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« And Not a Single Complaint from the Deceased | Main | Unbelievable »
Tuesday
Sep062005

He Can Follow a Recipe, But Can He Cook?

DateTuesday, September 6, 2005 at 09:00AM

john roberts 2.jpgQuote: "By all accounts, John Roberts is the kind of guy you might want your daughter to bring home for dinner: brilliant, personable, possibly destined for greatness." USA Today on the shoo-in for Supreme Court Chief Justice

Term: Phronesis (fro NEE sis), or street savvy

Aristotle defined phronesis as "practical wisdom." It's the flip side of sophia, or theoretical wisdom.

Roberts is "brilliant." That's sophia. But Aristotle praised leaders who could also use judgment in particular circumstances, combining book smarts with street smarts. That's phronesis. If Roberts has both, he'll make a great Chief Justice.

Snappy Answer: "My daughter wants to know if he can unclog a toilet."

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