Common sense

Today’s definition of common sense is using sound judgment in practical matters that are shared by most people. But it isn’t what the original word meant.

The phrase common sense originated in the 14th century from Aristotle’s work, De Anima (On the Soul). Aristotle described common sense as how humans and animal minds link categories of different tastes, colors, touch, smell, and sound to perceive things as real.

For a long time now, industrialism and schools have brainwashed us into compliance. So much so, our culture today needed a word to describe the feeling of reinforcing the status quo and group thinking. But compliance is not real. These are imaginary lines we draw to keep production moving.