The phrase “common sense” has become quite popular lately. Every pundit in the media and on the internet brandish these words as if they were rooted in some irrefutable truth. What is it that we are talking about here?
Certainly, some of what we preach as common sense is based on the mathematics of physics. Knowing the projected paths of mass objects and energy transmission will give you excellent grounded knowledge on how the world will behave around you. This will help when you want to cross a street ( knowing that a speeding car will get to you faster than a slow one), keep you from touching something that is glowing red hot or making toast in the bathtub. If you use your “common sense” in these situations, you should be able to survive them without pain. However, it doesn’t stop there.
“Common sense” is also a collection of shared knowledge. Many truths learned through the tribulations of trial and error passed on to the people around us in similar circumstances. This is apparent in many trades. One trains to learn and understand the “common sense” of their craft. A plumber knows the ins and outs of water flow, the proper tools and materials to get the job done and it’s all “common sense” to them. Yet (hilariously I might add), if you look on Facebook at a plumbing problem submitted to the group, you will find many different “common sense” solutions proffered by different people who feel the other person does not know what they are talking about. Just as different Chefs have different approaches to preparing the same dish. Each one confident that their process is the right and true “common sense” way to make that meal memorable. Pilots, mechanics, carpenters, accountants, tile layers….every walk of life, each person stumbling through their mistakes and learning to overcome, thereby gaining their own “common sense”. Individual “common sense” perspectives that might have as many incongruencies as similarities. It seems that “common sense” by its very nature can be rather uncommon. I believe the most important aspect is to apply oneself with critical thinking to any given situation to achieve the best outcome with the least trouble.
Critical thinking?! You mean I have to work at “common sense”? Somehow that just doesn’t seem right. It’s common, why do I have to work for it? Yes, that’s the biggest problem, people often don’t want to be bothered with the tedium of using their mind or moral compass to do the right thing. Hence, we arrive at the unfortunate knowledge that some may have “common sense” but refuse to make the effort to use it.
Which brings us to social “common sense”. BOOM! The human mind perceives with snowflake individuality. Rational thought allows us the freedom to ponder our circumstances rather than just live through them. Every person comes to their own conclusion of how a moment of time affects them. Every culture around the world creating a different set of “common sense” rules to live within. Handed down from generation to generation, as rigid tenets for a proper life, perceived as the only way to behave within your community. Taught by educators, ingrained from birth, a common knowledge of behavior and thought. Each culture awash in the “common sense” feelings of their own thoughts and behavior which may radically differ from another culture. Often times keeping a tradition that perhaps might not be applicable. Rene Descartes, 17th century philosopher and scientist, is quoted as saying “Common sense is the most fairly distributed thing in the world, for each one thinks he is so well endowed with it that even those who are hardest to satisfy in all other matters are not in the habit of acquiring more than they already have.”
“Common sense” can be as elementary as taking the time to stop and enjoy a beautiful sunset or as complicated as knowing the earth revolves around the sun. The 1st Church of Common Sense is dedicated to providing a platform to explore this “simple” yet complicated phenomenon. We are going to stress the importance of critical thinking with an emphasis on finding the simplest answers. We want our members to actively participate in our studies by opening avenues to become deacons, submitting sermons sharing their own lessons learned (subject to review) or posing questions to be pondered without malice. Courtesy is of utmost importance even as we try to provide a respite from cognizant stupidity.
Whether you come for the mathematics of Attitude or the exploration of “the not so common world of common sense”, we hope you decide to join us on a regular basis. With laughter, tears and an emphasis on spreading knowledge to be shared, we want to inspire you to make the world around you a better place. Oh and……spread love! Now that’s what I call common sense.
Thanks for listening. See you soon!
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