[Marileangorifurnimaluim]

Oh, by no means are you being too abstract! I am delighted!

I may not have made a clear enough distinction between "wisdom" and "knowledge" in my post above. In this context I mean knowledge, as in knowledge of lore, and perhaps skill in displaying that knowledge. Knowledge vast, yet superficial, untempered by depth and understanding of principles. Principles which form the basis of ethics. And the basis of kindness. Wisdom on the other hand, by my definition here, is depth of understanding of underlying principles.

There is no such thing, in this definintion, as unprincipled wisdom. Though there is unprincipled knowledge. My thought is that someone with knowledge, coupled with wisdom and principle, will naturally wish to share it with those who don't have it, or naturally respect the good nature of those who don't require it. While one with unprincipled knowledge, who has never known or forgotten fundamentals ("a white page can be overwritten!" - "then it is no longer white.. and he who breaks a thing to learn what it is has left the path of wisdom") is likely to become arrogant. And their knowledge then might as well be a poison, as it's an agent (or excuse) to undermine their character, and what could have been growing wisdom.

Kindness I think is easier than wisdom, because it does not require a full understanding of equality between human beings, it merely requires a good heart. But to become consistant, it needs a solid understanding of principles, so it leads to wisdom. And is its ultimate expression.

In other words I agree. I think the influx of new member is a wonderful opportunity to examine what we were like when we where young and irritating, lacking even knowledge of the Silmarils (gah! what a thought), and grow a bit.

[ March 17, 2002: Message edited by: Marileangorifurnimaluim ]