Common Sense
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Comment from Leineco
"Wolves don't lose sleep over the opinions of sheep" Conversely, sheep don't lose sleep over the opinions of wolves.
While you make many good points in this piece (mostly contained in the quotes you have included) you fail to actually address the question your opening paragraph posed: What is this "Common Sense" we all speak of and why is it common?
Equating common sense to instinct is inane. Instinct is hard wired reaction, (i.e. - a natural or innate impulse, inclination, or tendency); common sense is "sound practical judgment that is independent of specialized knowledge, training, or the like" (i.e. the ability of the cognizant mind to make derivative deductions based on the aggregate of data collected and/or inferred regarding cause and effect interaction)
While I understand the conclusion you are attempting to draw the reader to, common sense tells me that the point of view you are proselytizing falls more in the category of hyperbole than reasoning. This opinion was solidified once I got to the "definition" of government you put forth (The word "government' is made up of two Latin words that mean "control the mind." ) An interesting enough play on words - but play is all it is.
accurate etymology of the word government is:
govern (v.) •¿¼
late 13c., from Old French governor (11c., Modern French governor) "govern," from Latin gubernare "to direct, rule, guide, govern" ), originally "to steer," a nautical borrowing from Greek kybernan "to steer or pilot a ship, direct.
-ment (suff.)
forming nouns from verbs (precedes -ment as mind [i.e. ment-al ; of the mind] by centuries).
As you say in your notes: "We are all responsible for what we see, what we feel, what we hear and what we ignore. . ." That does not make the things we see, feel, hear and ignore true - it just makes them the things we chose to see, feel, hear and ignore.
In my opinion, promoting a patently false connotation of the word government is instinctively wrong, and negates any semblance of the common sense you intended to address.
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
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"Wolves don't lose sleep over the opinions of sheep" Conversely, sheep don't lose sleep over the opinions of wolves.
While you make many good points in this piece (mostly contained in the quotes you have included) you fail to actually address the question your opening paragraph posed: What is this "Common Sense" we all speak of and why is it common?
Equating common sense to instinct is inane. Instinct is hard wired reaction, (i.e. - a natural or innate impulse, inclination, or tendency); common sense is "sound practical judgment that is independent of specialized knowledge, training, or the like" (i.e. the ability of the cognizant mind to make derivative deductions based on the aggregate of data collected and/or inferred regarding cause and effect interaction)
While I understand the conclusion you are attempting to draw the reader to, common sense tells me that the point of view you are proselytizing falls more in the category of hyperbole than reasoning. This opinion was solidified once I got to the "definition" of government you put forth (The word "government' is made up of two Latin words that mean "control the mind." ) An interesting enough play on words - but play is all it is.
accurate etymology of the word government is:
govern (v.) •¿¼
late 13c., from Old French governor (11c., Modern French governor) "govern," from Latin gubernare "to direct, rule, guide, govern" ), originally "to steer," a nautical borrowing from Greek kybernan "to steer or pilot a ship, direct.
-ment (suff.)
forming nouns from verbs (precedes -ment as mind [i.e. ment-al ; of the mind] by centuries).
As you say in your notes: "We are all responsible for what we see, what we feel, what we hear and what we ignore. . ." That does not make the things we see, feel, hear and ignore true - it just makes them the things we chose to see, feel, hear and ignore.
In my opinion, promoting a patently false connotation of the word government is instinctively wrong, and negates any semblance of the common sense you intended to address.
Comment Written 10-Dec-2013
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
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Semantics...John
Comment from B. Diehl
This is an amazing story and I'm so glad to see that you have received two well-earned awards for it! Keep writing! Don't give up!
-B<3
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
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This is an amazing story and I'm so glad to see that you have received two well-earned awards for it! Keep writing! Don't give up!
-B<3
Comment Written 10-Dec-2013
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
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I won't...John
Comment from Auroraboreal800
I think experience is the only one y best teacher. Common sense is the ability to separate good and bad things. The ability to make the best choices in life.
EXCELLENT job Cogitator!
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
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I think experience is the only one y best teacher. Common sense is the ability to separate good and bad things. The ability to make the best choices in life.
EXCELLENT job Cogitator!
