Common sense

SENSE
COMMON

Compiled by
Felix J Lescinskiene

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 Common sense

Common Sense

An act of acting and thinking of

cultural and social roots

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 Common sense

Common sense
In philosophy, common sense (or vulgar knowledge) is
the first supposed understanding of the world resulting from inheritance
fertile of a social group and of the current experiences that
are still being carried out. Common sense describes beliefs
the propositions that appear as normal, without depending on a
detailed investigation to reach deeper truths
like the scientists.

A type of knowledge that accumulates in our

everyday life and is called common sense, based on trial and
no error. The common sense that allows us to feel a reality
less detailed, less profound and immediate and goes from the habit of
carry out a behavior until the tradition that, when established,
passes from generation to generation.

In common sense there is no deep analysis, only a

spontaneity of actions relative to the limits of knowledge of
individuals that pass through generations; common sense is the
that common people use in their daily lives, what is natural and
easy to understand, what they think is true and that it
bring practical results inherited from customs.

There are people who confuse common sense with

belief, although they are very different things. Common sense is
what we learn in our daily lives and that we do not need
deepen to achieve results, such as: a
a person is going to cross a street; she looks to both sides, but
there is no need to calculate the average speed, the distance, or the friction
that the car exerts on the ground. She simply looks and decides
whether to cross or if one should wait. Therefore, common sense is
an act of acting and thinking that has cultural and social roots.

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Examples of Common Sense

When you have a lazy intestine and someone says

that plum and papaya are good for helping the intestines, what
What do we do? We eat papaya and plum until we get the
result that we learned as the right one.

Rub a gold ring until it heats up and put it on.

the top of the "ground-sun" ends it.

Chamomile tea soothes

Three-colored cats are always female.

Cutting hair during the waxing moon makes hair

grow faster

Boldo tea cures liver problems.

Milk with manga is bad for you.

Breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck

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 Common sense

Introduction to Philosophy
Marcello FERNANDES; Nazaré BARROS, pp. 14-16

The natural attitude towards the world produces, based on the

experiences lived by men, a particular type of
knowledge generally designated as Common Sense. This is the
common and current mode of human knowledge that
acquire in direct contact with reality. Thus, the sense
common is this empirical and immediate knowledge that we acquire
spontaneously without any systematic or methodical search
and without any prior study or reflection.

The expression common sense also designates a

set of knowledge and opinions that a certain
human community accumulated over its
development. Being a product of the experiences lived by
a people or by a large social group, this common knowledge
constituted a heritage that we inherited from previous generations and
what we share with all individuals of the community that
we belong.

This cultural inheritance that constitutes common sense

it manifests itself both in relation to behaviors linked to
immediate survival, the edible and the non-edible, the
danger and security, as related to feelings and values
that organize and situate the unfolding of human experiences,
as well as the beautiful and the pleasant, the good and the bad, the just and the
unjust.

We would hardly be able to survive if not

we could extract from our experience of the world and of life
this large body of knowledge that serves as a guide for
our daily actions and decisions, as a guide of

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our relationships with other men and as an instrument for the

our adaptation to the environment in which we live.

Thus, our actions, our judgments and the

our everyday preferences are based on
starting point these knowledges that were either bequeathed to us
through tradition, or were acquired by us in our relationship
direct and spontaneous with the world. The former, without the
necessary critical reflection, the seconds, without a method and a
intentionally pre-established investigation.

If, on one hand, the constancy and repetition of

experiences confer to the common knowledge that we extract from them a
credibility is a trust that leads to generalization
two specific cases in principles and rules of action and
judgment, on the other hand, the occurrence of new and different
experiences that contradict our beliefs and our
habits reveal the limits that common sense has as
starting point and foundation for a true
knowledge of reality. It is this dual condition that makes the
common sense a multifaceted cultural reality.

Characterization of common sense

Popular or common knowledge, sometimes referred to

common sense, does not distinguish itself from scientific knowledge nor
neither by the veracity nor by the nature of the known object: what the
difference is the form, the way or method, and the instruments of
to know

It can be said that common knowledge or

popular, in a broad sense, is the common, current way and
spontaneous knowledge acquired through direct interaction
with things and human beings: "it is knowledge that
fills our daily life and which is possessed without having
sought or studied, without the application of a method and

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without having reflected on something" [...]. Knowledge

popular is characterized by being predominantly:

• superficial, that is, conforms to appearance,

with what can be simply proven
being next to things: expressed in sentences
like 'because I saw him', 'because I felt him', 'because I'
they said", "because everyone says so";

• sensitive, that is, related to experiences, states

of mood and emotions of daily life;

• subjective, as it is the very subject that organizes

your experiences and knowledge, both those that
acquire through personal experience as much as the 'by hearsay'
say

• unsystematic, as this 'organization of

experiences do not aim for a systematization of ideas,
neither in the way of acquiring them nor in the attempt to
validate them;

• uncritical, because, true or not, the claim of

that this knowledge does not manifest itself
always in a critical way.

(E. Lakatos, Scientific Methodology, São Paulo, 1986)

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Common sense and critical sense

While common sense is associated with

unreflective knowledge, critical sense is based on criticism, in
reflection, in research and in thought. The information is
analyzed with intelligence in an attempt to reach a
conclusion.

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What is Common Sense

Common sense is a concept used in argumentation linked
to the notions of wisdom and reasonableness that define the
the average ability of a person to adapt to rules and
costumes at certain moments, in order to be able to do good
judgments and choices.

Common sense is often confused with sense.

common, common sense can often reflect an opinion
erroneous and prejudiced about a certain subject, while
this common sense is linked to the idea of sensibility, the intuition of
to distinguish the best course of action in specific situations.

Common sense can also be characterized as the way

the spontaneous philosophizing of individuals, also known
as a philosophy of life, where a certain capacity is assumed
organization and independence of those who analyze the experience of
everyday life and other people's lives.

For Aristotle, common sense is the central element of

ethical conduct, a virtuous ability to find the middle ground
and distinguish the correct action, what it is in simpler terms,
nothing more than common sense.

In the world, there is no absolute truth in anything.

knowledge or human activity, therefore it is important that
individuals have good sense to make their choices and
in learning as much as possible about techniques, tools and
important methodologies for decision making.

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Common sense and scientific knowledge

COMMON SENSE In your day-to-day life, man acquires

spontaneously a way of understanding and acting on reality.
Some people, for example, do not go under
stairs, because they believe it brings bad luck; if one breaks
mirror, seven years of bad luck.

Some bakers know that the oven cannot be

open while the cake is baking, otherwise it will "fall".
we also know that certain dishes, made in a water bath-
Maria, a few drops of vinegar or lemon should be added.
so that the aluminum container does not become dark.

