Common Sense, only acquired from experience.

WE ARE WITNESSING THE RESULT OF THE LOSS OF BASIC KNOWLEDGE

COMMON SENSE TRULY IS A SENSE

We often hear references to common sense or the lack of common sense. Common sense is an accumulation of basic first hand knowledge that is only acquired by doing things, by action or experiment. It cannot be learned in a theoretical instruction or non participating environment. 

Our common sense ability begins as soon as we are able to be aware of the world around us. The toddler who learns that he cannot walk down steep incline without falling and it will hurt. You can bet he will try it and will learn a bit of basic knowledge and add to his common sense about inclines. Our lives are filled with experiences that build our "common sense." It really is a sense, the child who learns about slopes and inclines will in the future get a feeling of anxiety or discomfort the next time he encounters that situation. It will teach him about limitations and it will save him from injury or discomfort.

No one who has ever built, assembled or created something out of basic materials will understand what goes into the manufacturing of the everyday products we take for granted. The more practical and real experience we have, the more we build a portfolio of common sense as to what is possible and what is not. I often tell younger or inexperienced people that, "You can't do that" or " that will not work", the often retort is, How do you know? Common sense keeps us from continually reinventing the wheel. It also helps to be able to be aware of illusions and delusions that seem to be more prevalent then ever. 

Today we see children who may never encounter a steep slope or other obstacles in their childhood. They may never ride a bike and learn the basic lessons of physics that are just plain common knowledge. They may never acquire the basic common sense of survival. Often this is the result of over protective parents who believe that no bad experiences should ever befall their children.

These are often the young adults who in their early driving experience attempt to navigate a curve at a speed that is impossible to accomplish. They do not have that sense to feel what is possible. Some survive and gain some missing common sense, sadly for some this is the end of their learning..

We see the same situation in other things today, we see people who believe that failed and impossible ideas of economics and social structure are possible. Willing to risk all on an illusion, not understanding that these ideas have been tried before and failed. This situation not only inflicts the young, who we can understand, but also many well educated mature people, who just flat out lack, "Common Sense"