Wisdom – New insights about an old virtue

25 Min., SWR2 2006

A man is about to jump What would you say to this suicidal man? This is one of the scenarios that Professor Ursula Staudinger uses to look for wisdom within the population. In doing so, the development psychologist has found astonishing results: wisdom is not just reserved for our oldest members of society; there are wise people in every age group. The cornerstone for wisdom is laid between the ages of 14 and 25. Completely contrary to a widely held view, developments, such as obstinacy and headiness, which are actually more detrimental, are connected with age.
So what is wisdom? Can it be learned? - New thoughts on a subject that has denoted the ideal ending point of human development since the beginning of the human culture of writing.