The concepts of common sense and reason are frequently considered similar since both are used for developing an understanding of the world. However, this approach is largely simplistic due to the fundamental differences in the application of common sense and reason. Aristotle recognized the importance of common sense and defined it as an important mechanism that coordinates information from isolated sensory systems. At the same time, he distinguished reason from common sense and associated it with the capability to develop knowledge — the aspect missing in common sense. In this regard, reason serves a higher purpose than common sense, as it gradually shapes sensory information into the abstract essence. However, modern scholars in the field of cognitive psychology claim that sensory information creates knowledge of its own. This paper attempts to establish the boundaries between common sense and reason, as well as define their role in the creation of knowledge. The research explores ancient Greek philosophy and modern studies of the “sensory turn” period in order to bring clarity to the discussion and evaluate the significance of common sense and reason in the cognitive process. The notions of common sense, active and passive reason, and the process of knowledge creation are explained and evaluated from a logical perspective.
Common sense is a vital component of human psychology, responsible for interpreting sensory experiences and subsequent understanding of the surrounding world. The concept of common sense originates in Greek philosophy, with Aristotle defining it as “the mechanism that coordinates isolated information from sensory systems” (Henley, 2018, p.51). Whereas Aristotle admitted the importance of common sense, he also considered it insufficient for attaining knowledge without the use of reason. According to Henley (2018), Aristotle divided reason into two categories — passive, which utilizes synthesized experience, and active, which creates an abstraction of principles. However, it should be noted that distinguishing between common sense and reason may be difficult in the contemporary era, as sensory theories of knowledge gained popularity at the end of the 20th century (Jakubowska, 2019). Therefore, the research question of this paper lies in establishing the boundary between common sense and reason, as well as their roles in the creation of knowledge.
Finding an answer to the research question requires exploring ancient Greek understanding and the studies of the so-called “sensory turn” modern period. As mentioned previously, Aristotle clearly distinguished between common sense and reason. From his standpoint, common sense is identical to coordinated information from isolated sensory systems of the human body (Henley, 2018). In other words, common sense creates a valuable baseline input required for the subsequent attainment of knowledge through the application of reason. In turn, the reason exists in two forms — the passive one, which allows humans to live everyday life effectively, and an active one, which is used to extract essences from experiences (Henley, 2018). Like other prominent Greek philosophers, such as Socrates and Plato, Aristotle believed that engaging in active reason is the ultimate purpose of human beings (Henley, 2018). The continuation of Aristotle’s views on common sense and reason can also be found in his theory of soul, as he identified perceiving as the property of besouled (King, 2020). Overall, one can claim that Greek philosophy viewed common sense as a necessary means of engaging in active reason, the ultimate source of knowledge.
The ancient Greek tradition of placing reason above sense continued in the social sciences of the 20th century. For instance, the dominant constructivist paradigm asserted that phenomena, objects, and knowledge do not exist until they emerge in culture as social constructs. Social constructs are created and reinforced primarily through communication (Jakubowska, 2019). Therefore, one can argue that knowledge attainment in constructivism is similar to Aristotle’s ascension toward active reason. However, more recent studies posit that sensory information can be considered knowledge of its own. Howes (2005) argued that knowledge emerges from sensual experiences — for example, hearing can warn one of danger, or smell allows one to know that food is still fresh (as cited in Jakubowska, 2019, p. 125). A separate body of research perceives senses as skills that can be enhanced through practicing (Jakubowska, 2019). Whereas these claims are seemingly valid, one can argue that human senses provide only the basic knowledge about the world.
In summary, Greek philosophy offers a more structured explanation of common sense and reason. Aristotle might have made a serious physiological mistake by claiming that common sense and reason are the products of the heart rather than the brain (Henley, 2018). However, his representation of knowledge attainment as a gradual process of ascending from the basic sensory information to the abstract concepts is substantially more convincing than pure sensory theories. Overall, one can claim that reason activates once common sense provides a human with sufficient information on the issue. Proper knowledge emerges after critical evaluation, which is performed through the application of reason.
References
Henley, T. (2018). Hergenhahn’s: An introduction to the history of psychology (8th ed.). Cengage Learning US.
Jakubowska, H. (2019). The sociological analysis of sensory knowledge: Its understanding, construction, and acquisition. Society Register, 3(1), 121-136.
King, C. G. (2020). Aristotle on earlier Greek psychology: The science of the soul. Journal of the History of Philosophy, 58(2), 400–401.