The Scientific Study of Personal Wisdom: From Contemplative Traditions to Neuroscience

This volume’s rich and diverse contributions span a wide variety of disciplines, from psychology and philosophy to neuroscience, by some of the most influential scholars in the emerging science of personal wisdom. As such, it is a collection of essential readings and the first publication to integrate personal wisdom’s spiritual and pragmatic dimensions.

The book’s content goes beyond speculative theory to present a wealth of scientific research currently underway in this expanding field. It also describes numerous promising methods now being deployed in the quest for scientific knowledge of the elusive yet critical phenomenon of personal wisdom. The book is an excellent introduction to the field for novice researchers and a stimulating and enlightening resource for established experts. Its broad appeal makes it a vital addition to the libraries of academics and practitioners in many disciplines, from developmental psychology to gerontology and philosophy to contemplative religious traditions such as Buddhism.