We live in a world saturated with information, yet we seem to suffer from a profound deficit of wisdom. And what’s worse, we confuse the two. We believe that access to more information leads to wisdom. But, if anything, the opposite is true. More information, without context, muddles our understanding of the world. It’s like a Plinko game. Bits of info scatter randomly, rarely landing in the slot of true understanding.
The flood of information has made it a social sin to seem uninformed. Our culture finds it very embarrassing to lack an opinion. So, to seem informed, we form our opinions quickly. We base them on bits of info and first impressions, not on true understanding.
Emerson once observed, “Knowledge is the knowing that we cannot know.”
To grasp its importance, think of understanding as a ladder. It has rungs, with higher ones being better than lower ones.
At the bottom rung lies information: isolated facts and data points that simply state what is. Above that is knowledge. It’s the ability to link those bits of info to find patterns and insights. They reveal the truth about the world. Knowledge hinges on an act of correlation and interpretation. At the top is wisdom. It has a moral component. At the pinnacle is wisdom. It is the use of deep, learned knowledge to navigate life’s complexities. It requires both practical and moral application. This is key to understanding how the world works and how it should work. It requires a moral framework of what should and shouldn’t matter. It also needs an ideal of the world at its highest potential.
This is why the storyteller holds an increasingly critical role in today’s world.
A great storyteller helps people find what matters in the world and why. This applies to journalists, editors, filmmakers, and curators. A great storyteller climbs the ladder of understanding. It goes from information to knowledge to wisdom. The storyteller uses symbols, metaphors, and associations. They help us interpret information and connect it to our knowledge. This turns it into wisdom.
Susan Sontag famously remarked, “Reading sets standards.” Storytelling does more than this. It sets benchmarks. It also sparks a desire in us to exceed them and reach for greater heights.
A great story is not about providing information, though it can inform. A great story expands our views and inspires us to improve. It also plants the seed for it. It compels a transformation in how we perceive and make sense of the world. It is of the world, our place in it, ourselves, and some aspect of existence, subtle or monumental.
In a world where info is cheap and wisdom costly, the gap is where the modern storyteller’s value lies.
I think of it this way:
Information is akin to owning an extensive collection of books on how to build ships. Knowledge applies to building a ship. Having access to the books — the raw data — is essential to gaining knowledge, but it doesn’t ensure you’ll achieve it.
After building your ship, only your wisdom can navigate the waters. It lets you sail it without sinking. It protects it from the storm that creeps up from the horizon at night. It helps you adjust your course so the wind fills the sails.
Ethical wisdom guides you to choose the right path as you steer your vessel.
A great storyteller is a kind captain. She sails her ship with great wisdom and courage. It points its nose at horizons and worlds. They were chosen with unflinching idealism. She brings us a bit closer to our answer to a grand question: Why are we here?
Final Thoughts
In a world inundated with information, the role of the storyteller is more crucial than ever. Storytellers do more than inform. They guide us up a ladder. It goes from scattered facts to knowledge, then to wisdom. They help us navigate the chaos, offering clarity, context, and purpose. By weaving narratives that challenge, inspire, and illuminate, they guide us. They steer us to a deeper appreciation of what truly matters. They can turn the vast information into a guide for a wise, meaningful life.
