Imperishable Inheritance

What does the phrase "common sense" truly mean? I hear many use it (I just heard it again, and it prompted me to rant); but few know the magnitude of the statement they are making. Is there such a thing as "common sense?" There are great Epistemological (philosophy of knowledge) ramifications in this discussion.

"Common sense is not so common."
 Voltaire

Common sense is often held to be something that is a part of our esoteric knowledge which is knowledge that many believe to be true but is actually not widely accepted. I see this most prevalent in views of our culture; to someone in their culture, something (such as drive on the right side of the road) may not be "common sense" to drivers in China (please not that I am not setting up an argument for relativism by any means).

Two Views on The Nature of "Common Sense"

First, some define common sense as that which is common or "known" for others/certain group. Another camp defines common sense as that which encompasses all of humanity. The mistake that most make in attributing the phrase common sense to knowledge is usually used (unknowingly) to the latter definition.

'Of course I wouldn't eat a cat, that's just plain common sense.'

Well, Eastern countries do.

"Yes, I showed up at the meeting when my boss told me too. Duh, that's common sense."

Despite the fact that many countries do not attempt to avoid ambiguity and use times as "guidelines."

"Don't you know that the two-pronged fork is the shrimp fork? Come on, that's common sense."

Uh, I didn't know that.

Ok, from those few bad examples we can see how we can inadvertently ascribe cultural differences (the last is attributed to class difference within the same culture) to "common sense." But when Thomas Reid talks of common sense, he talks of it being that which is accepted universally (the second definition); and if I were confined to make a definition of [earthly/secular] common sense, this is where I would fall as well.

Examples of Universal Common Sense

(Please not that even making the seemingly "universal" examples of common sense there are still great philosophical, ontological, metaphysical, and scientific questions that still arise.)

• "If I let go of this stone [from a ladder] it will fall until it reaches the ground."
• "No human can lift a two-ton weight."
• "If I shoot myself in the head, I will die." (At least I would hope that would be a universal understanding.)

Ok, you get the idea.

"Moral rules need a proof, ergo not innate."

The following is a quote from John Locke's An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Following this statement he writes:

"Another reason that makes me doubt of any innate practical principles is, that I think there cannot any one moral rule be proposed whereof a man may not justly demand a reason: which would be perfectly ridiculous and absurd if they were innate; or so much as self-evident, which every innate principle must needs be, and not need any proof to ascertain its truth, nor want any reason to gain it approbation. He would be thought void of common sense who asked on the one side, or on the other side went to give a reason why "it is impossible for the same thing to be and not to be." It carries its own light and evidence with it, and needs no other proof: he that understands the terms assents to it for its own sake or else nothing will ever be able to prevail with him to do it."
John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (Chapter II: No Innate Practical Principles)

I wonder...is there anything that is innate? Is there "common sense"/collective knowledge that we do hold as a race? Was Carl Gustav Jung wrong?

Biblical Examination

Now, I like philosophers; but I submit myself to the authority of the Scriptures (Colossians 2:8), and this is where I shall continue my examination of whether such innate knowledge does in fact exist.

While the world tends to emphasize our innate "goodness" and in New Age our divinity (yes, I did believe that at one time); the Bible has less than a pretty picture of us as humans. From these verses, is it clear that what might be "common sense" to God (interesting statement) is not quite "common" to us. Now I could go on a Total Depravity rant, but I feel that most people that will read this will be familiar with the doctrine.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5

My point from this is that what we see as common sense, and I hope you see my emphasis is on matters of knowledge much more important than how many prongs are in a shrimp fork or that no human can lift a two-ton weight. Pure and holy knowledge comes only from God.

This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.
James 3:15-17

Man, I love James! Oh sorry, talking out loud.

Anyway, we can see that we is true "common sense" comes only from the enlightening work of the Holy Spirit. Now, let me say one thing so as not to contradict myself. This enlightening common sense does not find its way to all (Exodus 33:19); so do not take my argument to mean that this "common sense" is common to everyone. There are many that are blind and are not enlightened by God (Deuteronomy 29:2-4, Romans 11:8).

The Point

Basically, I'm saying the only "sense" (not common in any sense of the word) comes only from God. Men in their iniquity fool themselves into thinking that there are universal "common" principles to reason and knowledge, but in fact that is only a farce.

Do not say, "Why is it that the former days were better than these?" For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this. Wisdom along with an inheritance is good And an advantage to those who see the sun. For wisdom is protection just as money is protection, But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.
Ecclesiastes 7:10-12

I made the point to clarify what common sense means in an objective, universal, and earthly sense; but this last statement affirms that the true knowledge is not common. So, the next time someone uses the phrase: "it's common sense." Be wary. My homey Al will close us out...

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen."
Albert Einstein