ABSTRACT
Practical wisdom is an ancient concept, and many trace its roots to Aristotle. When Aristotle wrote about practical wisdom, he was not applying it in the context of professional actions, but more broadly. Modern writers have also written about practical wisdom, including its importance in professional practice. In a book, Barry Schwartz and Kenneth Sharpe tell us that practical wisdom is “the right way to do the right thing in a particular circumstance, with a particular person, at a particular time”. Adapting to the particulars of a given situation may actually become more difficult than gathering experiences and expertise. The exercise of practical wisdom has been compared to the actions of a skilled jazz musician. Jazz is the epitome of improvisation, moving back and forth between a musical score and what is happening in the moment, of being able to read what other musicians are doing and respond. The acquisition of practical wisdom is a developmental process taking intention and hard work.
