Part 09 - Wisdom: A Fool's Argument

“Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is chasing after the wind.” -Ecclesiastes 1:17

Wisdom: A Fool’s Argument

Say what you will about the Bible, but Solomon’s story always resonated with me. Specifically when God told Solomon He would give him anything he desired. What did Solomon request? Wisdom.

That blew me away… and I have been seeking it ever since. And, as a wise man knows, I am still just a fool. But maybe, someday, I’ll learn.

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Something to think about: why did Solomon seek wisdom over anything else? What is the point of being wise?

Ecclesiastes 2:16- “For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered; the days have already come when both have been forgotten. Like the fool, the wise too must die.”

Honestly... what is the point? What is the point of anything at all? Why not be blissfully ignorant? Is objectively understanding the Way just understanding that life consists of suffering and we are trying to avoid as much suffering as possible? Isn’t the red cardinal simply trying to survive another winter to dominate the hierarchy to pass on his genes? THAT is wisdom?

Ecclesiastes 1:18- “For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.”

Why is wisdom better than ignorance? I don’t know. Couldn’t tell you. It is like the red or blue pill in the Matrix. Once Neo becomes aware of reality, he has a choice: be aware or be ignorant. He chooses to be aware despite the suffering it brings.

To me, there doesn’t seem to be much choice at all. Once you are aware of the choice between the red and blue pill, you have lost your ability to be blissfully ignorant. Once you are aware of the sunrise, and I mean truly aware of the sunrise, you cannot unsee it.

Perhaps that is you. Perhaps, somehow, you are aware that there is something strange about the sunrise, or the birds flying, or why people laugh at farts. And perhaps, because you are aware of those things, you are curious to understand more about whatever it is you are curious about.

Perhaps you are curious as to why you are curious about such things. Perhaps you will never know. And maybe that is okay. As the Grateful Dead once said, “wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world.” If this is you, it is too late to be ignorant.

You are conscious of yourself and the universe. And that is my fool’s argument for wisdom: If you are asking why wisdom is better than ignorance, you simply have no choice but to be curious. You are one of those who wonder.