"Common sense" is an interesting concept to me. Among astr…

Twetch · January 5, 2020

"Common sense" is an interesting concept to me.

Among astrophysicists and Kerbal Space Program players, it may be common sense to burn tangentially to the ground to get into orbit, but among most people, it's common sense to burn straight up.

Replies

Twetch · January 5, 2020

The fact is, "common sense" requires knowing to whom the "common" qualifier is referring, and what they consider to be "common sense."

Twetch · January 5, 2020

It is entirely contextual to the lives and experiences of the people being considered... But usually, only one person is considered. The speaker.

In other words, it's an appeal to popularity in rhetoric, but an appeal to one's own authority in practice.