How did they learn this information? It was being

passed down from generation to generation. They were not only assimilated
but also transformed, thus contributing to the
understanding of reality. Thus, if knowledge is a product
from a practice that is done socially and historically, all of the
explanations for life, for the rules of social behavior,
for work, for the phenomena of nature, etc., they become
to be part of the explanations for everything we observe and
we experience.

All these elements are assimilated or transformed.

spontaneously. This is why there are rarely any questions
about other possibilities for explanations of reality.
We get used to a certain understanding of the world and
we no longer question; we have become "conformists of some
conformism.

There are countless examples present in social life,

built by 'I heard that', which form a worldview
fragmented and unsystematic. Even so, it is a form used

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by the man to try to solve his life problems

daily.

All of this is referred to as common sense or

spontaneous knowledge. Therefore, we can say that the sense
common is the knowledge accumulated by men, in a way
empirical, because it is based solely on everyday experience, without
to be concerned with the rigor that scientific experience demands and
without questioning the problems posed precisely by the
daily.

Therefore, it is also a naive knowledge since it does not

has a critical stance. "In general, people realize that
there is a difference between the knowledge of the common man,
sometimes even full of experiences, but who did not study, and the
knowledge of someone who studied a certain subject. And the
the difference is that the knowledge of the common man was
acquired spontaneously, without much concern for
method, with criticism or with systematization. While the
knowledge of one who studied something was obtained with effort,
using a method, a more thoughtful critique and a
more elaborate organization of knowledge.” (LARA, p 56,
1983).

However, it is important to highlight that common sense is a

valid form of knowledge, as man needs it to
forward, resolve, or overcome your everyday needs.
Parents, for example, educate their children even if they are not.
psychologists or educators, and not always the children of educators
Psychologists are better educated.

Common sense is still subjective by allowing expression

of feelings, opinions, and personal values when
we observe the things around us. For example:

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a) if a certain person does not please us, even if

it has a great professional value, it becomes difficult
recognize this value. In this case, the antipathy towards this
a certain person prevents us from recognizing their
capacity;

b) Hindus consider the cow a sacred animal.

while we, the Westerners, conceive of this animal only
as a supplier of meat, milk, etc. For this reason
we consider ourselves ignorant and ridiculous, because we tend to
judge the peoples who have a culture different from
Wow, based on our evaluative understanding.

Taking into account the reflection made so far, we can

consider common sense as a worldview
precarious and fragmented. Even having its value while
the process of knowledge construction must be overcome
for a knowledge that incorporates it, that extends to a
critical and coherent conception that allows, even, the
access to a more elaborated knowledge, such as the social sciences.

Scientific knowledge

The Greeks, in ancient times, sought through the use of

reason, the overcoming of myth or common knowledge. The advancement in
the production of knowledge, achieved by these thinkers, was
establish a link between science and systematic thought
(philosophy, sociology...), which lasted until the beginning of the Middle Ages.
Moderna. From then on, men's relationships became more
complex as well as all forms of producing your
survival.

Gradually, there was a technical and scientific advancement,

like the use of gunpowder, the invention of the printing press, Physics
of Newton, the Astronomy of Galileo, etc. It was in the early century
XVII, when the European world was undergoing profound

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transformations, where man has become the center of nature

anthropocentrism

Following the historical movement, he changed everything.

structure of thought and broke with the conceptions of
Aristotle, still in effect and defended by the Church, according to the
everything was hierarchized and immobile, from institutions to
even the planet Earth. Man then began to see nature
as the object of its action and knowledge, being able to in it
interfere. Therefore, I could formulate hypotheses and experiment with them.
to verify its truthfulness, thus surpassing the explanations
metaphysical and theological concepts that had predominated until then.

The immobile world has been replaced by an open universe and

infinite, linked to a unity of laws. It was the birth of the
science as a specific object of investigation, with a
own method for controlling the production of knowledge.
Therefore, we can affirm that scientific knowledge is a
recent conquest of humanity, as it is only three hundred
years. It has become a constant practice, seeking
to dispel superstitious beliefs and ignorance, through methods
rigorous, to produce a systematic, precise knowledge, and
objective that ensures anticipating events and acting in a more
safe.

Thus, what differentiates common sense from

scientific knowledge is rigor. While common sense is
uncritical, fragmented, trapped by prejudices and traditions
conservative, science is concerned with research
systematics that produce theories that reveal the truth about the
reality, since science produces knowledge from
of reason.

In this way, the scientist, in order to conduct a research and

to make it scientific, it must follow certain steps. In
First of all, the researcher must be motivated to solve

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a certain problem situation that is typically

followed by some hypotheses.

Using their creativity, the researcher must observe the

facts, collect data and then test your hypotheses, which may be
transform into laws and, subsequently, be incorporated into theories
that can explain and predict the phenomena. However, it is
it is fundamental to register that science is not just accumulation
of ready-made truths and finished ones. In this case, we would be
reflecting on scientism and not science, but having it as a
field always open to new conceptions and challenges without
losing sight of the data, rigor and coherence and accepting that, the
what proves that a theory is scientific is the fact that it is fallible and
to accept being refuted.

The scientific knowledge for Auguste Comte

For Comte, scientific knowledge is based on

observation of facts and the relationships between facts that are
established by reasoning. These relationships exclude attempts
to discover the origin, or an underlying cause of the phenomena,
and they are, in fact, the description of the laws that govern them.

Comte asserts: "Our positive research must

essentially reduce itself, in all genres, to appreciation
systematicity of what is, renouncing to discover its first
origin and its final destination.

Positive scientific knowledge, which establishes the laws

that govern the phenomena in a way that reflects how such
they operate in nature, have, for Comte, still, two
characteristics: it is a knowledge that is always certain, it does not
admitting conjectures, and it is a knowledge that is always present
some degree of accuracy.

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Thus, Comte reinforces the notion that knowledge

scientific knowledge is one that does not allow doubts and
indeterminacies and detach it from all knowledge
speculative. "If, according to the previous explanation, the various
sciences must necessarily present a very high precision
unequal, does not result from it, in any way, your certainty.

Each one can offer results as certain as

any other, as long as you know how to conclude your findings at the level
of precision that the corresponding phenomena entail
condition not always easy to meet. In any science,
everything that is merely conjectural is just more or less
likely, your essential domain is not there; everything that is
positive. that is, based on well-established facts, it is certain - not
there is distinction in this regard.

Science and life

The term science comes from Latin, scientia, from sciens,

knowledge, wisdom. It is a body of doctrine, organized
methodically that constitutes an area of knowledge and is related to
determined object.

What characterizes each science is its formal object, or

it is, the observed thing, however, the unfolding of the objects of
scientific knowledge progressed towards a
specialization of the sciences (an act that marked significantly the
19th century with the advent of technique and industrialization). This
culminates in the loss of the totalitarian vision of being and in its
consequent fragmentation.

