Morality and Wisdom

     Morality is not inferior to wisdom.  Rather, they go hand in hand; the moral person is the wise person.  That is because we are social creatures, who depend on each other for the survival of our species.  We build cities and civilizations based on the construct of community, not individuality.  Thus the happiest people are the most moral and wise; those who put others above themselves, reserving their pleasures for pursuits that benefit the species.  The happiest people are not the ones who pursue knowledge for its own sake, as Aristotle wrote.  Nor are they the wisest.  A life of contemplation is completely self-serving, unless it involves active intent on contributing to society.  It is a wisdom removed from compassion, serving only to please the self.