Common Sense

The term 'common sense' is branded about by newspapers, politicians, columnists, bloggers and dolphin trainers time after time after time. Almost invariably these are comments against being politically correct, or safe or something else like that.

This to me seems odd, as things that my inner common sense detecter determines to be the most sensible action, policy or idea 95% of the time fall into liberal or left-wing ideologies. Yet it seems to be the preserve of the right to call things I find completely non-sensical as being 'common sense'.


What do you think determines 'common sense'?

I guess common sense depends on your age, how you were raised, your education level, how aware you are of the world around you, and the place you live in.

I mean I bet there are things that are "common sense" to me that would be different from someone in a different country.

To me it means practical knowledge or basic logical principles that everyone seems to be aware of. Hence why people say that students can be very smart but have no common sense at all.

Just after I wrote that I was reminded of Albert Einstein's famous quote. "Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen."

E: A liberal gene has recently been isolated. This means that some people have a predisposition to be liberal. And it also means that potential liberals can be identified prenatal and aborted so they do not contaminate the gene pool with their left-wing ideologies. Well not really.

that makes sense. kidding again. I had a tooth pulled and the pain medication is really nice. Especially when taken with a shot of brandy. Anyway, are you saying that common sense is learned and not innate.

there are, i believe, things that are intuitive and things that are counter intuative, is intuition inherited? is common sense intuative. There are behavoir patterns that we inherit. Common sense, is it learned? Am i making any sense? is your room spinning too?

Ok, I remembered that I once started an essay on common sense and went off on some tangent never to return. This happens frequently, I seen to go where it takes me.

Anyway, here are the notes that I had before I abandoned the project. If this medication ever wears off I will see if I can come up with something cogent. (I am pretty sure that if I have another brandy I will be able to levitate.)

Common sense

Common sense is derived from experience.

Common sense is what people (in common) agree upon.

Common sense is that which a society tacitly agrees to as a common understanding.

Common sense refers to beliefs (propositions) that most people consider to be prudent.

Common sense does not rely on any particular esoteric knowledge, on any study, or on any research; it is based solely on upon what a society views as prudent.

Common sense is the knowledge gained through experience that most people have or should have.

In general common sense means sound judgment in practical matters and has nothing to do with what a person thinks or feels.

I view common sense as survival instinct.

An instinct, so inherited not not learned?

i ran out of wood, so i put stones in the fire hoping they would burn.

I think common sense is a combination of experience, learned knowledge and inherent knowledge.

Each of the senses gives input, and then something in the mind integrates the sense data into a single impression.
This something that integreates the sense data is common sense.

Moderation, Exception, The Golden Rule.

Response to EB post:

Moderation, Exception, ‘The Golden Rule’ and common sense



Moderation = constraint = just right = Goldilocks

Exception = exclusion of that which is not just right (which requires discernment)

Golden rule = appropriate behavior = just right behavior= exclusion of behavior that is not just right.

Is that what you mean?

Common sense is proper discernment.