Did the world's wisdom ever lead people to know God?
No. Scripture states that after God established His wisdom, the world by its own wisdom did not know God. The preaching of the cross appears as foolishness to those perishing, but to the saved it is the power of God. Human wisdom and good works cannot save; salvation comes by believing the Gospel plus nothing.
Les explains from I Corinthians 1:18 and 1:21 that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who perish, but to those who are saved it is the power of God. He notes verse 21: in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God. He points to the Athenian philosophers, who knew nothing of the Creator God. God chose the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe, plus nothing, so it never becomes legalism or a works religion. Good works lack the power of God and are merely human effort in the flesh.
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.