Words: 775
There are many words that have several definitions or interpretations. These words are what make our English language so complex. Think of a word that you have heard people use but it had many different meanings. My favorite is the overly-used phrase “common sense. ” When you use this phrase what is the meaning behind it? Are you trying to convince someone that something is easy or rational? Webster dictionary states that common sense is the “sound and prudent Judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts.
When I read this definition it made me even more indecisive. I found myself questioning what exactly a sound and prudent judgment is. The problem with common sense is that it is not so common. What do I mean by this? Well, what is common sense to one person may not be common sense to another person. For instance, to a medical person, where the sternocleidomastoid is located is common sense but to a history major this is insanity. So what defines something to be common? Common means most widely known, or ordinary. Isn’t this definition also a paradox?
Different cultures, backgrounds, religions, ethnicities all have different customs. We cannot assume that something that is ordinary to us is ordinary to the next person. Many people lack common sense do to the fact that they weren’t experienced to situations on their own growing up. When you make a generalization and turn it into a definition it ruins the word. Every word should have integrity and great meaning behind it. When you use the word common you lose all sense of definite meaning. Is common sense taught or are we born with it?
Some people believe that ducation and being book smart has nothing to do with common sense. You can correlate the two because common sense can be used during a homework assignment or other school activities. This doesn’t mean that there is a class entirely focused on the study of common sense. Instead what if our instructor for common sense is life itself and the experiences that we gain from it? Common sense can be our sixth sense, even though it uses all five senses to teach us the practical meaning of common sense.
Experiences are what we learn from, if we didn’t have any we ouldn’t have any common sense. If everyone goes through different experiences in their life than how can the common sense they gain be the same? Would common sense be defined in a simpler way if we defined it with types? We could group it into two different types: general common sense and informed common sense. General common sense and informed common sense would still have the same general principles and concepts. General common sense would be knowledge about a subject that an average person is expected to know.
An average person does not nclude an expert, Just a simple day-to-day person. An example of common sense is: “all people who do not exercise gain weight. ” Informed common sense would be knowledge of a given subject that is common for all experts within the study or topic. Even with these two groups common sense remains a bias generalization. Why don’t we be more specific by defining what common sense is not. Common sense is not be an expert. Common sense is not sticking your hand on an open fire. Common sense is not taught.
Common sense is not a mathematical equation. Common sense s not ignorance. Common sense is not running through a glass wall. Even with different cultures, beliefs, and experiences we know that common sense is not any of these things. Does this make common sense any more common? What we do know is that common sense is gained from experiences. It governs the day-to-day life of people. Is it safe to say that common sense is someone’s instinct? We often look at common sense as a blind instinct. It is a quality that neither wealth nor learning can teach a person.
It is supposed to come as a gift from above, and that someone is born ith, a sharp insight into matters that helps us a lot in the practical field of work. To think instinctively, is to think “on your feet. ” This involves a quick reaction time and reliance on what you know, not what you’ve learned. Someone who has common sense is able to reason for themselves instead of being told what to think. Common sense demands that a person solve real life problems. Real life problems might include financial problems, relationship issues or how to deal with co-workers or friends who aren’t getting along.