Common Sence

“Common sense is a collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen.” Albert Einstien
“Common sense is what tells us the earth is flat.” Stuart Chase
“Common sense judges the things given to it by the other senses.” Leonardo Da Vinci
“Common sense is something everyone needs, few have, and none think they lack.” Benjamin Franklin
“Science is not a substitute for common sense but an extension of it.” Willard Van Ormine Quine
“Science is simply common sense at its best, rigidly accurate in observation, and merciless to fallacy in logic.” Thomas Huxley
“Common sense is very rare.” Voltaire
“Common sense has no place in quantum mechanics.” Michio Kaku
“There is no common sense; it is common nonsense.” Henry David Thoreau
“Follow your heart, but take your brain with you.” Alfred Adler

How Can Common Sense Be Used Effectively?

Starting Point:

It’s a good starting point for brainstorming policy solutions and gauging public opinion.

Identifying Problems:

Common sense can help identify problems that negatively impact people’s lives.

Informing Debate:

It can be a tool to frame the discussion around national issues in an understandable way.

In general:

Common sense is practical wisdom and good judgment from experience and knowledge. It’s about making sound decisions based on what is generally known to be accurate or sensible.

Limitations of common sense

While common sense is generally beneficial, it does have some limitations. Let’s explore a few of them:

Oversimplification:

National issues are often intricate and have far-reaching consequences. Common sense solutions might not account for all the factors involved and could have unintended effects.

Lack of Nuance:

There are often multiple perspectives on national issues. Common sense might favor one view over others, neglecting valuable viewpoints.

Groupthink:

Overreliance on common sense can lead to policies that favor the status quo and don’t consider innovative solutions.

Subjectivity:

Common sense is subjective and context-dependent. What seems obvious to one person may not be the same for another. Cultural differences, upbringing, and personal biases influence our common sense perception.

Hindsight Bias:

Hindsight bias occurs when we believe an event is predictable after it has happened. In other words, we think we “knew it all along.”

Common sense can suffer from this bias. When something goes wrong, we often say, “In hindsight, it was obvious.” But in reality, it might not have been so clear beforehand.

Lack of Consistency:

Common sense isn’t consistent across all situations. What works well in one context may fail in another.

Overreliance on Intuition:

Intuition is essential to common sense, but relying solely on intuition can lead to errors.

Sometimes, our gut feelings are based on biases or incomplete information. Balancing intuition with critical thinking is crucial.

Cognitive Biases:

We all have cognitive biases—mental shortcuts that affect our judgment. These biases can distort common sense.
Examples are confirmation bias (seeking information confirming our beliefs) and availability bias (overestimating the importance of recent or vivid events).

Situational Blind Spots:

Common sense doesn’t always account for rare or extreme situations. We may overlook risks or fail to prepare adequately.

Complexity and Uncertainty:

Life is complex, and common sense simplifies it. However, some situations defy simple solutions.

Dealing with global issues (like climate change) or intricate personal dilemmas requires more than common sense—it demands expertise and collaboration.

Emotional Influences:

Emotions can cloud our common sense. Fear, anger, or love may lead us to make irrational decisions.

Recognizing and managing emotional biases is essential for sound judgment.

Time Constraints:

In fast-paced situations, common sense may take a back seat. We might react impulsively rather than thoughtfully.

Time pressure can hinder our ability to apply common sense effectively.

Changing Norms and Technology:

Common sense evolves. What was once considered sensible may no longer apply due to societal changes or technological advancements.

Remember that common sense is a valuable tool but not infallible. Combining it with critical thinking, empathy, and continuous learning helps us navigate life’s complexities more effectively.

Negative consequences of common sense

There can be varying degrees of common sense. Some people may have a weaker sense of judgment or lack sufficient knowledge to make informed decisions.

This can lead to what might be considered “low-quality” common sense, where choices are not well-thought-out or may have negative consequences.

Proverbs 16:25 cautions us about relying solely on our understanding, highlighting the importance of seeking wisdom from God: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” Proverbs 16:25.

While common sense is a valuable asset, it should be used in conjunction with data analysis, expert advice, and a consideration of diverse perspectives to develop effective and well-rounded national policy.

Low-quality common sense is essentially the misuse or misunderstanding of common knowledge. It leads to poor decisions or judgments that might seem superficially reasonable but can have negative consequences. Here’s how it breaks down:

Misinformation:

Making decisions based on outdated, inaccurate, or incomplete information can lead to obviously flawed common sense. For example, believing the Earth is flat goes against established scientific facts.

Oversimplification:

Complex situations often require nuanced solutions. Low-quality common sense might offer overly simplistic explanations or solutions that ignore essential details. For instance, assuming everyone wrong at math is terrible with money ignores other factors like financial literacy.

Cultural Bias:

Cultural norms can influence common sense, but these norms might not translate well to other cultures. Relying solely on your artistic perspective could lead to misunderstandings or insensitive behavior in different contexts. For example, a polite greeting in one culture might be considered rude in another.

Confirmation Bias:

We tend to favor information that confirms our existing beliefs. Low-quality common sense might be based on selective information that reinforces a pre-existing judgment, even if it’s inaccurate.

Lack of Critical Thinking:

Common sense is valuable, but it shouldn’t replace critical thinking. Failing to question assumptions or consider alternative viewpoints can lead to poor decisions based on low-quality common sense.

Verifying common sense

Common sense itself isn’t precisely verifiable in the same way a scientific fact might be. It’s more like a set of guidelines based on experience and shared knowledge. However, we can assess the quality of common sense through a combination of factors:

Internal Consistency:

Does it make logical sense within itself? Are there any apparent contradictions or gaps in the reasoning?

External Validation:

Does it align with established knowledge or expert opinion in the field?

Does it lead to successful outcomes in real-world situations?

Who “Verifies” Common Sense?

There’s no single authority figure that verifies common sense. It’s more of an ongoing process:

Collective Experience:

Through shared experiences and cultural transmission, what works and doesn’t becomes embedded in common sense.

Scientific Inquiry:

Science can provide evidence to support or refute common-sense beliefs. For example, scientific exploration has proven the common-sense belief that the Earth is flat wrong.

Open Discussion:

We can refine our understanding of good common sense through healthy debate and exchanging ideas.

Remember:

Common sense is a work in progress. It’s essential to be open to new information and adapt our understanding of the world as we learn more.

Common sense is often verified through the outcomes of our decisions and actions. When we rely on sound judgment based on what is known to be valid and sensible, we usually see positive results.

Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding, acknowledging Him in all our ways so that He can direct our paths: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths”

Proverbs 3:5-6. By aligning our common sense with God’s wisdom and seeking His guidance, we can verify the soundness of our decisions through His blessings and guidance.

Key ideas about common sense

Common sense is a way of making sound judgments based on what most people consider obvious. It’s the kind of practical knowledge that helps you navigate everyday situations. Here’s a breakdown of the key ideas:

Shared knowledge :

Shared knowledge is something that most people are expected to know or understand without needing much explanation.

Sound judgment:

Common sense helps you make good choices based on the situation.

Practical application:

It’s about using your world knowledge to make choices that work in real-life situations.

Common sense can be subjective, though. What seems obvious to one person might not be so clear to another, depending on factors like cultural background or life experiences.