Die hohe Kunst der Weisheit

Philosophy meets the art of living: Otfried Höffe on the key to a good life. Wisdom is a multifaceted concept. We all associate it with something particularly valuable, we admire wise people and wise decisions, yet wisdom plays a minimal role in our lives. In his new book, Otfried Höffe brings us closer to the high art of wisdom. He shows us that it is not an unattainable ideal but a standard for the good life that we should rediscover.

Wisdom describes a comprehensive orientation to existence. In explorations through the history of philosophical thought, the happiness research of psychology, and non-European wisdom literature, Otfried Höffe investigates its various forms. He particularly focuses on life wisdom – the ability to understand life as a whole and to engage with the questions that deeply move people. It involves the stoic ability to endure even the worst adversities with calmness while maintaining one's independence and freedom. It also encompasses the wisdom found in mastering a particular craft or trade in an outstanding manner.

And because not only the question of the essence of wisdom but also the search for ways to acquire it is a universal human goal, it is always about how and to what extent one can learn wisdom. "Be aware of what you know. What you do not know, admit it. That is wisdom." – Confucius.

Wisdom in the mirror of philosophy: Otfried Höffe on the art of life wisdom. Everyone values wisdom, but hardly anyone orients their life around it. Höffe shows us what life wisdom consists of and how we can rediscover it: For wisdom is learnable.