View Jan Kuyper Erland's profileThe term “common sense” always baffled me, as I was growing up; individuals said I had amazing “common sense,” and tackled problems wisely. This leads me to the discourse, “what is common sense, exactly?”
A Basic Conclusion for “Common Sense”
would be simply: “Don’t step in
front of an oncoming car.” “Avoid lightning strikes”, or Don’t eat strange
reptiles,” as the outcomes are obvious to most people.
My Personal Conclusion “Common Sense”: It may be the ability to flood the mind rapidly, with a variety of options, and then make the best choice rationally, not emotionally, in any given moment.
If
it is an emergency, we are forced to think fast. Otherwise, we can carefully
weigh in our personal options – pros and cons in a logical manner.
Impulsivity and “Common Sense”: a fast, risky, choice is made without any
deep thought. An individual may realize they made it, but cannot fathom how
they reached that conclusion. or understand the eventual consequences.
Often, this line of thinking is habitual,
and this decision-making pattern continues throughout their lives.
How the Brain is Involved
In trying to understand the role of “Common Sense” cognitively, we can realize that the cerebellum is the master or “muscle,” doing the brain’s work load, whereas, the cerebrum is the “thought control”.
And, additionally, each individual has their own unique electrical synapse
system created through their learning experiences.
Therefore, we should desire interconnecting
them in concert for optimal whole brain thinking leading to logical thinking
and decision making.
We can create “Choice Architecture” [1] In making decisions that permeate our wired brains.
We can use tools, or options,
to create common sense through logical thought processes, for making decisions
with desirable outcomes.
Device Screen Options
We can apply a unique assortment of options
with our devices’ screens to give us the answers we seek.
Consider not being distracted by the
constant advertising on our screens, so we can maintain our thought flow and
make optimum decisions, or levels of thought operations.[2]
My former article on “Focus” reiterated the Tik Tok - UTube data findings[3] that many have developed a “one-minute” brain attention span.
This recent article for
“Family and Tech” in the Wall Street Journal, reveals that “UTube one- minute “Shorts”
give kids short, thrill bursts, making it harder to pull away” Brains are being
short-circuited, camouflaging any possible “Common Sense” or logic.
As many innovators spot this issue, they
clamor to come up with immediate, money-making solutions. This data is rapidly
absorbed into marketing advertisements.
This becomes a “Hay-Day” for marketing and
screens, as our brains’ logical capabilities wither.
Takeaway, thought-provoking point to
ponder:
If we have a uniquely wired brain, laden with experiential, ethics, and skills learning, making our formulated choice options based on this factor, yet, data mining shows that many can focus only for one-minute or so, what can (or will) alter this anomalous paradigm?
Are we
making choices based on a short-circuited brain, lacking logic?
[1] Johnson, Eric (2021). The Elements
of Choice.
[2] Erland, J. K. (1989). Hierarchy of Thinking
Model.
[3] Julie Jargon. (August 15, 2023). “An Antidote
for ‘Tik Tok Brain’ Has Also Become a Problem” The Wall Street Journal.
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