Are We Born With Common Sense? Unveiling The Innate Wisdom Within Us

The concept of common sense pertains to our capacity for practical decision-making and envisioning the potential outcomes of our actions. It serves as a safeguard against impulsive or irrational choices and facilitates more informed decision-making. It is crucial to note that common sense is not an innate trait; rather, it is acquired and refined through experience and learning. This understanding challenges the notion that it is an inherent trait and underscores the importance of nurturing and developing it over time (Source: 14th February 2018).

The question of whether every human possesses common sense is a complex one. Common sense is often thought of as a shared set of practical knowledge and reasoning abilities that guide everyday decision-making. However, it’s important to recognize that humans vary widely in terms of physical attributes, personality traits, cognitive abilities, and social status. The Lake Wobegon Effect, for instance, highlights how many individuals tend to overestimate their own abilities, believing themselves to be above average in various aspects.

Given this diversity among people, it becomes clear that not everyone can fit the mold of being “average” in all respects. Consequently, it can be argued that common sense, which is influenced by one’s experiences, education, and cultural background, may not be equally distributed across all individuals. For some, a lack of common sense can have significant consequences and be a source of frustration or difficulty in navigating life’s challenges. So, while common sense is a valuable trait, its presence and extent can vary among individuals due to the rich tapestry of human diversity.

The concept of common sense has its roots in the late 14th century and was initially believed to be an inherent mental faculty responsible for harmonizing and making sense of the information gathered through the five physical senses, as referred to in Latin as “sensus communis” and in Greek as “koine aisthesis.” This mental power was considered vital for achieving a shared perception of reality. Over time, common sense evolved to denote the fundamental capacity for ordinary understanding, distinguishing individuals from those who might be considered foolish or even insane, as seen in its usage in the 1530s. Eventually, by 1726, the term common sense took on the meaning of good sense, signifying sound and practical judgment in everyday situations. In summary, common sense originates from the idea of a unifying mental power that processes sensory information and has come to represent the ability to make rational judgments essential for practical living.