Journal of Spirituality, Leadership and Management

Big picture wisdom: Metatheorising ancient, scientific and indigenous wisdom perspectives for global environmental leadership

Mark Edwards, University of Western Australia

Roberto Biloslavo, University of Primorska, Slovenia

Blaze Kwaymullina, Terra Rosa, Cultural Resource Management

Ambelin Kwaymullina, University of Western Australia

In response to growing global environmental crises and drawing on new ideas from theory-building literature, we seek to develop a radical re-conceptualisation of wise leadership. Communities across the world are facing global challenges which have profound implications for the long-term viability and welfare of natural environments and human social and economic systems. “Big picture” wisdom, that is, a social practice wisdom that can address global environmental challenges, is called for. A metatheoretical review of ancient, scientific and Indigenous conceptualisations of wisdom identifies conceptual lenses that have application to global environmental leadership. Lenses identified as essential for this development include intergenerational time frame, radical relationality, multi-level ecology and integrated sacredness. Integrating conventional scientific and Indigenous views creates the potential for a more expansive and yet grounded means for conceptualising what it means to lead wisely.

Keywords: wisdom, wise leadership, Indigenous knowledge, global environmental crises, metatheoretical lens