Performing Phronesis

Abstract

Practical wisdom and judgment, rather than seen as “things” hidden inside the mind, are best talked of as emerging developmentally within an unceasing flow of activities in which practitioners are immersed. When practitioners (namely, individuals immersed in a practice, experiencing their tasks through the emotions, standards of excellence, and moral values the practice engenders) face a bewildering situation in which they do not know how to proceed, the judgment they exercise emerges out of seeking to establish a new orientation to their puzzling surroundings. They do so through actively trying to be in touch with their felt emotions and moral sensibilities, while attempting to articulate linguistically the feelings experienced, in order to get a clearer view of relevant aspects of the situation at hand. Coming to a judgment involves moving around within a landscape of possibilities, and in so doing, being spontaneously responsive to the consequences of each move.