Palgrave Handbook of Transformational Wisdom

Introduction

This handbook introduces the concept of transformational wisdom as the missing component to build a more sustainable future and address the world’s most pressing challenges.

Background and Context

Drawing on Sternberg’s work on transformational creativity and transformational giftedness, this timely collection brings together contributions from leading scholars in wisdom as well as creativity research to challenge the traditional Western skill- and knowledge-based education systems and help build a new social conscience that fosters resilience, equity, and systemic change.

Topics Covered

Chapters investigate topics such as virtue-based thinking, ethical frameworks, sustainability, omniculturalism, and the role of wisdom in leadership, education, and social justice.

Series and Purpose

Closing an ideal trilogy started with The Palgrave Handbook of Transformational Giftedness for Education (Palgrave, 2022) and Transformational Creativity: Learning for a Better Future (Palgrave, 2024), this groundbreaking collection asks how transformational wisdom can be exercised to create a more sustainable world and tackle global societal issues like climate change, pollution, poverty, war, violence, ideological polarization, and the spread of dictatorships.

Audience and Relevance

It provides a comprehensive reference for understanding and cultivating transformational wisdom across disciplines, making it essential reading for scholars and students in psychology (developmental, social, cognitive, educational, clinical), education, philosophy, political science, and leadership studies. It will also benefit researchers and practitioners interested in ethics, sustainability, intercultural competence, and the application of wisdom to global problems.