Our loss of wisdom - Barry Schwartz

Summary

In this insightful talk, the speaker emphasizes the importance of practical wisdom over reliance on rules and incentives. Using the example of hospital janitors who go beyond their job descriptions to care for patients, the speaker illustrates how moral will and skill can improve outcomes. The talk critiques the overuse of rules and incentives, which can stifle moral growth and practical problem-solving. It advocates for celebrating moral exemplars, nurturing moral skill and will in organizations, and fostering an environment that encourages wisdom, concluding that practical wisdom is essential for allowing other virtues to flourish.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Barack Obama's inaugural address emphasized the importance of virtue and practical wisdom over materialism and blind trust in systems.
• 🧼 The story of hospital janitors illustrates how moral will and skill can significantly impact the quality of care and patient experience, despite job descriptions that don't account for human interactions.
• 🎷 Practical wisdom, as described by Aristotle, is the combination of moral will and skill, allowing individuals to make exceptions to rules and improvise in real-world situations.
• 🚫 Over-reliance on rules and incentives can lead to a decline in moral skill and will, as they may stifle the ability to improvise and learn from experience, as well as undermine the desire to do the right thing.
• 📚 The script criticizes the scripted curriculum in education, suggesting it leads to mediocrity by not trusting teachers' judgment and creativity.
• 🍋 The lemonade story exemplifies how strict adherence to rules without considering context can lead to absurd and harmful outcomes.
• 🏭 The narrative points out that neither rules nor incentives can fully encapsulate the complexity and nuances of moral actions, such as the empathetic behavior of the hospital janitors.
• 🌳 The talk suggests celebrating moral exemplars and creating environments that nurture moral skill and will, rather than relying solely on ethics courses.
• 👨‍🏫 As teachers and leaders, we should embody moral exemplars, inspiring those we mentor and creating conditions that allow for the development of practical wisdom.
• 🌐 The script concludes with a call to action for individuals and organizations to foster an environment that encourages virtuous behavior and practical wisdom, rather than being solely profit-driven.

Q & A

What did Barack Obama appeal to in his inaugural address regarding the financial crisis?

Barack Obama appealed to virtue and asked people to put aside childish things, rather than encouraging them to go shopping or simply trust the country and invest.

What is the significance of the hospital janitor job description mentioned in the script?

The hospital janitor job description is significant because it lacks any mention of human interaction, despite the fact that janitors often engage in acts of kindness and empathy that improve patient care, illustrating the importance of moral will and skill in the workplace.

What does the behavior of the janitors named Mike, Charlene, and Luke demonstrate?

The behavior of Mike, Charlene, and Luke demonstrates moral will and skill, as they chose to act in the best interest of the patients and their families, even when it meant deviating from their job duties.

What is practical wisdom according to Aristotle, as mentioned in the script?

Practical wisdom, according to Aristotle, is the combination of moral will and moral skill, which enables a person to know when and how to make exceptions to rules and to improvise in response to real-world problems.

How does the script suggest that rules and incentives can lead to a 'war on wisdom'?

The script suggests that an over-reliance on rules can stifle moral skill by limiting the opportunity to improvise and learn, while an excessive focus on incentives can undermine moral will by encouraging people to focus on their interests rather than doing the right thing.

What is the lemonade story in the script meant to illustrate?

The lemonade story is meant to illustrate the absurdity and unintended consequences that can arise from strict adherence to rules and procedures without considering the context or the greater good.

Why does the script criticize the scripted curriculum in modern American education?

The script criticizes the scripted curriculum because it stifles teacher autonomy and innovation, leading to mediocrity and preventing teachers from exercising moral skill and judgment in their classrooms.

What is the role of experience in developing wisdom according to the script?

According to the script, experience is crucial for developing wisdom as it allows individuals to learn from their mistakes, understand the people they serve, and gain the ability to improvise and adapt to different situations.

What examples does the script provide of moral exemplars?

The script provides examples of moral exemplars such as Atticus Finch, Aaron Feuerstein of Malden Mills, Ray Anderson who transformed his business to be environmentally friendly, and ordinary heroes like the empathetic janitors.

How does the script relate the concept of wisdom to the idea of character education in schools?

The script relates wisdom to character education by emphasizing that teaching character, such as respect and integrity, is the most important thing for students to learn, as it forms the foundation for other virtues to be displayed effectively.

What is the main message the speaker wants the audience to take away regarding wisdom and organizations?

The main message is that organizations should create environments that nurture moral skill and will, and that individuals should strive to be virtuous in their actions, as wisdom is not just an individual trait but is also shaped by the structures and cultures within which people work.