Comment Written 10-Dec-2013
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
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Thanks...John
Comment from James Dooney
Oh yes my friend you have put massive truth in words here. Religion is southern fried bull durham at the best of times ! I like this !
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
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Oh yes my friend you have put massive truth in words here. Religion is southern fried bull durham at the best of times ! I like this !
Comment Written 10-Dec-2013
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
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I'm glad you liked it...John
Comment from Matthew M.
Funny the most important quote to support your argument was from a tyrant and dictator, Napoleon.
In my mind there are two completely entities that are mentioned here: government and religion. Many politicians want blind control and want to abolish religion. "Separation of church and state," they say because they have a fear that the truth would actually hurt them.
Martin Luther wanted people to be independent and be able to acquire the truth for themselves. I think he's an individual that had a firm grasp of common sense.
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
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Funny the most important quote to support your argument was from a tyrant and dictator, Napoleon.
In my mind there are two completely entities that are mentioned here: government and religion. Many politicians want blind control and want to abolish religion. "Separation of church and state," they say because they have a fear that the truth would actually hurt them.
Martin Luther wanted people to be independent and be able to acquire the truth for themselves. I think he's an individual that had a firm grasp of common sense.
Comment Written 10-Dec-2013
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
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Divide and conquer is a more realistic objective, I think...John
Comment from Smoothiecool
your easy covers everything in the common sense field
your quotes are good references throughout history that we all have common sense but many refuse to recognize or use it wisely
there are so many that are just sheep and follow the heard no matter the consequences
yes we need to look at our own judgement and understanding and be responsible for ones own well being
great read
cheers SC
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
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your easy covers everything in the common sense field
your quotes are good references throughout history that we all have common sense but many refuse to recognize or use it wisely
there are so many that are just sheep and follow the heard no matter the consequences
yes we need to look at our own judgement and understanding and be responsible for ones own well being
great read
cheers SC
Comment Written 10-Dec-2013
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
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It takes patience to learn what we are. Thanks...John
Comment from jasonpatrickhanslo
Most of your writing and knowledge of your subject matter is clear and functional, its them damn quotes that tend to confuse the reader, that takes originality away from your brilliance
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reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
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Most of your writing and knowledge of your subject matter is clear and functional, its them damn quotes that tend to confuse the reader, that takes originality away from your brilliance
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 10-Dec-2013
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
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Interesting...
Comment from sweetwoodjax
this is very well written, coginator, you did an excellent job writing this essay about common sense and how to develop it. i like the quotes from others. i don't agree with you about religion being lies.
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
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this is very well written, coginator, you did an excellent job writing this essay about common sense and how to develop it. i like the quotes from others. i don't agree with you about religion being lies.
Comment Written 10-Dec-2013
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
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I will attempt to stay with Aristotle's quote in defining some terms you mention.
One definition of IGNORANCE is "lack of knowledge." It does not mean stupid. Until we have the experience, we will not gain the knowledge of its meaning. Experience is not the best teacher of knowledge, it is the ONLY teacher. All other types of knowledge can be classified as assumption and/or belief. My take on the majority of the population is that they are "uninformed" and are not pursuing the knowledge of their being.
"Information" is defined as "knowledge." "Form" is the root word and, to me, after 50 years in information analysis, it is MEANING or VALUE that changes form in the human mind when information is digested. What prevents digestion of new knowledge in the human ego is Cognitive Dissonance, or Denial.
When the ego is faced with accepting a new piece of knowledge that will break through some or all the lies that created its present values and beliefs, it may choose to ignore truth. Only humans can do this.
There is no "smarter than" in intelligence. The same intelligence imbues the Universe we behold. It is the Operating System that some will call Intelligent Design and is contained in everything and everyone. To paraphrase Einstein: "It's not that I'm smarter than anyone else, it's just that I stay with problems longer."
Religion is an ISM. Capitalism, atheism, etc. An ism is a bundle of thoughts that comprises belief systems. Adopting a belief to live by is like downloading an APP on a smart phone. We will use that App util something more meaningful is adopted. Most religions are restrictive in their isms.
