Thursday, January 03, 2008

Common Sense Notions

Common sense is defined as what people in common agree upon, although Albert Einstein said "Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." How about a few proverbs to guide your common sense-based decision making?

It's better to be safe than sorry, yet, nothing ventured nothing gained.

Two heads are better than one, yet, too many cooks spoil the broth.

Look before you leap, yet, he who hesitates is lost.

Opposites attract, yet, birds of a feather flock together.

Where there is smoke there is fire, yet, you can't tell a book by it's cover.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, yet, out of sight...out of mind.

These are examples of the kinds of sayings that "common sense" is based upon. So are they right or wrong? I think you can argue that much common sense isn't much sensible at all. So called common sense can often hinder logical thinking and common sense certainly does not always apply to science.....think quantum mechanics. You can take a "common sense" interactive quiz here.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

"I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense...."
Thomas Paine

This may sound a little silly but I feel us baby boomers growing up with parents from the greatest generation knew the difference between common sense and non-sense.