Recent reflections by commentator Janan Ganesh on the nature of good judgment have brought renewed attention to Ireland’s ancient Brehon laws, a legal tradition that prioritized practical wisdom and contextual understanding over rigid adherence to abstract rules. The Brehons, judges in early Irish society, were known for their ability to interpret disputes through empathy and a nuanced appreciation of each case’s unique circumstances.

Ganesh’s assertion that good judgment differs from qualities such as intelligence, talent, hard work, or luck parallels the approach taken by the Brehons. They did not merely apply legal codes but considered kinship ties, community relationships, and the lived experiences of those involved in disputes. Their goal was to restore balance rather than to punish, a principle reflected in their practice of weighing each situation within its specific social and cultural context.

Privilege, whether derived from birth or social status, was neither a guarantee of sound judgment nor an automatic impediment. The Brehons recognized that both adversity and privilege could influence outcomes but did so unpredictably, emphasizing the complexity of human circumstances rather than relying on fixed assumptions.

Ganesh also highlighted the challenge of offering meaningful advice to “have good judgment,” describing it as “close to useless and the only one worth dispensing.” This skepticism about definitive formulas for sound decision-making aligns with the Brehon perspective, which embraced uncertainty and rejected the notion that intelligence alone ensures wise judgment. Instead, both acknowledge the importance of empathy and experiential insight, elements that cannot be easily quantified or taught.

The ancient Irish legal system thus serves as a historical example supporting the idea that good judgment is an elusive quality shaped by a combination of factors beyond mere intellect or conventional success. Ganesh’s reflections suggest that valuing judgment over intelligence is a worthwhile aspiration, one historically embodied by the Brehons. Based on his own analysis, some have argued that Ganesh himself would have been well suited to the role of a Brehon judge, adept at navigating complexity and human nuance in pursuit of fairness and balance.