“Practical wisdom (phronesis) helps people make smart choices in life.

Practical wisdom differs from science. Science is about facts. Practical wisdom considers the circumstances.

How is practical wisdom different from art?

• Art is about producing something external—like a painting, a house, or a sculpture. Its value comes from the finished product.

• Practical wisdom is about acting wisely in real-life situations. A good action is valuable in itself, not because it creates something tangible.

Leaders like Pericles, who was from Athens, were seen as wise. They knew what was good for themselves and what benefited the whole community.

Practical wisdom also requires self-control (sophrosyne). People ruled by pleasure or pain can lose sight of what truly matters. If someone lets emotions take over, they forget why they made a decision in the first place.

Practical wisdom differs from art. In art, a skilled person can make deliberate mistakes. But in practical wisdom, a truly wise person would never choose poorly on purpose.”

-The Nichomachean Ethics - For Everyone, Aristotle, Kindle Edition, pg. 97