I will copy this response to SimmplyaStudent for those of you who also responded at the same time. It is not from disrespect. I thank all of you for your input. I am still in-form-ation...John
Comment from comanalbert
It is called common because we are all SUPPOSED to have it. But you can force a horse only run, not eat.As for the sinergy of the flocks, Pavlov's experiment works on people too.And yes, not doing a good thing is a bad thing.
As for religion I partially agree that it is/was a means to extorcate and control.But there is a saying to do what the priest says, not what the priest does.Religion,Christian one at least, teaches about the basics in common sense:love, respect, communication and good social behaviour.
I am not a practicant fervent believer, but I do guide myself on tthose principles.
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
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It is called common because we are all SUPPOSED to have it. But you can force a horse only run, not eat.As for the sinergy of the flocks, Pavlov's experiment works on people too.And yes, not doing a good thing is a bad thing.
As for religion I partially agree that it is/was a means to extorcate and control.But there is a saying to do what the priest says, not what the priest does.Religion,Christian one at least, teaches about the basics in common sense:love, respect, communication and good social behaviour.
I am not a practicant fervent believer, but I do guide myself on tthose principles.
Comment Written 10-Dec-2013
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
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I will attempt to stay with Aristotle's quote in defining some terms you mention.
One definition of IGNORANCE is "lack of knowledge." It does not mean stupid. Until we have the experience, we will not gain the knowledge of its meaning. Experience is not the best teacher of knowledge, it is the ONLY teacher. All other types of knowledge can be classified as assumption and/or belief. My take on the majority of the population is that they are "uninformed" and are not pursuing the knowledge of their being.
"Information" is defined as "knowledge." "Form" is the root word and, to me, after 50 years in information analysis, it is MEANING or VALUE that changes form in the human mind when information is digested. What prevents digestion of new knowledge in the human ego is Cognitive Dissonance, or Denial.
When the ego is faced with accepting a new piece of knowledge that will break through some or all the lies that created its present values and beliefs, it may choose to ignore truth. Only humans can do this.
There is no "smarter than" in intelligence. The same intelligence imbues the Universe we behold. It is the Operating System that some will call Intelligent Design and is contained in everything and everyone. To paraphrase Einstein: "It's not that I'm smarter than anyone else, it's just that I stay with problems longer."
Religion is an ISM. Capitalism, atheism, etc. An ism is a bundle of thoughts that comprises belief systems. Adopting a belief to live by is like downloading an APP on a smart phone. We will use that App util something more meaningful is adopted. Most religions are restrictive in their isms.
I will copy this response to SimmplyaStudent for those of you who also responded at the same time. It is not from disrespect. I thank all of you for your input. I am still in-form-ation...John
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You have blown my mind to pieces, mainly because I had a hard 12 hours work day, so I lack in sinapses.
I will come back more thorough on this.
For the moment, I will just point out this:
"Le seul chose que je sais est cela que je ne sais pas rien".As information gets older, we tend to renew it and from this POV, Creation is just one thing not explained by science yet.
But the human is a social animal and "homo homini lupus" , so without an "ism", Earth would be an empty planet.Without Christianism or Buddhism or other religious "ism", more would be dead because the lack than from having them.
Capitalism allowed and developed science, socialism distroyed the utopia of equality enhancing the individual personality.
We need ISMs to survive each other!
I will get back to you on this as soon as I can get my two neurons back and at peace with each other.
It is too interesting to let it fly away!
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My first language is French, so I get it
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....wow! And I made a fool of myself with my poor french.Sorry!
Comment from SimplyaStudent
Oh this is good. But you must define ignorance for me. Ignorance is usually a word people will use when they cannot agree on a subject or debate. "You don't see it my way because you are ignorant."
Sounds lovely of course, but then the question becomes who gets to decide who is ignorant and who is not? Long speeches make pretty words sound important and full of meaning to the uninitiated, but what if we are initiated??
Define understand. At what point does understanding go from personal belief and opinion to actual fact? Who gets to decide? Who are they to make the decision? If I understand the human race is stupid, and another person understands that fact differently, who draws the line? Someone who clearly believes (and is mistaken) That he is smarter than the masses? Who made the decision that he is smarter than most everyone around him? He did?? So what?
