Common Sense
Please try to participate50 total reviews
Comment from EMB
I don't really have a problem with any of this, but that's probably because I simply listened to all of it before coming to my own conclusions. I like the premise of common sense equaling instinct. After all, what is is what is. "Truth" has been described as far too many things, and there lies the confusion. What is is what is--period. But people can't seem to agree on "what is."
It's been my experience that common sense ain't common. :)
reply by the author on 23-Dec-2013
I don't really have a problem with any of this, but that's probably because I simply listened to all of it before coming to my own conclusions. I like the premise of common sense equaling instinct. After all, what is is what is. "Truth" has been described as far too many things, and there lies the confusion. What is is what is--period. But people can't seem to agree on "what is."
It's been my experience that common sense ain't common. :)
Comment Written 15-Dec-2013
reply by the author on 23-Dec-2013
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Good to hear from you. John...
Comment from Millibrad
Well. Cogitator, you have opened a can of worms on this site, I suspect that was your intention, so well done. The only problem I see with your logic is in your absolutes: "Common sense is truth. Religion is lies. Politics is lies."
Thanks for opening up this topic.
reply by the author on 14-Dec-2013
Well. Cogitator, you have opened a can of worms on this site, I suspect that was your intention, so well done. The only problem I see with your logic is in your absolutes: "Common sense is truth. Religion is lies. Politics is lies."
Thanks for opening up this topic.
Comment Written 11-Dec-2013
reply by the author on 14-Dec-2013
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I appreciate your comments. Thanks...John
Comment from CR Delport
Quite an interesting story that is really well written and makes for an interesting read. I found no obvious errors. Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 14-Dec-2013
Quite an interesting story that is really well written and makes for an interesting read. I found no obvious errors. Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 11-Dec-2013
reply by the author on 14-Dec-2013
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I appreciate your comments. Thanks...John
Comment from N.K. Wagner
Cogitator, I'm not sure that our intuition is where TRUTH lies. I think that is found in experience. Our intuition tells us a pound of feathers and a pound of rocks should fall at the same rate. We don't, without experience, take into account surface area until we have some experience with feathers and rocks. If contained in identical boxes, they will both hit the ground at exactly the same time. If loose ... not a chance. A well constructed essay, but if you start with a faulty premise... (and I could be wrong, too - that's what makes for interesting discussion in the search for TRUTH). :D Nancy
reply by the author on 14-Dec-2013
Cogitator, I'm not sure that our intuition is where TRUTH lies. I think that is found in experience. Our intuition tells us a pound of feathers and a pound of rocks should fall at the same rate. We don't, without experience, take into account surface area until we have some experience with feathers and rocks. If contained in identical boxes, they will both hit the ground at exactly the same time. If loose ... not a chance. A well constructed essay, but if you start with a faulty premise... (and I could be wrong, too - that's what makes for interesting discussion in the search for TRUTH). :D Nancy
Comment Written 11-Dec-2013
reply by the author on 14-Dec-2013
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I appreciate your review Thanks...John
Comment from Erik McGinley
Okay so .. I like this but ..
I am a humanist and a great believer in the power of the religion of education and the value, on a social level of having a thinking population.
So .. I already agreed with what you were saying. I don't fault your message, but I don't think your expression of it is going to convert anyone who does not already believe it.
It's well written and expresses the point very well, but I don't think, itself, that this work is going to achieve the change that it says it wants.
To me, its just a different propaganda that wants the reader to swallow it without clear explanation of why it is more valuable than any other propaganda.
I agree one hundred percent with what you say but the way you are saying it would not have helped me reach that agreement.
Not really knowing the exact purpose of the essay beyond its message, I have rated this 4 out of an attempt to be fair to the possibility that it is meant to be a simple expression of personal thought.
Were I rating it for what it could have been, I would have rated it 3.
reply by the author on 14-Dec-2013
Okay so .. I like this but ..
I am a humanist and a great believer in the power of the religion of education and the value, on a social level of having a thinking population.
So .. I already agreed with what you were saying. I don't fault your message, but I don't think your expression of it is going to convert anyone who does not already believe it.
It's well written and expresses the point very well, but I don't think, itself, that this work is going to achieve the change that it says it wants.
To me, its just a different propaganda that wants the reader to swallow it without clear explanation of why it is more valuable than any other propaganda.
I agree one hundred percent with what you say but the way you are saying it would not have helped me reach that agreement.
Not really knowing the exact purpose of the essay beyond its message, I have rated this 4 out of an attempt to be fair to the possibility that it is meant to be a simple expression of personal thought.
Were I rating it for what it could have been, I would have rated it 3.
Comment Written 11-Dec-2013
reply by the author on 14-Dec-2013
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I appreciate your comments. Thanks...John
Comment from G L Bertin
There is a lot here to take in, and though I didn't feel it flowed from one to the next idea as well as it could have, I did keep reading to the end. I had to re-read some of your statements which you then reversed (e.g. "It is useless to try and teach those who do not want to learn. That doesn't make sense.")
I related to the Gandhi and Kennedy quotes. Truth is sometimes hard to see if you don't make a point of educating yourself, gaining clarity by removing ignorance--enhancing your ability to use common sense.
