Wisdom Policy

Roots

Document ID	SCR-POL-002
Version	1.0
Effective Date	Sep 1, 2025
Author	David V.

Purpose

To establish that wisdom and reason together provide a complete foundation for human flourishing. Wisdom enables accurate understanding of reality as it exists. Reason processes this understanding to guide effective action. This rational approach offers the same transformative power and moral guidance as belief-based systems, but relies solely on evidence and logic rather than faith in unverifiable claims.

All practitioners shall continuously work to improve their wisdom and reasoning capacities through evidence-based methods.

Scope

This policy applies to all practitioners in all aspects of their implementation of Scriptan practices. All decisions and actions must align with the principles outlined herein.

Definitions

Cognitive Capacity: The mental ability to process information, make judgments, and direct conscious responses.
Reason: The cognitive capacity of processing information through logic and evidence to form reliable conclusions and guide effective action.
Wisdom: The cognitive capacity to form accurate models of reality and apply them effectively to solve problems while maintaining focus on what lies within our sphere of influence.

Core Principles

To be most effective and maximize our time and effort, understanding the difference between what is and what is not under our control is crucial. To understand that difference, we should constantly apply reason through the wisdom we possess. These qualities should be trained and improved as much as possible and be among our top priorities.

Furthermore, reason and wisdom also increase tolerance toward unpredictable events and misfortunes, since humans can tolerate anything that appears rational to them. To achieve understanding of what is rational and therefore tolerable, we must apply wisdom and reason.

Since wisdom requires accurate models of reality, improving these capacities must be based on scientific knowledge and validated methods. Only approaches with scientific backing should be considered legitimate tools for developing rational understanding.

Scientific and validated methods are grounded in objective reality and produce knowledge that enables prediction and replication. These approaches identify consistent patterns in how events unfold, allowing us to anticipate outcomes and verify results through repeated observation.

Wisdom and reason are cognitive capacities capable of analyzing and studying themselves.
They can improve themselves through exercise, learning, thinking, communication with others, and continuous practice.

All human beings have the capacity to act reasonably.
In fact, every human being acts with reason and logic, even when their behavior appears unreasonable to others. This apparent unreasonableness occurs because we cannot see their internal motives or understand their prerequisites and constraints.

Wisdom can be trained and improved regardless of circumstances.
There is no limit to teachability - only learning approaches may differ in speed, efficiency, and quality. Everyone, without exception, is capable of achieving any level of wisdom given sufficient time, resources, and support.

References

Epictetus, Enchiridion and Discourses
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Seneca, On the Shortness of Life, Letters to Lucilius
Cleanthes and Chrysippus fragments (as interpreted in secondary Stoic literature)

Review & Revision

This policy is subject to annual review by Scriptan governance or its delegated curators.
Revisions may be made based on community feedback, philosophical developments, or practical insights gained through practice.
Revisions may occur earlier if new philosophical insight warrants clarification or extension.