Common Sense Argument

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_sense
- Common sense is a basic ability to perceive, understand, and judge things which is shared by ("common to") nearly all people, and can be reasonably expected of nearly all people without any need for debate.^[1] The everyday understanding of what common sense is derives from philosophical discussion, involving several western European languages. Related words in other languages include Latin sensus communis, Greek κοινὴ αἲσθησις, (koinē aísthēsis), and French bon sens but these are not straightforward translations in all contexts. Similarly in English, there are different shades of meaning, implying more or less education and wisdom: "good sense" is sometimes seen as equivalent to "common sense", and sometimes not.^[2]

↑ Merriam-Webster gives: "sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts." [1], Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary. The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as, "the basic level of practical knowledge and judgment that we all need to help us live in a reasonable and safe way".[2], Cambridge Dictionaries Online. Template:Harvtxt say that "common sense consists of knowledge, judgement, and taste which is more or less universal and which is held more or less without reflection or argument". C.S. Template:Harvtxt wrote that what common sense "often means" is "the elementary mental outfit of the normal man".
↑ For example Thomas Reid contrasted common sense and good sense to some extent. See Template:Harvtxt, page 340.