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Nancy Urbach

Where Has Common Sense Gone? Understanding Its Decline and Cultivating It in Our Lives

Have you noticed a decline in common sense? What used to be key in decision making is now often buried under personal agendas and individual views. This shift makes me wonder: where did common sense go, and how can we bring it back? Shared personal biases can often lead to false narratives, creating fragmented thinking. Instead, we should be focusing on critical thinking and encouraging open conversations of the issues to foster a society where common sense once again prevails.


Where Has Common Sense Gone? Understanding Its Decline and Cultivating It in Our Lives

 

Understand How Common Sense Eroded

Common sense, the ability to make sound judgments based on shared experiences and practical reasoning, is eroding in today's world due to several factors. The rise of personal agendas, amplified by social media, often overshadows collective reasoning, creating echo chambers that reinforce individual beliefs instead of fostering common understanding. In addition, we have an overwhelming volume of information available that can lead to confusion and reliance on biased sources. It can sometimes seem like everyone and anyone are experts on a topic as long as they have a website. Lastly, our culture lacks a unified framework of common sense for understanding issues, that constantly leads our society to misunderstandings and conflict.

 

Why the Decline Occurred

To make sense of the decline in common sense, we must consider a few factors. Confirmation bias leads individuals to favor information that aligns with their existing beliefs, hindering the acceptance of practical solutions that may conflict with those views. Then there is the “fear of judgment” that discourages people from expressing common-sense ideas, prompting them to align with more popular or extreme opinions instead. Economic and social pressures further influence decision-making, often prioritizing immediate benefits over long-term, sensible solutions.

 

How to Implement Common Sense in Your Environment

To promote the growth of common sense in your environment outside of societal trends, start with critical thinking. Begin with questioning and analyzing information to evaluate the validity of current arguments. Don’t jump to conclusions. Take time to develop the ability to understand others and manage your emotions. This can lead to more empathetic and rational decision-making. Talk with people from different backgrounds and diverse perspectives to broaden your understanding and find universal truths. Look at complex issues and break them down into smaller, manageable parts to better understand and address them. Staying on the issue at hand and not bringing outside factors into a topic can reduce the impact of bias on your choices.


Where Has Common Sense Gone? Understanding Its Decline and Cultivating It in Our Lives

Encourage Common Sense with Action

Encouraging open dialogue creates space for diverse ideas to be shared and evaluated. Lead by example through your actions by starting the conversation and insisting on information sharing to find common ground. You would be surprised to find the more you conversate and break down the issues with those from opposite backgrounds, the more you will witness some similar points of agreed common sense. That you then can expand on and possibly find a mutual solution for a problem.

 

While common sense may seem elusive in today's complex world, understanding the factors contributing to its decline and actively working to cultivate it in our environments can help restore its presence. By engaging in critical thinking, seeking diverse perspectives, and leading by example, individuals can champion a return to the sensible, practical decision-making that benefits society as a whole.

 

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Blog Disclaimer: Although we make strong efforts to make sure all information on the blog is accurate, Nancy B. Urbach cannot guarantee that all the information on the blog is always correct, complete, or up-to-date. Any advice given in the blog is from her own experience or point-of-view; it is your choice if you use any advice given. Nancy B. Urbach is not a licensed therapist or doctor. All information shared is her own personal experience or opinion. Nancy B. Urbach is not liable for any unforeseen outcomes or personal harm that may come from your choice to follow any advice, suggestions, or steps given in any blog post. Always check with your doctor before trying anything new that may impact your health. Some blogs include links to external websites / blogs. Nancy Urbach is not liable for any advice these third-party websites/ blogs suggest and is not responsible for the privacy practices of such third-party websites. You should carefully read their own policies before following any advice and should always check with your doctor before choosing to follow any advice. 

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