Faust13 wrote:She didn't "give up" on "wisdom" for mere empirical research
That's not how it appears.
she was very interested in one important field and she wanted to do it herself, what's wrong with that?
It looks like she valued that one field, and "social status", more highly than wisdom.
Besides, she's written other books that have direct wisdom in them, such as Advice to Clever Children, and the Decline and Fall of Science.
Yes, and they are excellent books. She made an excellent start, but there's no evidence that she continued with it.
My impression is that the wisdom in these works came out of the venom she felt towards society for rejecting her, rather than an actual love for Truth. That's a big difference, and the former doesn't have the power to sustain itself.
She rails against society as a means of centralizing herself, but then complains that society doesn't hold her in high esteem. That's not smart.
It's okay to begin by doing that, so long as you grow out of it and learn to centralize through your own powers. Her "centre" has more to do with the ego (which is not altogether a bad thing) than it has to do with true individuality.
It is certainly better than living off other people to search for wisdom.
It depends how valuable you think wisdom is.
She worked at the SPR only for the money, she wasn't talking about her career in general you moron.
So she spent years working on psychophysical research just for the money? It might be true, but it's hard to beleive.
By "status" she means a professorship, which she needed to carry out important research, it's not an idea to be overcome Kevin.
Seeking "social status" within a society of morons is not a wise pursuit.
She's talking about getting what she deserves and making use of it, that of a professorship and research resources.
I probably
deserve to be both a Professor of Philosophy and a Professor of Science and on a six-figure income. I too could do wonders with, say, 20 million dollars and directing research activities, but you don't see me complaining about it.