Scientific knowledge requires objectivity in the pursuit of

true, and it should also have its own method, responsible
for the fulfillment of a plan for observation and verification
of any matter. However, this objective character of science,
which corresponds to the collected data and variables, brings with it

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an unrestricted range of thoughts, theories, and paradigms that

it leads us to the bio-anthropological reflection of knowledge,
as well as for the reflection of theories on cultural aspects,
social and historical.

One must not lose sight of the fact that the scientist who investigates
science is a fallible human being and it is necessary for science to be
question about their ideological structures. In this
context, the question "What is science?" still does not have a
scientific response, considering that all sciences, including
The physical and biological ones are also social.

Therefore, they have origin, rooting, and component

biophysicist, what their field of study seeks to renounce, in the
attempt to express, through its specialization, the structure
of the linear thinking of scientific knowledge. In other words, the
science, with its 'saving' theories and methodologies, does not
has the ability to reflect on oneself for self-knowledge.

In this way, it is not scientific to try to define the boundaries.

from science. It is not scientific, because it is not safe, and any
The intention to do so would become irresponsible.

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ACTIVITY

Talk about the importance of common sense.

[Link] the Greeks in Antiquity sought explanations

for your questions?

3. Explain Anthropocentrism.

4. Second the text, what was Aristotle's view?

5. Describe the birth of Science, based on the reading of

text.

6. Cite diferenças básicas entre senso comum e ciência.

7. What steps should the scientist follow to

turn into a scientific research?

8. Is science an accumulation of 'absolute truths'?

Explain your answer.

9. For you, what is science?

10. Seek in common sense and in science the causes and the
treatments for the following diseases:

Flu;
Gastritis;
Kidney stones;
Athlete's foot.

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Mistakes about common sense

The characterization of common sense as being a
practical knowledge is frequent. It consists of many books of
Philosophy (and Sociology). However, this characterization is not
rigorous.

Practical knowledge is a know-how, it consists of

knowledge of an activity. It is true that common sense
includes numerous practical knowledge, such as knowing
cooking or knowing how to ride a bicycle. However, they include
also propositional knowledge, knowledge by
contact, superstitions and other beliefs, which are not knowledge
practical.

Propositional knowledge is as the name indicates:

"the knowledge of propositions." It is also known as
to know that

For example:

Knowing that bleach fades clothes (Portugal);

•To know that (in Portugal) the maximum sentence is 25 years of

prison

•To know that the color of mourning (in Portugal) is black, etc.

Common sense includes numerous knowledge of this

genres that do not clearly have a practical character.

Knowledge by contact is the knowledge we have.

of things, places, people, etc. It is direct knowledge and
in person.

For example:
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Know the divisions of a house;

To meet an individual in person, etc.

Common sense includes numerous pieces of knowledge about this.

gender, which does not manifestly have a practical character.

A superstition is a false belief without justification

plausible.

For example:

Believing that diseases are caused by spirits

malignant,

Believing that seeing black cats brings bad luck, etc.

The common sense of many people (but perhaps not of all)

includes superstitions. Such superstitious beliefs do not have
obviously practical character.

On the other hand, common sense also includes beliefs.

what would be wrong to consider superstitions (moral convictions,
policies, social, etc., such as: believing that one must pay for the
debts, believing that innocent people should not be killed, etc.
However, such beliefs are also not practical knowledge.

Therefore, practical knowledge is only a part of

common sense.

It is equally common to call it common knowledge.

to common sense. However, this denomination is not rigorous.

Practical, propositional, and contact knowledge

that are part of common sense can be designated as

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vulgar, since its acquisition does not imply

formal and elaborate learnings.

However, the superstitions that are part of the common sense

common does not constitute vulgar knowledge. Not because it does not
being "vulgar" and implying formal learning and
elaborated, but because, being false and unjustified beliefs,
They are not even knowledge.

It is doubtful that many common sense beliefs that do not

are superstitious constitute, still, knowledge, for,
Although they are not false, their proper justification is not made.
in the scope of common sense - but rather of Philosophy and sciences
such as Psychology or Economics.

The philosophical theory that defines knowledge as

being a justified true belief lends itself to some
objections, as these three conditions are probably not
sufficient to have knowledge and it is necessary to add
one or more conditions for there to be knowledge. However,
There seems to be no doubt that they are necessary conditions. By
what are the common sense beliefs that are false or unjustified
they are not knowledge.

(If the common sense beliefs that are false or

unjustified would not be false or unjustified and could
to be considered knowledge, would not be knowledge
practical, but rather propositional knowledge.

Therefore, only a part of common sense constitutes

knowledge.

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Some differences between the sense

common and science
Common sense includes vulgar knowledge,
but very useful in everyday life (knowing how to cook, knowing the
city where you live knowing that in the summer it is hotter than in
Spring, etc.).

You can also include superstitions, that is, false beliefs.

or unjustified (to believe that the number 13 brings bad luck, to believe
what a woman should not do during her menstrual period
cakes, for these will not turn out well, etc.).

Let's look at some of the distinguishing features between

common sense and science.

The beliefs that are part of common sense acquire

based on people's daily experience, in the so-called
life experience (which is distinct from scientific experience)
for being done without strict planning, without method). In
in some cases it involves personal experiences, in other cases
they are experiences shared by members of the community - in
course of the socialization process. In summary, it is a
knowledge that is acquired without studies, without investigations.

For example: to learn where the bakery is

next to home or to learn to tie shoelaces is not necessary
conduct a systematic investigation, sufficient for the experience of
life.

On the contrary, science implies investigations, studies

carried out methodically.

For example: In another way, how could one discover

the average temperature of a planet as distant as Mercury?

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How could simple life experience allow the

discovery that sunlight takes 8.33 minutes to reach the
Earth?

Common sense is unsystematic, insofar as

constituted a scattered and disorganized set of beliefs
(some constitute knowledge and others do not), no
implying an effort on the part of its holders
organization. Therefore, some of the beliefs may be
contradictory.

For example: the same people may believe that

“Quem espera desespera” e “Quem espera sempre alcança”.

Science is a systematic knowledge to the extent that it constitutes

an organized set of knowledge, with
two scientists an effort for the various theories to
articulate with each other and be coherent.

For example: Historians would be worried if

they discovered that, in their analyses of a phenomenon from the past
Like the Battle of Aljubarrota, there were statements about the relief.
from areas incompatible with the information provided by
Geography.

Common sense is imprecise, to the extent that

normally does not express itself in a rigorous and quantified manner.

Science is a knowledge more precise than common sense.

The various sciences, whether natural or social, always resort whenever
possible to Mathematics, in an attempt to present results
rigorous. Even in investigations where it is not possible
quantify (the psychological observation of a certain person, by
for example) there is this search for rigor.