Thanks for the read.
reply by the author on 14-Dec-2013
There is a lot here to take in, and though I didn't feel it flowed from one to the next idea as well as it could have, I did keep reading to the end. I had to re-read some of your statements which you then reversed (e.g. "It is useless to try and teach those who do not want to learn. That doesn't make sense.")
I related to the Gandhi and Kennedy quotes. Truth is sometimes hard to see if you don't make a point of educating yourself, gaining clarity by removing ignorance--enhancing your ability to use common sense.
Thanks for the read.
Comment Written 10-Dec-2013
reply by the author on 14-Dec-2013
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I appreciate your comments. Thanks...John
Comment from dennis0530
Great illustration to start with: "Wolves don't lose sleep over the opinion of sheep."
Great metaphor. Those in power, don't give a thought about the innocent, uneducated and servile sheep of humanity. While I agree with some of what you say, I equally disagree with many.
Common sense is only common to an individual. My common sense is not the same as yours. If caught outside in the rain, will you scamper to take shelter? I will maybe take a slow walk, enjoy the rain with its cleansing trait and dry my clothes later. But in common, we both used out common sense.
Religion is lies and politics is lies. True, which is why religious fanatics burn schools, murder teachers and students and proclaim education as useless. Now I come to two maxim: "Power comes out of the barrel of a gun." and "The pen is mightier than the sword." Both have a political connotation. Napoleon Bonaparte's politics killed both poor and rich. Those who had the (common) sense to toe the line survived. They used their "instinct" to survive.
All of us strive to create our own future. But how can we validate our understanding when those in power are confusing us?
reply by the author on 14-Dec-2013
Great illustration to start with: "Wolves don't lose sleep over the opinion of sheep."
Great metaphor. Those in power, don't give a thought about the innocent, uneducated and servile sheep of humanity. While I agree with some of what you say, I equally disagree with many.
Common sense is only common to an individual. My common sense is not the same as yours. If caught outside in the rain, will you scamper to take shelter? I will maybe take a slow walk, enjoy the rain with its cleansing trait and dry my clothes later. But in common, we both used out common sense.
Religion is lies and politics is lies. True, which is why religious fanatics burn schools, murder teachers and students and proclaim education as useless. Now I come to two maxim: "Power comes out of the barrel of a gun." and "The pen is mightier than the sword." Both have a political connotation. Napoleon Bonaparte's politics killed both poor and rich. Those who had the (common) sense to toe the line survived. They used their "instinct" to survive.
All of us strive to create our own future. But how can we validate our understanding when those in power are confusing us?
Comment Written 10-Dec-2013
reply by the author on 14-Dec-2013
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I appreciate your comments. Thanks...John
Comment from michaelcahill
I found this to be well written for the most part. I do feel you failed to answer the question you began your piece with however. Saying that religion is lies is as equally a sweeping statement as anything I have heard on the Moody Bible Institute radio. I am certainly no fan of that entity. A premise of my religion is that we should love each other and treat each other with respect. Another premise is that we should help each other. Are those some of the lies that you refer to? You are suggesting a world that turns their back on those in need based on hatred of each other? There are interesting quotes in your piece. I am more interested in what you think then I am in what they think. Well, it has been said that I ramble. HAhaha. A thought provoking piece. Please don't respond with Aristotle's opinion. I prefer to be ignored rather than to be dismissed. mikey
reply by the author on 14-Dec-2013
I found this to be well written for the most part. I do feel you failed to answer the question you began your piece with however. Saying that religion is lies is as equally a sweeping statement as anything I have heard on the Moody Bible Institute radio. I am certainly no fan of that entity. A premise of my religion is that we should love each other and treat each other with respect. Another premise is that we should help each other. Are those some of the lies that you refer to? You are suggesting a world that turns their back on those in need based on hatred of each other? There are interesting quotes in your piece. I am more interested in what you think then I am in what they think. Well, it has been said that I ramble. HAhaha. A thought provoking piece. Please don't respond with Aristotle's opinion. I prefer to be ignored rather than to be dismissed. mikey
Comment Written 10-Dec-2013
reply by the author on 14-Dec-2013
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I appreciate your comments. Thanks...John
Comment from Gert sherwood
Hello to you Cogitato
to write about people having or not having common sense is not an easy article to write about
like some of your quotes this one especially=
Common sense is truth.
Just let me say there are many people who have common sense and I know of folks who don't care if they have common sense. ( just do what they feel like and don't care.
Gert
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
Hello to you Cogitato
to write about people having or not having common sense is not an easy article to write about
like some of your quotes this one especially=
Common sense is truth.
Just let me say there are many people who have common sense and I know of folks who don't care if they have common sense. ( just do what they feel like and don't care.
Gert
Comment Written 10-Dec-2013
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
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It takes disasters to motivate some people. Thanks...John
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You are welcome John
Gert
Comment from Deniz22
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich." Napoleon Bonaparte
There's a man who knew a thing or two about murder. Jesus Christ said of Himself, I am the way, the truth and the life." I'll go with Him.
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich." Napoleon Bonaparte
There's a man who knew a thing or two about murder. Jesus Christ said of Himself, I am the way, the truth and the life." I'll go with Him.
Comment Written 10-Dec-2013
reply by the author on 10-Dec-2013
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Thank you for your review...John