Phronesis (Ancient Greek: φρόνησις, phronēsis) is a Greek word for a type of wisdom or intelligence. It is more specifically a type of wisdom relevant to practical things, requiring an ability to discern how or why to act virtuously and encourage practical virtue, excellence of character, in others. Phronesis was a common topic of discussion in ancient Greek philosophy.
The word was used in Greek philosophy, and such discussions are still influential today. In Aristotelian ethics, for example in the Nicomachean Ethics, it is distinguished from other words for wisdom and intellectual virtues – such as episteme and techne. Because of its practical character, when it is not simply translated by words meaning wisdom or intelligence, it is often translated as "practical wisdom", and sometimes (more traditionally) as "prudence", from Latin prudentia.
Socrates is known to have considered phronēsis to be the same as being a virtuous person. By thinking with phronēsis, a person has virtue. Therefore, all virtuousness is a form of phronēsis. In the mind of Socrates phronēsis equals virtue, they are the same thing. Being good, is to be an intelligent or reasonable person with intelligent and reasonable thoughts. Phronēsis allows a person to have moral or ethical strength.
Phronesis is a peer-reviewed academic journal covering the study of ancient philosophy. It is indexed by PhilPapers and the Philosopher's Index. The journal was established in 1955 by Donald James Allan and Joseph Bright Skemp, who wrote in the first issue that the goal of the journal was to bring together philosophers and classicists from across national borders so as to improve the specialty of ancient philosophy, but also to include insights for those in medieval studies.Phronesis has been described as "pioneering" and one of the major English-language journals for ancient philosophy. The journal is published by Brill Publishers and the editors-in-chief are George Boys-Stones (Durham University) and Christof Rapp (Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich).
Phronesis are a three-piece jazz band from London. Formed by Danish bass player Jasper Høiby in 2005, the piano trio is completed by British pianist Ivo Neame and Swedish drummer Anton Eger. Phronesis have been described by Jazzwise magazine as "the most exciting and imaginative piano trio since e.s.t. - Esbjörn Svensson Trio".
Born in Copenhagen, Jasper Hoiby came to London to study double bass at the Royal Academy of Music, and there met pianist Neame, the two becoming members of London's influential Loop Collective. Phronesis' first attracted the attention of the UK jazz press in 2010 with the release of their second album "Green Delay". They were nominated for ‘Best Jazz Ensemble’ in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards, featured on the front cover of Jazzwise Magazine and nominated for ‘Best Jazz Act’ at the MOBO Awards of that year.
The trio’s third album, ‘Alive’ was released in 2010 on UK independent label Edition, and featured guest US drummer Mark Guiliana. The album was named as ‘Jazz Album of the Year’ by both Jazzwise and MOJO Magazines.
(Song of gratitude to St. Francis of Assisi)
My patron saint's a man who went
from town to town and paid no rent
The things he owned besides his soul
were shoes a gown and a begging bowl.
What struck me first when I was young
was how he never got bit or stung
though bears and snakes he did befriend
real bears and snakes not just pretend.
I knew this wasn't easy stuff
because I tried it myself enough
but bears and snakes they ran from me
though dogs and cats came willingly.
Deep within the wooded calm
he sang a song a simple psalm
";Make me an instrument of thy peace
Let love be sown and hatred cease";.Now me I live beyond my means
in the city of lost and broken dreams
with too many pairs of shoes
that take me round and round the blues.
And the price of things is never low
or else it isn't worth the go
and taking time turns out to give
the time it takes to really live.
You may not know who you are
until you get hit by a star
like I did and lived to say
it happened on my saint's feast day.
So I'm still here where I belong
and many years have come and gone
since that dance, since that kiss, Francis