-up • Opportunities * (one last story) 2

15/12/2011 Selected references Contact information: • Aristotle . Nicomachean Ethics. Translated by Terence Irwin (1985). Eleanor Stewart Indianapolis: Hackett. • Oberle, K. and Bouchal, S. (2009). Ethics in Canadian Nursing Practice: John Dossetor Health Ethics Centre navigating the journey. Toronto: Pearson. • Schwartz, B.and Sharpe, K.(2010). Practical wisdom: the right way to do 5-16 University Terrace the right thing. NY: Riverhead Books. • Sellman, D. (2009). Practical wisdom in health and social care: teaching for University of Alberta professional phronesis. Learning in Health and Social Care, 8 (2), 84-91. ges@ualberta.ca 3