Define religion. This is good because you mention that Consciousness is eternal, but what does that mean? That individuals are eternal? If that's the case can I argue we have some kind of spirit?? And if so will you tell me where it comes from? Or is it not a spirit? Do fill me in.
And at what point is something not a religion? Can I not argue that... and no offense but just for the example: atheism is a religion? Oh yes yes it's all based off hard scientific evidence... except for certain areas that cannot be explained, or are absolutely irrelevant. Just a few questions i had.
I liked this, it was a good read. :-)SS
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
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Oh this is good. But you must define ignorance for me. Ignorance is usually a word people will use when they cannot agree on a subject or debate. "You don't see it my way because you are ignorant."
Sounds lovely of course, but then the question becomes who gets to decide who is ignorant and who is not? Long speeches make pretty words sound important and full of meaning to the uninitiated, but what if we are initiated??
Define understand. At what point does understanding go from personal belief and opinion to actual fact? Who gets to decide? Who are they to make the decision? If I understand the human race is stupid, and another person understands that fact differently, who draws the line? Someone who clearly believes (and is mistaken) That he is smarter than the masses? Who made the decision that he is smarter than most everyone around him? He did?? So what?
Define religion. This is good because you mention that Consciousness is eternal, but what does that mean? That individuals are eternal? If that's the case can I argue we have some kind of spirit?? And if so will you tell me where it comes from? Or is it not a spirit? Do fill me in.
And at what point is something not a religion? Can I not argue that... and no offense but just for the example: atheism is a religion? Oh yes yes it's all based off hard scientific evidence... except for certain areas that cannot be explained, or are absolutely irrelevant. Just a few questions i had.
I liked this, it was a good read. :-)SS
Comment Written 10-Dec-2013
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
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I will attempt to stay with Aristotle's quote in defining some terms you mention.
One definition of IGNORANCE is "lack of knowledge." It does not mean stupid. Until we have the experience, we will not gain the knowledge of its meaning. Experience is not the best teacher of knowledge, it is the ONLY teacher. All other types of knowledge can be classified as assumption and/or belief. My take on the majority of the population is that they are "uninformed" and are not pursuing the knowledge of their being.
"Information" is defined as "knowledge." "Form" is the root word and, to me, after 50 years in information analysis, it is MEANING or VALUE that changes form in the human mind when information is digested. What prevents digestion of new knowledge in the human ego is Cognitive Dissonance, or Denial.
When the ego is faced with accepting a new piece of knowledge that will break through some or all the lies that created its present values and beliefs, it may choose to ignore truth. Only humans can do this.
There is no "smarter than" in intelligence. The same intelligence imbues the Universe we behold. It is the Operating System that some will call Intelligent Design and is contained in everything and everyone. To paraphrase Einstein: "It's not that I'm smarter than anyone else, it's just that I stay with problems longer."
Religion is an ISM. Capitalism, atheism, etc. An ism is a bundle of thoughts that comprises belief systems. Adopting a belief to live by is like downloading an APP on a smart phone. We will use that App util something more meaningful is adopted. Most religions are restrictive in their isms.
I will copy this response to SimmplyaStudent for those of you who also responded at the same time. It is not from disrespect. I thank all of you for your input. I am still in-form-ation...John
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Yes that makes sense but what knowledge are we talking about here? Currently the new knowledge that is out there right now is homosexuality is wonderful and great and so on. I personally disagree with that...discovery... but does that mean i am simply refusing to accept things as they are? Is this new knowledge or understanding? You see so many things can be painted as knowledge and discovery and the new norm, like evolution and the healthcare law and so on. And all you need to support knowledge is enough people to to support it until the minority looks silly or unwilling to change.
Your theory is an old one: no religion, no politics, you are the master of your own fate, common sense rules.
This is only logical if a person has it in his head that he wishes to be as few rules as possible so as to do what he will with no fear of punishment.
No religion means there is no god to answer to for your actions, and no rules to say what you are doing is right or wrong.
No politics means there is no law you would answer to either.
So i still ask the question: with no religion or politics, who draws the line? How would the system work??? What is then right and wrong? What is knowledge? What is not? :-)SS
I am not attacking you. Just curious.
