Forum Topic

Common Sense

The government say use common sense. However this subjet is not taught in UK schools. Aristotle was the first philosopher to mention this. I wonder will the government be changing the curriculum?

Nicholas Beard ● 1917d8 Comments

Anyone who knows anything about human nature knows also that 'common sense' isn't that common!

Vanessa Smith ● 1914d

I see a recent report suggests that the reinfection R number in London is about 0.4, which makes it one of the safest places in the country. Added to that, under 45s are comparatively unaffected by the virus, so this first wave of people going back to work might be safer than we thought.

Peter Evans ● 1915d

My take on this is that the government's first instincts were right to advise distancing, hygiene etc, but were taken in by Ferguson's dodgy modelling and pushed into lock down by a hostile media.Now they have to pull back from an economic Armageddon which seems to be actively willed for by popular opinion.  Of course, government is a hugely complex interplay of forces that will take historians for ever to disentangle so really, both your and my characterizations are bound to be over simplistic.In the meantime we have to balance risks, and that ultimately means individuals making judgments based on the best data available.

Andy Riley ● 1916d

But if an individual or a community's experiences are limited, then 'personally and communally acquired knowledge and information' can be misleading, as Kahneman concedes with his reference to 'knowledge of the physical world and numbers'. As I recall, Kahneman's analysis of 'fast' thinking' or 'the first thought that comes into your head' was that the thought was probably in your head for some good reason and so shouldn't automatically be rejected, but had limitations based on past experience. In our present situation, though, Johnson and Co are encouraging the application of 'British common sense' as a blame diverting exercise consistent with their belief in individualism, which absolves government from responsibility for its actions or inaction. 'Just use your common sense' means, 'whatever happens, it's not our fault'!

Peter Evans ● 1916d

Peter,"an innate rejection of knowledge and information"I would disagree - common sense is a trusting of personally or communally acquired knowledge and information (and wisdom).  In philosophy it is associated with the distinction between empiricism and rationalism.  Empiricism is usually associated with British thinkers (Hume, Locke).Clearly if one were to rely entirely on experience or entirely on reason, one would likely go astray.  A pragmatic middle ground is to be sought.I recommend "Thinking Fast And Slow" by Daniel Kahneman in which he describes the many cognitive biases we suffer under.  In the domain of knowledge about the physical world and numbers our common sense can be spectacularly wrong (e.e. flat earthers)But pure reason can lead us equally astray, for example we may want to declare that gender is to be decided by the individual on the basis of a purely rights based approach.  For most people this conflicts with societal norms which express themselves as common sense.Big subject.

Andy Riley ● 1917d

I was very pleased to read your post. I thought what can I add? Nothing you were spot on.

Nicholas Beard ● 1917d

..nor sensible. 'Good old British common sense' usually involves an innate rejection of knowledge and information, probably based on our traditional lack of respect for scientific education. One classic definition of common sense is "signifying unreflective knowledge not reliant on specialised training or deliberative thought."

Peter Evans ● 1917d

Someone once said that "common sense is what tells us that the earth is flat". It's a strange term in that common sense is by no means common!

Jim Storrar ● 1917d