The Ethics of Wisdom and the Civilization of Cunning–Chapter 65

(Chapters of Existence Ethics)

Soyo Existence Ethics (Existence itself is Ethics)

The Age of Cunning: When Human Conscience Becomes Weightless

Today's world is ruled by cunning. To decide faster, to avoid loss, and to gain more efficiently has become the standard of success. People no longer ask, "How should I live?" but instead, "How can I win?" Yet within that cunning, human conscience grows lighter and lighter. Cunning brings momentary profit, but in exchange, humanity loses the depth of existence. Cunning is the technique of the mind, but wisdom is the language of the soul. Cunning teaches how to overcome the world, while wisdom shows how to overcome oneself.

Soichiro Honda – A Philosophy Beyond Academia

Japan's Soichiro Honda, who left school after elementary education, built one of the world's great enterprises. He did not succeed through scholarship; his philosophy was not written in books. His wisdom bloomed through the grease on his hands, the honesty of his heart, and the conscience of his labor. By the standards of the world, he was not an educated man. But by the standards of heaven, he was one of the wisest. Because he knew his own limits and understood the essence of being human. Wisdom is a heavy burden. To bear it, one must let go of oneself. If cunning is the desire to possess the world, wisdom is the decision to relinquish it.

Soyo's Existence Ethics interprets:

"Life in this world values cunning over wisdom, but true wisdom is far deeper and heavier."

Cunning Is the Technique of Profit, Wisdom the Path of Conscience

The world calls the cunning man clever, quick in calculation, practical, and agile in circumstance. But Soyo asks: "Is there love within that cunning?" "Does conscience still live within that calculation?" Cunning may make life easier, but it never makes humanity noble. Cunning may win opportunities, but it cannot redeem the soul. Wisdom is different. Wisdom chooses the pain of conscience over the comfort of gain. It is never an easy path, but only on that path does one awaken to the question, "Why am I human?"

Wisdom as the Strength to Bear the Weight of Conscience

Soyo Existence Ethics defines wisdom not as an expansion of knowledge, but as the practice of the ethics of conscience. "Wisdom, by its very word, is already connected to the ethics of conscience." Wisdom is not a quick road toward gain, but a deep road toward conscience. Loneliness and suffering accompany it, yet within that pain, humanity encounters the providence of God.

The sagacious person knows why he lives and sees the purpose of life through God's eyes. He does not envy the success of the world; he cherishes the peace of conscience. His heart listens not to the noise of the world but to the silence of heaven.

The World Lives by Cunning, Existence Lives by Wisdom

Cunning sustains the world, but wisdom redeems it. Cunning opens the door to worldly success, but wisdom opens the door to God.

Cunning is the technique of competition, while wisdom is the language of love. Cunning may move the world, but wisdom transforms humanity.

"The world runs by cunning, but life must be lived by wisdom, through the ethics of conscience."

The world moves by cunning, but heaven moves by wisdom. Cunning is the victory of a moment, and wisdom is the truth of eternity.

Soyo's Proposition

"Soichiro Honda, with only an elementary education, built a great enterprise. In this world, life is more cunning than wise, but true wisdom is deeper and heavier. If one's goal in life is merely to live well and prosper, it is not wisdom but cunning. Wisdom, by its very nature, is already tied to the ethics of conscience. The sagacious person knows why he is human and why he continues to live; he understands divine providence through wisdom. The world lives by cunning, but existence lives by wisdom, and through that wisdom, one can live out the ethics of conscience."

Philosophical Interpretation

1. The Wisdom of Existence

This proposition transcends the contrast between "learning" and "cunning," exploring how humanity can live out divine providence through wisdom. Cunning is the calculation of reason; wisdom is the decision of the soul.

2. Ethical Expansion

By defining wisdom as the practice of conscience rather than abstract thought, human life becomes a field of ethical embodiment.

3. Critique of Civilization

Modern civilization, centered on efficiency, is driven by the philosophy of cunning. Soyo Existence Ethics transcends this, proposing a civilization of conscience grounded in wisdom.

4. Theological Integration

Wisdom is the channel through which humanity understands divine providence. Thus, philosophy meets theology, and wisdom becomes the ethical practice that proves divine love.

Conclusion

Cunning may make humanity appear clever, but wisdom makes it humble. Cunning is the path of gain, but wisdom is the path of love. Cunning sustains the world, but wisdom redeems it. Therefore, philosophy must not live by cunning, but by wisdom through the ethics of conscience.

Soyo (逍遙) – Founder of Soyo's Existence Ethics, Author of 'The Silence of Being,' 'The Flame of Truth'

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