We live at a time of radical uncertainty, with economic stagnation, social upheaval, ideological clashes, violent conflicts, and a global trade war. How to survive the uncertainty and to thrive rather than decay is a question for individuals, institutions, and nations. The answer requires what I call wisdom of temporal perspectives in our decision-making.

The wisdom of temporal perspectives involves the temporal appraisal of the current situation, where we take into consideration past factors that give rise to the situation and future consequences that may transpire when solving problems and making decisions. It is a form of transformational wisdom that is particularly important in a complex world of challenges today.

As human beings, we all have the cognitive capacity to engage in temporal thinking. Imagine you are deciding whether to support the tenure promotion of a colleague. Her current number of publications is low, which raises a red flag. However, a closer look into her work in the past years provides a clue that she has devoted most of her time to a groundbreaking new book that will significantly advance the field in many years to come. By considering information about the past and the future, you are able to arrive at a sound recommendation for your colleague’s promotion.

The wisdom of temporal perspectives can also help us understand societal issues and international conflicts. For example, when evaluating an ongoing war, we examine, beyond the current violence and brutality, historical factors that led to the war and the long-term outcomes for involving parties as the war prolongs. The contemplation of past causes and future consequences can help us arrive at more effective actions for peace intervention.

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