In order to make progress towards a better world we need to learn how to do it. And for that we need institutions of learning rationally designed and devoted to helping us solve our global problems, make progress towards a better world. It is just this that we lack at present. Our universities pursue knowledge. They are neither designed nor devoted to helping humanity learn how to tackle global problems — problems of living — in more intelligent, humane and effective ways. That, this book argues, is the key disaster of our times, the crisis behind all the others: our failure to have developed our institutions of learning so that they are rationally organized to help us solve our problems of living — above all, our global problems. Having universities devoted almost exclusively to the pursuit of knowledge is a recipe for disaster. Scientific knowledge and technological know-how have unquestionably brought great benefits to humanity. But they have also made possible — even caused — our current global crises, above all the impending crisis of global warming. In this lucid and provocative book, Nicholas Maxwell argues convincingly that we need urgently to bring about a revolution in universities round the world so that their basic aim becomes wisdom, and not just knowledge.
Industry Reviews
"Maxwell has been fighting something of a lone battle to bring a wisdom agenda to centre-stage. And it is thus heartening to see his work being taken more seriously in recent years... The message... is both urgent and wise... Maxwell is to be praised for putting the task of seeking 'wisdom' on the agenda of universities again. As an introduction to Maxwell's project, and as an inspiring vision of a higher education worth fighting for in our era increasingly beset by marketization, Maxwell's book is a breath of fresh air." -- Jonathan Coope Metapsychology "It is high time to start taking Nicholas Maxwell seriously, not just as a regular philosopher of science developing the ideas of Karl Popper but first and foremost as an academic revolutionary in the best sense of the word who cares deeply about the future of the whole mankind." -- Peeter Muursepp Dialogue and Universalism "I am convinced by Maxwell's assertion of the need for wisdom enquiry and the current dominance of an inappropriately narrow view of knowledge and evidence in most institutions and in some disciplines... Maxwell is right to call for more wisdom enquiry." -- Timothy Kenealy Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice "Thirty years ago, Nicholas Maxwell first argued that our universities must be rationally designed and devoted to helping us learn how to solve our problems of living. In the intervening years it has become more, not less, urgent that we take up his challenge." -- Julian Baggini, editor-in-chief The Philosophers' Magazine "This book begins by acknowledging that today most people lead longer and healthier lives than previous generations, primarily as a result of 'knowledge-inquiry', mainly in universities. Perversely, the result is ever-expanding populations, pressing against the limits to growth on a finite planet. Maxwell gives a good case for addressing these problems by universities putting much greater emphasis on 'wisdom-inquiry'. It is a timely and interesting idea. I think the book deserves a wide readership." -- Professor Lord Robert May, Oxford University "Which ideal matters more to us, knowledge or wisdom? Nicholas Maxwell has long fought staunchly for wisdom in this debate, and in this book he once more points out shrewdly how much our universities need to learn this lesson. It's to be hoped that this time they are listening!" -- Mary Midgley "Nicholas Maxwell argues that in order to address the problems of global society, we must transform our universities. At UCL we fully agree and we have already made such changes central to our 2011 Research Strategy 'Delivering a Culture of Wisdom'. Our UCL Grand Challenges programme, which has so far involved more than 250 academics, is putting these ideas into practice." -- David Price, Vice-Provost of Research, UCL
