Actually, that is a loaded question that cannot be answered simply as yes or no.

First, let’s define the word “wisdom.”  Mirriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines wisdom as accumulated philosophic or scientific learning: knowlede, ability to discern inner qualities and relationships: insight c: good sense: judgment d:  or a generally accepted belief. That says a mouthful, doesn’t it?

Wisdom requires experience.  Empirical knowledge is gained through testing things through utilization of the five senses, previous knowledge and application of accumulated knowledge. Insight and judgment are usually gained throughout one’s life, as a person comes face-to-face with issues, people and just everyday existence.

I like this working definition of wisdom:  the knowledge, insight and judgment gained through experience, whether positive and negative.  This can include both spiritual and empirical (that is knowledge that is gained through the five senses.)  This brings us back to the original question - does age really bring wisdom?

Age alone does not bring wisdom.  Haven’t you known middle-aged adults that act like teenagers?  I am not talking about youthful vibrancy, either.  They gossip, stir up strife, and set themselves up as bad examples for younger people around them.  There are elderly people who are closed-minded and unwilling to learn new things.  They bring nothing “to the table” of life, except that the old ways are always better.

Also, one can have a lot of experiences and not learn from any one of them.  Sometimes, they can lose more ground than they have gained.  This can be the result of lack of instruction, stubbornness, laziness or apathy.  Of course, one could think of more reason than is here.

Also, many younger people have wisdom that their elders may not.  For example, a child that is suffering from leukemia may have more insight into life and an attitude of acceptance those adults, two, three or more times his/her age.  A teenager that has had to take care of a sick or alcoholic parent may have coping skills that an adult living a virtually problem-free life may have.  The latter may be crushed by the slightest inconvenience.

To summarize, the question could be written as “Can age bring wisdom?”  The answer to that is a resounding “yes.”  Wisdom mainly comes through mistakes and suffering.  The good news is that a person who has made a lot of wrong choices can start making right choices and thereby, gains the wisdom that will help someone else go through the wrong thing.  Also, someone who is going through a seemingly impossible situation - an illness, divorce, abuse or other form of unjust treatment can also gain much wisdom as they go through his or her experience to “the other side” of freedom.  Others can get freedom in their lives, as well.