The Value of Common Sense in Modern Life

Common sense, often referred to as "good sense" or "sound judgment," is the basic ability to perceive, understand, and judge things, which is shared by nearly all people. It's the ability to make sound decisions based on practical knowledge rather than specialized expertise. While it may seem like an inherent trait, the importance of common sense cannot be overstated, especially in today's complex world where decision-making is increasingly nuanced.

The Importance of Common Sense

1. Problem-Solving: Common sense enables us to approach problems practically. Whether it’s personal issues or professional challenges, common sense allows us to navigate complex situations with ease.
2. Risk Management: Life is filled with uncertainties, and common sense helps us assess risks effectively. It ensures that we avoid unnecessary danger and make calculated decisions that promote safety.
3. Efficient Decision-Making: People with good common sense often rely on intuition and life experiences to make decisions quickly and effectively. This reduces overthinking and allows for timely actions.
4. Social Harmony: Common sense contributes to a harmonious society. It guides interpersonal relations, helping people to respect social norms, laws, and general behavior standards, which results in fewer conflicts.
5. Resource Management: Managing resources—time, money, or physical assets—efficiently often comes down to common sense. It helps in distinguishing between needs and wants, ensuring that resources are allocated wisely.

Disappearing Common Sense: Examples of Modern Challenges

As society becomes more digitized, globalized, and specialized, common sense seems to be on the decline. This trend can be observed across various aspects of life.

1. Over-reliance on Technology: People increasingly rely on GPS for navigation, even in familiar areas, leading to a decline in the ability to use basic orientation skills like reading a map or asking for directions.
2. Inability to Perform Basic Tasks: Many people now struggle with simple tasks like changing a light bulb, fixing a flat tire, or sewing a button because they depend on specialized services for minor repairs.
3. Blind Trust in Online Information: Some individuals lack critical thinking when consuming information from the internet, leading them to believe in conspiracy theories or misinformation without verifying facts.
4. Social Media Addiction: Social media platforms often distract people from real-world interactions. For instance, someone may spend hours scrolling through feeds instead of completing essential tasks or engaging in meaningful conversations.
5. Ignoring Health Warnings: Despite widespread knowledge about healthy eating and the dangers of smoking or excessive alcohol consumption, people often neglect this basic wisdom, leading to preventable diseases.
6. Environmental Disregard: Despite visible signs of climate change, people often waste resources like water and energy, or continue polluting the environment, showing a lack of common sense in preserving natural resources.
7. Overcomplication of Simple Decisions: Some individuals tend to overthink even basic life decisions, such as what to eat or wear, when common sense should dictate simple and straightforward choices.
8. Neglecting Financial Responsibility: Many individuals ignore basic financial principles like saving for the future or avoiding excessive debt, even when common sense would suggest otherwise.
9. Workplace Entitlement: There is an increasing sense of entitlement in workplaces, where employees may demand higher pay or benefits without considering the value they bring or the company’s financial situation.
10. Disrespect for Rules and Laws: Common sense suggests obeying laws and regulations for the greater good, but we often see people breaking traffic laws, littering, or disregarding other public guidelines.
11. Lack of Critical Life Skills: Young adults often leave school without knowing how to cook, clean, or manage finances—basic skills that common sense should drive them to learn as part of growing up.
12. Dependency on Others for Problem Solving: Some individuals increasingly depend on others to solve personal problems, from asking family members to make decisions for them to using online forums to crowdsource life advice.
13. Ignoring Common Courtesy: Common sense dictates basic manners like saying “please” and “thank you,” but many people neglect these courtesies, damaging interpersonal relationships.
14. Falling for Scams: Despite numerous warnings about online and phone scams, people continue to fall for these traps, showing a lack of common sense in safeguarding personal information.
15. Overprotecting Children: Many parents today overly shield their children from minor risks, preventing them from developing resilience and common sense through experience.

Conclusion

The decline of common sense is alarming because it threatens to undermine societal stability, personal well-being, and productivity. While technology and specialization have brought many advantages, they’ve also distanced people from everyday problem-solving and practical knowledge. It's important to foster an environment where common sense is valued and encouraged, both in education and in everyday life.

By understanding the value of common sense and being mindful of its gradual disappearance, individuals can work towards restoring it, ensuring a more balanced and functioning society.