COMMON SENSE
Marilyn Vos Savant has once again presented important thoughts in a clear, convincing way. She writes that "common sense is fundamental to happiness and important for success" and defines common sense to be "good judgment that arises from no particular source of learning". In particular, she notes that failure to observe the obvious is the antithesis of common sense, that common sense requires recognizing reality. I agree that common sense is important to success and that good judgment is not necessarily learned in courses in school. I also think that good judgment and common sense can be learned, but not necessarily from observation. I think common sense comes from experience, coupled with everything we've learned indirectly, from school, from books and from other media.
To a large extent, I live in my mind. I'm often oblivious to the external world. I think the reason I enjoy mystery stories so much is that they take me to an alternative world, a world where I can use my mind to solve fictional problems. To some extent, I escape from reality. Yet, I believe I possess common sense. Am I a living contradiction of Ms. Vos Savant's ideas.
The answer lies in the notion of recognition. Recognizing reality doesn't necessarily mean that you can't seek to escape it. You can observe the obvious, understand exactly what is happening around you, without living in it. You can create an alternative reality that is better for you, you can dream, you can hope for a different reality, without losing touch with reality.
Enjoy whatever life you choose to live, even if it's only in your mind, but understand what you're doing. When forced to deal with the real world, act in a manner appropriate to the real world. When you're alone with your thoughts, when you're in a different reality, a reality you create for yourself, understand what you're doing. Don't forget to return to reality. In that way, you won't hurt yourself, you won't hurt others, and you can live as you wish (even if only in your mind).
3-10-03
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