On the Collapse of Prudence

A friend of mine, Fulvio di Blasi, recently published a book entitled The Death of the Phronimos, which we could translate as “the death of the wise man,” or “the death of the person of sound judgment.” I confess that I have not yet read the book, but the title intrigues me and captures a fundamental truth about what we have been living quite vividly for the past two years: many of the judgments of scientists, public officials, and citizens seemed to be the very antithesis of practical wisdom. We saw a good deal of technical know-how, but very little sober, rounded judgment.