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For example: It is common knowledge that in the North of

Portugal rains more than in the South. Scientific knowledge.
this phenomenon is much more precise: in the month of January 2003
the precipitation in Faro ranged between 20 and 40 mm,
while during the same period in Porto it was situated between 350 and the
400 mm (according to the Meteorology Institute).

Common sense is uncritical. Uncritical means not

reflected, not examined. It is understandable that this is the case, because
it is about beliefs whose learning is informal: one learns informally
As one lives and has experiences, one learns.
selling, listening, and imitating others. Often this
learning is unconscious: people are unaware that
they are learning, but will internalize traditions, customs,
practical knowledge, etc. They can learn true beliefs as well.
as false and unjustified beliefs (superstitions).

For example: Some Portuguese children, when

we often observe parents and other adults throwing away trash
to the ground, they learn to do the same and internalize the idea of
that this behavior is correct. Other Portuguese children
– perhaps in smaller numbers – as they often observe the parents
and other adults throwing garbage into the trash can learn to do
they internalize the idea that this behavior is
correct. In most cases, both one and the other
We realize these learnings without reflecting, without discussing: they limit -
to imitate. That is to say: they learn uncritically.

Science cannot be uncritical like common sense.

On the contrary, it implies a critical attitude on the part of the
scientists. In other words: to do science, it is necessary to reflect, to think
by one's own head, and have a permanent concern with the
foundation of ideas. Scientists should have this attitude
criticism regarding one's own ideas and regarding the
ideas of others.

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For example: a scientist who wants to publish an article

a scientist in a magazine must submit it to a process of
evaluation that is usually referred to as "refereeing": the article must
to be read first by specialists in the field; their names are not
disclosed and they also do not know who the author of the article is,
so that criticism can be freer and more impartial.

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Common sense is not enough to understand.

the world
People Don't Read

(Composition: Carlos Tê / Rui Veloso)

O Lord of Furnas
What dark goes inside us,
Praying the rosary at the end of the afternoon,
Just to scare away loneliness,
To pray to God to keep us,
Entrust your destiny to his hand.

What is the use of knowing the tides,

The fruits and the seedlings,
Treat through your trades,
Understanding the sounds and the animals,
Speak the dialect of the land,
To know your body by its signs.

And the rest to misunderstand,

Spelling sign in cross,
Do not see the furtive shadows,
What they plot behind the light.

Oh Lord of the Furnas,

What dark goes inside us,
We die as soon as we are born,
With shallow eyes of marshland,
Passing knowledge from mouth to mouth,
With proverbs that remain in slang.

What good does this purity do us,

Without reading, one becomes a flint.
Loneliness stirs deep down here,
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 Common sense

One sits at the threshold,

Listening to the sounds of the world,
And to understand them in our own way.

Loading the superstition,

To be small is to be no one,
And not break the tradition,
That comes from our grandfathers.

The poem expresses the point of view of someone who

living only with common sense is aware of its
limitations, that is, of your inability to understand the
world based on these types of beliefs. However, there is a
appreciation of knowledge and a certain awareness of ignorance that,
many times, we do not find in those who hold
knowledge of a scientific or philosophical nature. It is curious that
so be it and it gives one something to think about.

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Escape from common sense!

Our experience has shown us that there is a danger

very big that hovers over the writings: common sense. This term
there's nothing technical about it, but it's a factor that can make the
the difference between just being average or standing out from
truth in your writing.

The topics covered in the essay exams of

entrance exams are very varied, but the vast majority of them do not
there's nothing new. These are subjects that have already been discussed and
re-discussed by society. At the same time that this can
it will be good because we will have more arguments to elaborate
In our texts, we also need to be careful not to get
we become repeaters of a knowledge that is in common sense
common. But what does this exactly mean?

Common sense can present itself in various forms.

in a text. Before we give some concrete examples, it is
It is important to emphasize that, in the vast majority of cases, the sense
common serves as a support for that candidate who is not
very sure of what he is writing. The candidate who
supports in common sense are usually trying to disguise a
difficulty in being able to express a personal opinion about a
subject, then he reads the proposal, interprets the collection of texts and
the theme superficially and therefore cannot go beyond the
common sense in its writing.

An example of common sense in writing is the use of

certain phrases and quotes from famous authors, such as 'the ends
"the ends justify the means", "man is a wolf to man" or even
It is necessary to love people as if there were no tomorrow.
the use of quotes like this impoverishes your text, especially
because you can say something similar in your own
words. You should trust more in your ability to argue.

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and does not leave it to other 'authors' to convince and

lead the reader through the reading.

Another interesting example of common sense is

conclusions that end with 'the government must act', 'the
authorities must take action" or even "the population
must become aware." All of this, if well worked on, can
until serving as a good conclusion, but just that is very little.
If we think about it, the vast majority of the problems presented
The writing proposals can be resolved with sentences like this.
These "formulas" turn into generic solutions that
become increasingly hollow of meaning.

We can still remember the old and good capitalism and the
famous globalization, which has turned into villains so much in the
writings have become part of a common sense. The impression
what we have is that most of the world's problems are caused
for them. No matter how true it may be, it seems that the
candidates end up not thinking properly about the topic, since,
from the beginning, they are determined to place the blame on
capitalism and globalization. And the worst part is that in most of the
sometimes this is done in a very superficial way, which makes it even worse
the use of something that is so present in common sense.

To conclude our examples of common sense in

essays, let's remember classic self-help. Some
candidates think they are Augusto Cury and decide to give
advice for readers like "what matters is to be happy"
"money can't buy happiness". Besides the problem of that falling
in common sense, when giving advice, you run the risk of
to harm the characterization of the argumentative genre, for example.

To write an above-average essay, you need to

to rise above common sense, reading and interpreting the texts of
collection in a mature manner and strictly following the proposal. This
it can be the difference between you staying average, like the great

28
 Common sense

the majority of people or stand out by getting the much dreamed of

vacancy at the university of your choice.

Popular Proverbs:
Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.

Those who injure with iron will be injured by iron.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Haste is the enemy of perfection.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
The occasion makes the thief.
When one does not want, two do not fight.
Better to be silent than to speak badly.
Soft water on hard stone, hits until it drills through.
Each head, each sentence.
What falls into the net is fish.
The shoemaker's children go barefoot.
The insurance died of old age.
Every monkey on its own branch.
He who wants everything has nothing.
Slowly, one goes far.
Little by little the hen fills its belly.
To err is human.
Talking is easy, doing is what is difficult.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Nothing like a day after another.

There are no roses without thorns.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
Never say that you will not drink from this water.
The cheap ends up being expensive.
Where there is smoke, there is fire.
The fish dies by the mouth.
He who waits always achieves.

29
 Common sense

Everything ends in pizza

30
 Common sense

30 Popular Sayings and Their Meanings

Peeling the pineapple.

