Do you believe that there is such a thing as "common sense"?

Common sense is what allows one to see an answer as self-evident, as no chain of conscious logic is required.

It is the product of a subconscious, or mechanical approach to a known situation, or context - that save's one time contemplating or considering the issue.

Much like there is a physical instinct, there is intuitive thought, that presents conclusions to us without us having to think about them, like to laugh at the right junction, or to not put one's hand in hot water.

To use "common sense" as an explanation is unsatisfactory in a critical or academic situation, however if you are dealing on a day-to-day basis with someone, say - a child, it is easier to refer to this than to have to explain any chain of logic or reasoning behind your actions ; which you yourself will not always be aware of.

So, if people use the excuse "common sense" dictates, it implies that they are unaware of the rationale behind their actions / beliefs, thus, it is not part of a process of conscious logic and as such - can be accuratly and definatively made a distinct form of cognition, and recognised as existing.

I'd say observational skills, reason, logic and skepticism are components of common sense. To say there's no such thing as common sense reminds me of this guy I know who will argue at length that there's no such thing as matter, because blah blah blah about subatomic physics and quantum indeterminacy. Whack somebody like that lightly in the face with a two-by-four, though, and suddenly they're believers in the existence of matter again.

Common sense is remarkable primarily in its absence, because it's, well, common. People typically go about their business exercising common sense all day long, and it's beneath notice and comment until you find someone chronically, extraordinarily incapable of interpreting perceptions, evaluating information, or applying reason and logic at an ordinary level.

Common sense is fallible. Common sense routinely mistakes correlation for causation. Common sense tends to assign anthropomorphic intents to animals and inanimate objects. The common sense of savages is markedly different from the common sense of urbans, to the degree that their values and priorities differ.

To the breadwinner of a family, it's common sense to turn lights off when you leave the room to minimize electric bills; to a 6-year-old afraid of the dark, it's common sense to leave lights on so the monsters can't materialize as you walk away.

Yes there is such a thing as common sense.

You see, you take your "process" and your "rules" that you spell out up above and you apply them to the basic common denomination of what applies to every single thing that posses a brain.

Eg: Humans don't walk into a burning building without the proper fire protection on. = COMMON SENSE.

All animals do not purposely put themselves in the path of fire if they can possibly avoid it. = COMMON SENSE.

It's a sense we share with even the lowest form of animals. I'm not sure if animals are following any "rules" and what not like you mentioned.

What tells a cat sitting on the ledge of an open window that's 11 stories above the ground not to jump out?

Common sense.

I think there is such a thing as common sense. For example: You wouldn't walk out in front of a speeding car. That's common sense. Some common sense comes from our society, since people from 500 years ago might walk out in front of a speeding car since they don't know what it is.

However, on the whole, there is basic common sense that is known by all people, at least within a society.

However, I do agree with you saying that people say it so that they don't have to explain their reasoning.

Yes, common sense is a faculty that some people possess.Too bad it is a faculty that the vast majority of people today do not possess.Common sense or better yet an "inert inner wisdom" that some of us are born with, and that allows us to simply solve problems without using complex problem solving technics.You've heard the saying: "book smart and common sense stupid" well it's alive and thriving in our societies today.Another one that fits this generation today is "someone who can't see the forest for the trees".

Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) said it best with his quote:

"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."

Or here's another one by an unknown author:

"A wise man can see more from the bottom of a well than a fool can from a mountain top."

I've worked though out most of my life with people who complicate things much more than they need to be.We see the far reaching effects of this every day with our "politically correct society" mentality that tells us what we should do to please the majority instead of what we need to do to solve the problem.

A word to the wise is sufficient, no pun intended.

There is such a thing as common sense. Unfortunately, it is very uncommon.