Hi Everyone,

I'd like to return to a point that Wilbur Shilling raised back in December:

> Just a small question for Dr. Wilson: Since when has the world
> been run by the wise?

>> "We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom. The world
>> henceforth will be run by synthesizers, people able to put together the
>> right information at the right time, think critically about it, and make
>> important choices wisely." -- E.O. Wilson, "Consilience," p.269

Perhaps we should interpret Wilson's statement as an expression of his *hope* for how he would like the world to be run?
But more generally, this raises an important question: Do we really think it's possible to gather knowledge about the universe, synthesize this knowledge in a way that makes us "wise," and then guide our individual and social actions from this perspective of wisdom, in a way that significantly changes the course of events? I tend to think it is possible for wisdom to make a real difference - the idea that it's important to integrate key insights from science into the perspective from which we think and act depends on the belief that the perspective we hold actually makes a real difference in the world. But this is certainly a debatable point which is worth discussing.

Todd