The Popular Sayings or Proverbs are expressions used

over the years and that in short sentences define a reality
what is of common consensus and becomes part of a certain
culture. Authors have already tried to find the origin, the birth
(where they came from) the sayings but it is a very difficult search due to
to the fact that they are passed from mouth to mouth throughout
years.

The concepts mentioned below serve as a basis, foundation,

limit or facilitate the actions and attitudes of natural leaders or
of those who hold leadership positions. Sometimes we hear
we talked about some of them, but we don’t know the meaning of the
same.

Soft water on hard stone, it hits so much

1 until it punctures Persistence
2 Those who want, do; those who don't want, command Persistence
He who wounds with iron, will be wounded with iron.
3 Justice/Revenge
wounded
A home saint does not perform miracles. Foreignism
Complacency,
crystallization,
An old parrot doesn't learn to speak
disbelief in
change
6 Home costumes go to the squareHabit, Vice
Man shall not live by bread alone Faith, Innovation
Those who do not want to see the wolf, do not dress it.
8 Conduct
peel
Who mixes with the pigs,
9 Influence
crumbs eat

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 Common sense

1 A crooked stick that is born never straightens.

Stiffness
0 Inflexibility
Tell me who you walk with, and I will tell you who you are.
Influence
Who are you?
Prudence,
1 An old monkey doesn’t put its hand in a bowl. Caution,
2
Caution
The danger that threatens the stick threatens the...
Equality
3 machetes
1 He who was king never loses majesty.
Experience,
4 Habit
Lack of Unity
1 Pan that many stir, or it goes out
of Command,
5 sweet or salty
Disorganization
1 Those who don't take risks don't get to snack. Risk, Daring,
6 Action
1 Who goes into the wind loses their seat. Risk
7
1 A closed mouth does not let in mosquitoes.
Description to
8 to speak
1
All roads lead to Rome Choice
9
2
A king's word does not go back. Firmness
0
2 In the blacksmith's house, a stick skewer Incoherence
1
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
Power, Highlight
2 kings
2 Whoever doesn't have a dog hunts like a cat Flexibility,
3 Adaptability
2
Better safe than sorry Prudence
4
2 Whoever has a mouth goes to Rome
Communication,
5 Persistence
2
God helps those who wake up early. Action, Effort
6
32
 Common sense

2
A stray from the herd is a jaguar's prey. Union, Synergy
7
Those who can command, obey those who must. Subordination to
8 judgment power
2
Do what I say, not what I do Incoherence
9
3 When one does not want to, two do not fight. Soundness
0

33
 Common sense

What is, really, common sense?

In books and websites of Sociology (and Philosophy) one finds
it is often stated that common sense is a
practical knowledge and the assertion that common sense is the
even if the common knowledge. However, both the
statements are incorrect.

Without going into unnecessary philosophical details

study of Sociology), I will explain why the statements
referred are incorrect.

Common sense includes practical knowledge (that which

which is called know-how, such as knowing how to cook a
this or knowing how to sew a button), but these are just a part
and not the entirety of common sense.

Common sense also includes knowledge that does not

are practical. Namely, knowledge (although little
elaborated) of ideas - that which is called in Philosophy
propositional knowledge or 'knowing that'.

For example:

know that (in Portugal) you can only vote from the age of 18
years
to know that bleach fades clothes, etc.

On the other hand, common sense also includes

superstitions (false beliefs without any justification)
plausible, such as believing that seeing black cats brings
luck) and non-superstitious beliefs about the most diverse
aspects of life (moral, political, social convictions, etc.)
for example, believing that one must pay off debts,
to believe that one should not kill innocent people, etc.), which does not
have a practical character.

34
 Common sense

It cannot also be said that common sense is the

even if the common knowledge. The knowledge that
are part of common sense are undoubtedly "vulgar": they are
simple knowledge, little elaborated and resulting from experience of
life and not of investigations.

However, as has been said, common sense includes

also superstitions. These, being false beliefs and without
justification, they are not knowledge. The problem is not,
therefore, in the word 'vulgar', but in the word 'knowledge'.
One cannot identify common sense and vulgar knowledge,
because some common sense content is not knowledge.

The distinctions I made between common sense and knowledge.

practical and common sense and vulgar knowledge are in agreement
with the understanding that sociologists usually have of
nature and the role of Sociology.

The second distinction is, in this context, particularly

relevant. Sociologists acknowledge that they have to take precautions
against common sense. Some use this in relation to the
expression 'break with common sense'. What does such expression mean?
means that, to establish sociological knowledge of
In his scientific character, the sociologist should not let himself be influenced.
by the false beliefs acquired in the midst of his community when
long process of socialization and one should not be satisfied with
the true beliefs you acquired in the same way, as
those are deceptive superstitions and these are nothing more than
superficial and vulgar knowledge that needs to be
profound.

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 Common sense

Common sense in popular sayings

We often find ourselves using popular sayings, but
few people know their meaning. A large part is
derivative of expressions that, over time, ended up
It is changing. Do you know the origins?

• Popular saying: 'He who has a mouth goes to Rome.'

The correct way would be: "Those who have a mouth make Rome go bad."
(of the verb to boo).

• Dito Popular: 'This boy doesn't stay still, it seems that

there's a carpenter bug.

The correct thing would be: "This boy doesn't stay still, it seems.
there's a bug all over the body.

• Popular saying: 'Little potato when it is born, spreads all over the place'
floor.

The correct would be: "Little potato when it is born, spreads the leaves"
on the floor.

• Popular saying: 'The color of a donkey when it runs away.'

The correct saying would be: 'I run like a donkey when it escapes!'

• Popular saying: 'Spit and spewed out.' (someone very

similar to another person.

The correct would be: 'Carved in carraro'. (type of

marble).

• Popular Saying: 'He who has no dog hunts with a cat.'

.
36
 Common sense
The correct phrase would be: 'Whoever doesn't have a dog, hunts like a cat.'
(that is, sneaking, cunningly, treacherously).

See also how these came about:

The worst blind person is the one who does not want to see.

Meaning: It is said of the person who does not want to see what is
right in front of you. Refuses to see the truth.

Historical: In 1647, in Nimes, France, in the

local university, Dr. Vicent de Paul D'Argenrt
performed the first cornea transplant on a villager from
name Angel. It was a success of the medicine of the time,
less for Angel, who as soon as he started to see
was horrified by the world he saw. He said that the
the world he imagines was much better. He asked the
surgeon who would rip out his eyes. The case ended up in
Paris court and in the Vatican. Angel won the case and
entered into history as the blind man who did not want to see.

To wander aimlessly

Wandering aimlessly, carefree,

passing the time.

