Originally written September 21st, 2005
BY EDWIN COONEY
Okay, so here goes my reputation! After all, it’s all in the day’s work of a budding columnist! There are a whole bevy of family members, former teachers, and -- of course -- friends, who won’t be the least bit surprised to learn of my low regard for “common sense.” Not even my best friend agrees with my conclusion, but I believe that our all too frequent appeal to “common sense” is an appeal to absolutely nothing.
DEFINING COMMON SENSE:
Dictionary.com has two definitions for common sense from different sources:
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines common sense as “sound judgment not based on specialized knowledge; native good judgment.”
WordNet says that it is “sound practical judgment” as in the phrase "I can't see the sense in doing it now”.
Aside from objecting to a definition based on the word “not,” rather than on an affirmative word telling me what common sense is instead of what it isn’t, I insist that all knowledge is specialized knowledge. Knowledge has to be specialized if it’s to be applicable! Why? Because every action or belief has limited range in its applicability.
My second objection to “common sense” is the blanket permission it provides for feelings of superiority, self-satisfaction and worst of all, arrogance on the part of those who espouse it.
My third objection is that it teaches absolutely nothing.
FOR EXAMPLE:
Dad and mom are sitting across the kitchen table from their ten-year-old who was caught stealing candy from the corner store. All three are devastated. Tears rim every eye. Mom and dad have always taught their son that stealing is both wrong and shameful. The boy knows that he has disappointed his parents and in addition that he is in a mess of trouble. His dad is lecturing him on the twin themes of morality and personal expectations. So far the lad understands what they’re talking about. Then suddenly dad asks: “Son, why didn’t you use the plain ‘common sense,’ that God gave you?” The next thing that happens is that dad gets the answer he deserves: “I don’t know,” says the boy — and he truly doesn’t! He wasn’t thinking about right or wrong when he did what he did, he was thinking about getting some candy. Perhaps it was a dare and he was focused on attaining the approval of an older boy or even perhaps a girl for his being so brave. Determining what the lad’s motivation is, of course, IS the parent’s most urgent and legitimate objective. The messages of disappointment, embarrassment, anger and even perhaps a lesson on morality are certainly appropriate because they contain practical and thoughtful guidance. Dad’s appeal to common sense, on the other hand, elicits exactly what it ought to:
“I don’t know!”
I assert further that there is no reaction to any idea or event that is universally the same. Is it “common sense” to come in out of the rain or is it simply more comfortable to do so? My guess is that it’s more a matter of comfort for the sake of you and your anxious mom who just called you in even though you wanted to stay out in the summer shower. People don’t automatically come in out of the rain. If they did, the raincoat manufacturers of America would never have that supreme satisfaction of lobbying a congressman or woman!
A few months ago, I received the following in my email. Its author is unknown. It was entitled “THE OBITUARY OF COMMON SENSE.” Due to its brevity I offer it here in its entirety:
Today we mourn the passing of an old friend, by the name of Common Sense.
Common Sense lived a long life but died from heart failure early in the
new millennium. No one really knows how old he was since his birth
records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He selflessly devoted his life to service in schools, hospitals, homes,
factories and offices, helping folks get jobs done without fanfare and
foolishness. For decades, petty rules, silly laws and frivolous lawsuits
held no power over Common Sense. He was credited with cultivating such
valued lessons as to know when to come in out of the rain, the early
bird gets the worm, and life isn't always fair.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more
than you earn), reliable parenting strategies (the adults are in charge,
not the kids), and it's okay to come in second (or even last, as long as
your best efforts were given).
A veteran of the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression, and the
Technological Revolution, Common Sense survived cultural and educational
trends including body piercing, whole language and "new math."
But his health declined when he became infected with the "If-it-only-
helps-one-person-it's-worth-it" virus. In recent decades his waning
strength proved no match for the ravages of overbearing regulations. He
watched in pain as good people became ruled by self-seeking lawyers.
His health rapidly deteriorated when schools endlessly implemented zero
tolerance policies, when six-year-old boys were charged with sexual
harassment for kissing a classmate, when a teen was suspended for taking a
swig of mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher was fired for reprimanding an
unruly student.
It declined even further when schools had to get parental consent to
administer aspirin to a student but cannot inform the parent when the
female student is pregnant or wants an abortion.
Finally, Common Sense lost his will to live as the Ten Commandments
became contraband, churches became businesses, criminals received better
treatment than victims, and federal judges stuck their noses in
everything from Boy Scouts to professional sports. Finally, a woman who
was stupid enough not to realize that coffee is hot, and was awarded a
huge pay-out for her stupidity, caused Common Sense to finally throw in
the towel.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents Truth and Trust; his
wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He
is survived by two stepbrothers: My Rights and Ima Whiner. Not many
attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.
Okay, that commentary, like this one, is slightly tongue-in-cheek. Its main flaw is that it seeks to cover its clear political agenda as an appeal to “common sense.” The author obviously disapproves of big government, over-protective school officials, scheming lawyers, and abortion. These are all legitimate political as well as moral positions, but they have nothing to do with sense, common or good. (By the way, what that column conveniently doesn’t tell you is that the woman who spilled the MacDonald’s coffee didn’t just get burned as she might have at home. She suffered third degree burns over sixty per cent of her thigh and pelvic area. Also, she offered to settle with MacDonalds for considerably less than she won in court.)
To me, the above article reflects both intolerance and arrogant self-satisfaction on the part of its anonymous author.
There is, of course, such a phenomenon as good sense. Good sense, however, is not instinctual as implied by the proponents of “common sense.” Good sense is learned through example, strengthened through the experience of trial and error and nurtured by our morals and mores. Above all, it isn’t implanted in our hearts through the bullying tactics of self-satisfied and smug superiors.
In the long history of humankind, events have occurred for both better and worse which have had nothing to do whatsoever with sense—common or uncommon.
They occurred for our betterment when:
The Soviet Empire almost bloodlessly crumbled;
Apollo 13, although severely damaged, miraculously returned safely to earth;
Despite midnight telephone threats to his children, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
went ahead with his mission;
The smallest fishing vessels worked their will at Dunkirk under relentless German attack;
Some survived Nazi death camps;
Abraham Lincoln asked the victorious Union band to play Dixie;
Twelve-year-old Joan of Arc led the French to victory over superior English
forces in the late 1420s and early 1430s;
And when, for those who believe, Christ, while bearing great pain, asked His
Father’s forgiveness of those who were persecuting Him.
Miracles make no sense, but we still pray for them!
Oh yes, I meant to ask: how much sense did God give them little green apples?
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
EDWIN COONEY