I'm working on a book tentatively titled A Different Kind of Growth: Wisdom in Global Development. I hope to make the case that greater wisdom is the optimal goal of global development, where wisdom is defined as the knowledge, virtue, and action required to generate well-being in oneself and others, now and into the future. Wisdom, in turn, is best gained through the pursuit of aspirations and an internal climb up Maslow's hierarchy of needs. I argue that wisdom, at individual, societal, and national levels, is the key to economic growth for the poor, political freedom for the oppressed, and sustainability for everyone.
Tentative outline:
- Introduction
- Critique of Existing Theories
- The Idea of Wisdom
- Intrinsic Development and Aligned Aspiration
- Wisdom Across Generations
- "Gross National Wisdom"
- Wisdom in Policy
- Wisdom and Faith
- Appendix: Philosophical Foundations
I'm eager to receive feedback and will gladly send drafts to anyone who is willing to send critical feedback – the more critical, the better!