History: Toa is the rope with which a vessel

ship off the other. A ship that is 'adrift' is one that does not
no sail nor course, going wherever the tugboat takes it
determine. A woman at leisure, for example, is one who
is commanded by others. Jorge Ferreira de Vasconcelos
he was already writing, in 1619: He thought to take his lady lightly.

Mother Joana's House

37
 Common sense

Meaning: Where everything goes, everyone can enter,

send, etc.

Historical: This comes from Italy. Joanna, queen of Naples and

Countess of Provence (1326-1382), liberated the brothels
in Avignon, where she was in hiding, and had them write
in the statutes: "that there should be a door through which all
they will enter." The place became known as the Mother's Palace.
Joana, in Portugal. When coming to Brazil the expression
became "Mother Joana's House." The other expression
involving Mother Joana, somewhat crude, has the same
origin, naturally.

Where Judas lost his boots

Meaning: A faraway, distant, inaccessible place.

History: As everyone knows, after betraying Jesus and

receiving 30 pieces of silver, Judas fell into depression and guilt
came to commit suicide by hanging from a tree. It happens
that he killed himself without his boots. And the 30 coins did not
they were found with him. Soon the soldiers left.
in search of Judas' boots, where, probably,
the money would be. The story is silent from there on.
We will never know if they found the boots or not.
money. But the expression has crossed twenty centuries.

Turned upside down

Meaning: A person with a twisted shovel can be either a

brave adventurer like a bum.

Historical: But the origin of the word is in relation to the

tool, the shovel. When the shovel is turned downwards,
facing the ground, it is useless, abandoned
decorrently by the vagrant, irresponsible man,

38
 Common sense

parasite. Nowadays, the subject of the 'turned spatula' seems to

me, has another meaning. He is the 'good'. The meaning of the
Expressions change a lot in Brazil over time.
time.

Nhenhenhém

Meaning: Endless conversation in a lamenting tone,

irritating, monotonous. I grumble, I complain.

Historical: Nheë, in Tupi, means to speak. When the

the Portuguese arrived in Brazil, they did not understand
that strange talk and they said that the Portuguese
they kept saying “nyen-nyen-nyen”.

To be a burden

Meaning: Situation of women when they are

menstruated.

Historical: Package, already teaches us Aurélio, is one of the

ship names. Beginning in 1810, a
monthly package, on the same day, in Rio de Janeiro.
And the red flag of England was waving. Soon after
the expression about the menstrual cycle has become vulgarized
women. A 'Convention on the
"Establishment of Packages," referring, of course, to the
monthly ships.

Thinking about the death of the calf

Meaning: To be distant, thoughtful, oblivious to everything.

Historical: This is biblical. As you know, the calf

was adored by the Hebrews and sacrificed to God in a
altar. When Absalom, having no more calves,

39
 Common sense

decided to sacrifice a calf, his youngest son, who

had great affection for the animal, opposed it. In vain. The
Bezerra was offered to the heavens and the boy spent the rest.
from life sitting by the altar 'thinking about death of the
"bezerra." It is reported that months later he passed away.

Not understanding a thing

Meaning: To know nothing about a certain topic.

Nothing at all.

History: Titus Livius, originally from Patavium (now Padua,

in Italy), used a horrible Latin, originating from his
region. Not everyone understood. Thus, Patavinism emerged,
which originally meant not understanding Titus Livius,
don't understand a thing.

Hollow stick saint

Meaning: A person who pretends to be nice, but is not.

History: In the 18th and 19th centuries, smugglers of

powdered gold, coins, and precious stones were used
hollow statues of saints inside. The saint was
"stuffed" with stolen treasures and sent to
Portugal.

Without a roof or a border

Meaning: People without goods, without possessions.

Historically: Eira is a piece of land made of dirt or cement

where grains are left outdoors to dry. Edge is the border
from the thrashing floor. When a thrashing floor has no edge, the wind takes the
grains and the owner is left with nothing.

40
 Common sense

Here in the northeastern region, this saying has the same

meaning, but another explanation. They say that
In the past, the houses of wealthy people had a roof.
triple: the threshing floor, the edge and the tribeira as it was called the
top part of the roof. Poorer people do not
they had the conditions to make this triple roof, so
they only built the tribeira leaving it thus 'without a roof'
not on the edge.

Go complain to the bishop

Meaning: Like someone who orders to complain about someone

problem to another person.

History: In the time of colonial Brazil, because of the

the need to populate the new lands, the fertility in
woman was a fundamental predicate. As a result,
they were allowed by the church to have sex before the
wedding, the only way for the groom to verify if they
they were really fertile. The fact is that many little brides
I would flee after the deal was done. The women were going.
to complain to the bishop, who sent men after the fugitive.

To fall for a scam

Meaning: To be deceived by some scammer.

Historical: Two churches in Ouro Preto received a

present: an image of a saint. To verify which of the
parishes would remain with the gift, the vicars decided
leave it to the divine hand, or rather, the paws of
a donkey. Exactly in the middle of the way between the two
churches, they placed the said donkey, wherever it went,
we would have the blessed church. Thus it was done, and the vicar
the winner left satisfied with the image of his saint. But

41
 Common sense

It was learned later that the donkey had been

trained to follow the path of the victorious church.

To be left high and dry

Meaning: Waiting for something that did not happen or did

it appeared. To wait in vain.

History: The king of Portugal, Dom Sebastião, died in

battle of Alcácer-Quibir, but the body was not
found. From then on (1578), the Portuguese people
always hoped for the dreamed return of the savior monarch.
Let's remember that, in 1580, due to the death of Dom
Sebastião, a succession crisis opens up on the vacant throne of
Portugal. The consequence of this crisis was the annexation of
Portugal to Spain (1580 to 1640), governed by Philip
II. Evidently, the Portuguese dreamed of the
return of the king, as a saving way to rescue the
pride and the dignity of the Portuguese homeland. As a consequence of this, the
people began to visit the Alto de Santa more frequently
Catarina, in Lisbon, waiting eagerly for the return.
of this king. Since he did not return, the people were just waiting.
to see ships.

Sweeten the pill

Meaning: To improve the appearance of something.

Historical: It comes from pharmacies that, in the past,

they wrapped the pills in exquisite papers, to give
better appearance to the bitter medicine.

To arrive empty-handed

Meaning: To arrive somewhere without taking anything, from

hands you were making.

