The Folly of Wisdom

Abstract

This thesis takes as its subject the wise fool and the implications of this character on the nature of wisdom.  In both history and literature this character has been prevalent.  I argue that the reason this character is a popular one is not just for irony’s sake, rather the intuitions about the fool’s wisdom are genuine ones, based on proper reasons.  The goal of this thesis is both to make explicit what it is about the nature of the fool that may give insight into wisdom and what the implications are for wisdom if folly itself can be seen as wisdom.

            I shall be looking at three forms of fools, following in part the Elizabethan distinction and shall also look at their associated wisdoms.  I will start with the natural fool, continue with the insane fool and finish with the artificial fool.  I will be arguing that the wisdom of folly contrasts with the mainstream Western wisdom tradition in that it does not take reason and knowledge as the ultimate basis for wisdom.  Rather, the wisdom of folly looks to states outside rationality for guidance towards wisdom.

            I will be arguing that the natural fool possesses wisdom though being pre-rational.  I will question whether it is possible for a normally rational agent to possess the wisdom of the natural fool.  I will turn to the insane fool to clarify the wisdom that can occur in the irrational and also to question further whether it is possible to possess wisdom based outside rationality and still be a rational agent.  I shall finish with the artificial fool who, I claim, takes the wisdom of natural and insane fools as exemplars in the search for wisdom and in reconciling the wisdom of the natural and insane fools with rationality manages to exceed the wisdom possessed by both.  In addition, by being a normally rational agent, the artificial fool helps to show how mainstream wisdom and the wisdom of folly can be reconciled.