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Chapter 15 - Wisdom and Social Policy

from Part IV - Wisdom in the World

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 May 2022

By
Don Ambrose
Edited by
Robert J. Sternberg  and
Judith Glück
Robert J. Sternberg
Affiliation:
Cornell University, New York
Judith Glück
Affiliation:
Universität Klagenfurt, Austria
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Summary

The complexity of 21st-century problems requires citizens and political and economic leaders to think more deeply and expansively so they can develop the wisdom necessary for humanity to survive and perhaps thrive in the decades to come. This chapter explores the nature of some 21st-century issues, including the causes of some of the most pressing, large-scale problems in today's world. It describes the ethical insight and higher-order thinking necessary for understanding and addressing these problems. It also provides brief overviews of some new creative and critical thinking strategies that can be applied to social policy issues. In essence, it makes the case for humanity to make a significant leap upward in ethical awareness.

Keywords

climate change: creative thinkingcritical thinkingdemocracyinequalitymacroproblemsmass deceptionresource shortagessocial policywisdom
Type
Chapter
Information
The Psychology of Wisdom
An Introduction
 , pp. 245 - 261
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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