42
 Common sense

1 A crooked stick that is born never straightens.

Stiffness
0 Inflexibility
Tell me who you walk with, and I will tell you who you are.
Influence
Who are you?
Prudence,
1 An old monkey doesn’t put its hand in a bowl. Caution,
2
Caution
The danger that threatens the stick threatens the...
Equality
3 machetes
1 He who was king never loses majesty.
Experience,
4 Habit
Lack of Unity
1 Pan that many stir, or it goes out
of Command,
5 sweet or salty
Disorganization
1 Those who don't take risks don't get to snack. Risk, Daring,
6 Action
1 Who goes into the wind loses their seat. Risk
7
1 A closed mouth does not let in mosquitoes.
Description to
8 to speak
1
All roads lead to Rome Choice
9
2
A king's word does not go back. Firmness
0
2 In the blacksmith's house, a stick skewer Incoherence
1
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
Power, Highlight
2 kings
2 Whoever doesn't have a dog hunts like a cat Flexibility,
3 Adaptability
2
Better safe than sorry Prudence
4
2 Whoever has a mouth goes to Rome
Communication,
5 Persistence
2
God helps those who wake up early. Action, Effort
6
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 Common sense

Meaning: Old-fashioned things are things

incredible, absurd.

Historical: Arco-da-velha is what the rainbow is called.

in Portugal, and there are many legends about its
magical properties. One of them is to drink the water from a
place and return it in another – so much so that there are those who defend
that "old bow" comes from bow of to drink ("to drink", )
in Italian).

Common sense
Common sense or spontaneous knowledge is the
first understanding of the world, based on opinion, that does not
includes no guarantee of its own validity. For some
philosophers, common sense designates the traditional beliefs of
human gender, that which the majority of men believe or
they must believe.

The most complete translation of common sense may be

popular sayings. Here are some examples:

Every head, a sentence.

He who scorns wants to buy.

He who laughs last laughs best.

Haste is the enemy of perfection.

If advice were good, it wouldn't be given for free.

44
 Common sense

the majority of people or stand out by getting the much dreamed of

vacancy at the university of your choice.

Popular Proverbs:
Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.

Those who injure with iron will be injured by iron.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Haste is the enemy of perfection.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
The occasion makes the thief.
When one does not want, two do not fight.
Better to be silent than to speak badly.
Soft water on hard stone, hits until it drills through.
Each head, each sentence.
What falls into the net is fish.
The shoemaker's children go barefoot.
The insurance died of old age.
Every monkey on its own branch.
He who wants everything has nothing.
Slowly, one goes far.
Little by little the hen fills its belly.
To err is human.
Talking is easy, doing is what is difficult.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Nothing like a day after another.

There are no roses without thorns.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
Never say that you will not drink from this water.
The cheap ends up being expensive.
Where there is smoke, there is fire.
The fish dies by the mouth.
He who waits always achieves.

29
 Common sense

We have two ears and one mouth, precisely to listen.

but to speak less.

A new branch shapes itself to any curvature it is given.

applied.

Those who wait for dead man's shoes go barefoot all their lives.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and accept whatever comes.

The eyes are the window to the soul.

Two things indicate weakness: remaining silent when it is necessary.

to speak, and to speak when it is necessary to be silent.

If you sit on the path, sit facing forward... Although

you have to turn your back on what you have already traveled.

Smile at life! It will smile back at you.

Those who do not live to serve, do not serve to live.

Little is learned from victory, but much from defeat.

It is never so easy to get lost as when one thinks they know the
path.

Don't declare that the stars are dead just because the sky
It is cloudy.

Smile at life! It will smile back at you.

Only when the last tree is cut down, the last fish is caught
last fish, polluted the last river, is that people will
to realize that they cannot eat money.

46
 Common sense

The word is worth silver. Silence is worth gold.

Those who wait for funeral shoes go barefoot their whole life.

I who complained about not having shoes, found a man.

that did not have feet.

A hundred men can form a camp, but it is necessary

for a woman to form a home.

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

A cheerful heart does as much good as medicine.

Little is learned from victory, but much from defeat.

You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying

above your head, but it can indeed stop them from doing a
nest in your hair.

There are five steps to achieving wisdom: to be silent, to listen,

remember, act, and study.

If you fall 7 times, get up 8.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and accept what comes.

He who scorns wants to buy.

Prepare yourself for whatever you want to be.

A cheerful heart is as good as medicine.

Speak well of me, speak ill of me, but speak of me.

47
 Common sense

Cultural heritage
The natural coexistence of human beings in the world - actions and
daily attitudes - produce a type of knowledge
particular and spontaneous, commonly referred to as 'common sense'
or 'popular knowledge'.

This cultural heritage manifests itself both in relation to

behaviors related to immediate survival, to edible
or non-edible, to danger, to safety, as in relation to the
feelings and values that organize and situate the unfolding of the
experience, like the beautiful and the pleasant, the good and the bad, the just and the
unfair.

We would hardly be able to survive if not

we could extract from our experience of the world and of life
this great body of knowledge that serves as a guide for the
our actions and decisions of everyday life, guiding our
relationships with others and a tool for our adjustment
to the environment in which we live.

In the bosom of this flow of culture and knowledge

vulgar, among other values, popular sayings emerge, which,
broadly speaking, they can also be referred to as "philosophies
popular.

By way of illustration, we can observe that the traps of

Life can catch us "with our pants down" if we don't
we observe that those who "fall into the water with a warm body" "see
"face and does not see heart" and does not pay attention to the fact that "the
appearances can be deceiving
rabbit" and thus fall into the "con game" and only very
Later found out that "a fool's hat is a sledgehammer."

The vast collection of clichés, interpreting

metaphorically the most varied life experiences of the
48
 Common sense

everyday, tries to explain, even if in an empirical way, the

great majority of situations experienced and lived by man.

About behavioral changes that may have been

influenced by others, popular wisdom presents the
following interpretations:

Tell me who you walk with and I will tell you who you are.

A little bird that accompanies a bat ends up

sleeping upside down

Like father, like son

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

You kiss the altar with holy hair.

"The habit makes the monk."

house costume goes to the square

and so on...

About benevolence, the philosophy of common sense, among

other interpretations state that:

Whoever gives to the poor lends to God.

"to do good without looking at whom"

It is by giving that one receives.

Who helps those in need, God gives double.

49
 Common sense

One of the richest sectors in the world of so-called popular sayings

it refers to the attitude of taking precautions, since,

An old monkey doesn't put its hand in the bowl.

"A scalded cat fears even cold water,"

"A dog bitten by a snake is afraid even of sausage."

"In a river with piranhas, the alligator swims on its back."

"better a living coward than a dead hero"

it's better to prevent than to remedy

The cautious one died of old age and the suspicious one is still alive.

Good Mary, who is in peace in her house,

A prepared man is worth two.

A closed mouth does not allow flies to enter.

For optimism, a series is also reserved

interpretations that, in some way, seek to bring comfort to
pessimists. Examples:

He who waits always achieves.

Whoever waits for God does not get tired.

After the storm comes the calm.

Who doesn't take risks doesn't snack.

50
 Common sense

the last will be the first

Those who run get tired, those who walk achieve.

slowly goes far

A long journey begins with the first step.

