Decisiveness, Tact, Knowledge, and Justice: Suitable Replacements?

As the world and its societies age, language is constantly being shifted and changed. Often, however, words do not actually alter in meaning; rather, society’s preference changes, resulting in that word’s omission or substitution. A prime example of this change is prevalent in a recent listing of The Twelve Leadership Traits. One of these traits is vocalized in the word "knowledge." Certainly knowledge is a vital element in leadership notes today. However, one can not help but notice the vacancy evident due to a lack of the trait of "wisdom."

Beginning in ancient times, rulers of societies were often affiliated to a religioin in one way or another. It has become virtually common knowledge today that the pharoahs of ancient Egypt were considered by their subjects to be gods. Stemming from these ancient roots, people grew to revere wise leaders; those leaders who were able to make decisions based on personal experiences. Until the Age of Reason swept the western hemishpere in the 1700s, wisdom was a necessary trait in leadership.

After the Enlightenment and its offspring (including the Age of Reason) had passed, a fractured version of wisdom was left in the wake (in the area of leadership). While still recognizable after piecing together others on the "Leadership Traits" list, "wisdom" itself was abandoned due to a growing popularity for logic and decisions based thereon.

Regardless, wisdom is still valued in today’s societies in various forms. Experience is, as politicians should know, essential in modern campaigning. Justice requires a base of fundamental wisdom. Tact and decisiveness are also qualities inherent in andy wise person. Essentially, an oxymoron is inevitablely produced when an effor to describe wisdom’s place in leadership traits today is made: "Wisdom no longer exists on contemporary lists of leadership traits, but through other traits such as knowledge, tact, and justice, evidence of wisdom’s influence can be found. Thus, wisdom does exist on contemporary lists of leadership traits."

TEACHER’S COMMENTS:

The logic escapes me. Pharaohs claiming to be gods, so they are "wise," which the Age of Reason somehow destroys???

So define "wisdom!" You use the word in the sense of a "cure all" as used by pharaohs. Think about this, for "I" choose not to live under any pharaoh type. "I’ll take the wisdom of our Founding Fathers, who were steeped in the precepts of the ENLIGHTENMENT!!!

Let us talk about this, for we certainly have divergent ideas. We can learn from each other. :-)

MY COMMENTS:

Wow. For a piece composed late at night with no intentions (much less a point), I sure got a teacher (with whom I happen to share beliefs) fired up! Oops. :-o