I've been meaning to post about this a while ago but something shiny caught my eye and I completely forgot about it. It's a 'thinker' so my apologies for those who haven't had their stimulative beverage yet...
First, there is Common Sense. A lot of people tend to use this term for describing what is (or should be) right, ethical, or commonly known to people in general. The dictionary defines it as 'sound practical judgment that is independent of specialized knowledge, training, or the like; normal native intelligence.'
In comparison, there is Good Sense. Basically a synonym of the aforementioned term, but not quite - as it is defined as 'sound practical judgment; "Common sense is not so common"...' To me, good sense is what would seem to be logical.
I blame N8 for this entirely, but thank him nonetheless: I now have to stop and think about which term I should use when discussing how some people are just inept. Doing something that is logical isn't necessarily common and a lot of people in society do things in common that aren't really all that good.
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4 comments:
Right. Before I hit the link to see what you're talking about, I will, as is my wont, shoot from the hip and leave a comment about the most trivial part of your post, that being related to shiny things.
In a recent post, I called myself a magpie, attracted to shiny objects, so now I think I shall be forced to sue you for plagiarism.
Actually, I believe you said "sparkly"...but the shiny thing is about as old as 1200 baud modems. Still, if you must blame someone do as I do and aim at N8ey. =)
I think I'll pay for that last comment tomorrow at work...
Sparkly, shiny, tomayto.
Magpies, both.
I take the blame entirely. :)
Because of cultural differences, common sense becomes whatever answer they have quickest.
So to bible-thumpers, common sense includes smiting enemies, raising the righteous hand of God.
To scientific-types common sense includes a demand to define things, all things involved.
Those are extreme examples, but I feel they show ends of a spectrum that can show the failure of the terminology "common sense."
You can make fun of that, but in a complex world of cultures that stretch across the twenty-four times zones and religio-socio-political mess of ideas that are "common" for a set geographical area but once you cross a border...
Well, the term "common sense" fails.
Your common sense doesn't fit with someone else's political/social programming.
They might not understand.
It's too easy to think they have the same playing field that you have.
Ooh, I have gin! ;)
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