12.2 Practical wisdom
Ramírez (1995) discusses how we
attain a clear reflective form of knowledge, scientific knowledge (Greek: episteme), through theoretical activity,
and practical wisdom (knowledge) (Greek: phronesis)
through long-term reflective action (which can be understood as co-constructing
meaning together with others). We gain competence and skills (Greek: techne) by doing something productive,
by working with something creative in an existing reality. Acting is not the
same as doing, but it is through what we do that our actions can be seen and
understood. Our skills (e.g. the skill of interviewing) differ from scientific
knowledge, but at the same time they are a form of scientific knowledge,
because they can explain, and help us in a productive activity. Explaining what
one does can also be viewed as scientific knowledge. Theory and scientific knowledge
are both activities and thereby capabilities which can be learned. Theory and
scientific knowledge are forms of productive activity. According to Aristotle,
the most important ability we need in order to live a good life is the ability to
act using practical wisdom (Ramírez 1995).
One of the participants gives a good
illustration of what practical wisdom means for her in conversations with
sexually abused users of the incest centre.
Sally: I believe that when one has one’s own experience, then one can go so
much further (.). Umm, so I really think that one can stand there in quite a
different manner than someone who has never been there. That’s something I
believe our users also notice. And that’s why they choose to use us, because we
can use our experience. I can only speak for myself, but the fact that I have my experience and can use it in
my conversations with others, and the fact that they might not have spoken to
me about their experiences of shame if they hadn’t known about my experience,
takes something negative and turns (.) it upside down so that one can use it in
a positive way.
Sally has gained her experience
through a lived life and built up the capacity to use it in specific
situations; this demonstrates how practical wisdom can be used. Scientific
knowledge can also be viewed as the ability to know, while skills are the
ability to carry out productive activity. It is the concept of action (an
understanding-creative activity) which leads to the practical wisdom that
brings forth both the knowledge and skills needed to create a meaningful life.
Gubrium and Holstein (1997) argue that the art
of scientific research has to do with “the adroitness of practical reasoning”
(Gubrium and Holstein 1997: 135). Practical wisdom does not dictate the outcome
of a dialog with others, but appeals to outside rhetorical resources;
participants become story telling and creative subjects, linking “together
aspects of experience and thereby meaningfully articulate the stories they
tell…Meaning, in other words, is a
linkage” (Gubrium and Holstein 1997: 148). Latour (1987) also recommends that
“if you want to understand what draws things
together, then look at what draws
things together” (Latour 1987:
60). Denzin (2002) writes that the
search for meaning should be made in the stories people tell about themselves,
because meaning is felt in the streams of experience of the individual.
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