Voltaire

Common sense is not so common

We all use this saying, and on the surface, it appears straightforward, but it is also a quote that demands deeper reflection. Sure, it is common sense to avoid “putting your hand in hot water,” but we often mistakenly assume, due to the culture we come from, that what is common to one is universal to all. What is second nature to the engineer working in technology is likely foreign to the farmer, and vice versa. Ultimately, “common sense” is a byproduct of our specific environments rather than a shared human baseline; it requires thought and perspective, even though we reflexively apply the label to almost any situation, regardless of the person or the context.