Much of what we know is called “common sense.” Either we have learned its precepts and perspective from others, or we have asked questions and come up with answers that are usually satisfactory. Proverbs are examples of common sense codified in easily-remembered phrases: “a stitch in time saves nine”, “early to bed, early to rise, makes one healthy, wealthy and wise”, “red sky at night, sailor’s delight; red sky at morning, sailor take warning”, and so on. The trouble is, proverbs often contradict one another. “Lightning never strikes the same place twice” is (usually!) true, but the French say, “never two without three” (jamais deux sans trois). Good as far as they go.
Common sense that we learn ourselves requires observation, raising and answering questions about specific situations. It is usually acquired by experience: we compare and contrast to previous similar occasions. Such learnings are vital to survival, success in relationships, and in work, beyond what proverbs can teach.
In his book The Black Swan, Nasim Nassar Talib describes how it was commonly believed that all swans are white. Until, in Australia, black swans were observed. The term “black swan” has moved into ordinary speech to denote something surprisingly unknown. He also tells a parable about the turkey who is happy to be fed by the nice farmer every day. Until the day he comes not with food, but with…