In this line of contemplative interpretations of

popular behaviors and actions become almost impossible
list the popular sayings that parallel the situations:

In the blacksmith's house, a wooden skewer.

but braver than Siri in the can

more ugly than just a prisoner's voice

Whoever harms with iron will be harmed by iron.

the joy of the poor lasts little

When a poor person finds an egg, it's a treasure.

The poor only move forward when they stumble.

among others.

To avoid going too far in the interpretation of the

philosophies of everyday life, we highlight some parodies of these
wise popular epigraphs, such as:

"there are evils that come to worsen"

A stick that is born crooked will always fall outside the basin.

51
 Common sense

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is blind.

The last will be disqualified

Those who don't have a dog are better off hunting for a point.

A snake that doesn't move doesn't swallow a frog.

52
 Common sense

Knowing the popular sayings

Some of the most famous sayings like:

Little by little, the hen fills its belly.

The insurance died of old age.

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Each monkey on its own branch.

He who scorns wants to buy.

Main characteristics of a popular saying:

Discursive genre of a popular nature;

Composed of a minimal text;

c)Anonymous author;

It has a pedagogical and moral sense.

e)It is based on the common sense of a given cultural medium.

Interpreting sayings

Examples of popular sayings:

There is a remedy for everything except for death.

There is always an old slipper for a sick foot.

A scalded cat is afraid of cold water.

53
 Common sense

Talking is easy; doing is what is difficult.

Those who want do more than those who can.

Don't change a winning team.

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

In a lagoon with piranhas, the alligator swims on its back.

Tell me who you walk with, and I will tell you who you are.

A dog that barks does not bite.

Each one pulls the embers to their own sardine.

After the storm comes the calm.

Here it is done, here it is earned.

Necessity makes the frog jump.

A half-truth is a great lie.

The best ear of corn is for the worst pig.

When the belly is full, every guava has a bug.

When the alms are too much, the saint suspects.

He who wounds with iron will be wounded with iron.

He who has no dog hunts like a cat.

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 Common sense

Subverting sayings

Good Advice
Chico Buarque

Listen to a good advice

What I give you for free
It is useless to sleep that the pain does not go away

Wait seated
Or you get tired
It is proven, those who wait never achieve

Come, my friend
Leave this mess
Play with my fire
Come get burned
Do as I say
Do it like I do
Think twice before acting

I run after time

I came from I don't know where

Slowly is how you don't go far

I sow the wind
In my city
I go to the street and drink the storm

Popular sayings "subverted" in the song. For example:

He who waits never reaches.

x"
"He who waits always achieves";

think twice before acting

x
think twice before acting
55
 Common sense

Do as I say, do as I do
x
do as I say, not as I do

slowly is how you don't get far

e
slowly is how one goes far

Why does the author consider it to be good advice?

inversion of popular sayings?

Taken as a first understanding of the world

resulting from the experiences and cultural heritage of a group
Social, common sense describes beliefs and propositions.
taken as normal, without depending on verification
scientific.
When saying 'listen to good advice' and subverting it
known popular sayings, the author intends to demonstrate that the
knowledge based on common sense is flawed, since,
for example, "it is proven, who waits never achieves".

Understand such subversion, so that they take the sense

common that permeates popular sayings as knowledge
cultural, but without scientific proof.

Popular sayings

What are popular sayings;

What is your social function (teaching);
Its character of cultural/oral heritage (oral culture);

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Science and common sense

BOCK, Ana Mercês Bahia and others.
Psychologies: An Introduction to the Study of Psychology
(Chapter I)
13th ed. revised and expanded - São Paulo: Saraiva, 2002.

Daily life and scientific knowledge

There is a close relationship between everyday life and knowledge.

scientific. This relationship exists because knowledge
the scientist studies the real and the real is part of the
daily [everyday knowledge]. However, both are based
in distinct knowledge.

Example of everyday use of scientific knowledge:

The crossing of the street with moving cars.

The time the coffee will stay hot in the thermos.

Common sense

It is all the knowledge accumulated over a lifetime. It is the

empirical knowledge that is passed down from generation to generation.

Boldly tea is good for the liver.

Worldview

The worldview is produced by common sense and this, even

with its precarious form - which is the form of the worldview - makes
part of human knowledge. The worldview is
determined by the place where the subject is inserted in society,
for your historical-social-ideological position.

Appropriation of Psychology by common sense

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There is a lot of psychological knowledge appropriated by common sense.

common. We can cite as an example of appropriation:

complexed boy
hysterical girl
to become neurotic.

Even without being able to scientifically define the cited terms,

we are not misunderstood, for these words already have their
meaning in 'common sense'.

Domains of human knowledge

Art, religion, science, and common sense are domains of

human knowledge.

Art encompasses all of human sensitivity imprinted on

the world through the plastic arts, whether painting, drawing,
literature, music, etc...

Religion encompasses the set of thoughts about the origin of

man, his mysteries and moral principles.

Philosophy is concerned with the origin and meaning of

human existence.

Science consists of the body of knowledge about the

facts, the aspects of reality [subject of scientific study] and it is
expresses through a precise and rigorous language.

Common sense encompasses [non-scientific] knowledge of

everything we learned and understood throughout life.

Characteristics attributed to scientific knowledge

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 Common sense

Specific object
Strict language
Specific methods and techniques
Cumulative process of knowledge
Objectivity

Difference between common sense and scientific knowledge

While common sense is based on accumulated knowledge

Throughout life, scientific knowledge is experienced,
scientifically proven, not just experienced.

Possible objects of Psychology

The man in all his visible expressions [of

behavior], invisible [our feelings], singular
[because we are like this], generic [because we are all like this].

After all, it is the body-man, thought-man, feeling-man,

action-man and everything that is included in the term subjectivity.

Diversity of study objects in Psychology

The reasons responsible for the various objects of Psychology

can be explained by the fact that this field has been constituted
as an area of scientific knowledge only very recently
[end of the 19th century], despite the existence of Philosophy as
human concern.

Another reason that can be mentioned is that being the 'man' the
object of Psychology, the researcher confuses with the object
researched. Therefore, the conception of 'man' that the researcher
brings along [confuses] contaminates your research in Psychology.

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This occurs primarily because there are several conceptions of

'man' among scientists.

Raw material of Psychology

The man in all his expressions and everything that is

synthesized in the term 'subjectivity'.

Subjectivity

Singular and individual synthesis that each of us constructs

as you experience the social life experiences and
cultural. It is built internally from the stimuli and
external experiences. In short, subjectivity is the way of feeling,
to love, to think, to fantasize, to dream and to become each one.

Because subjectivity is not innate?

Subjectivity is not innate because it needs lived experience.

external world to be built. And this construction is done at the
few, while the individual modifies the external world
builds your subjectivity [within yourself]. Therefore not
it could be innate to man.

Mystical practices - Can they be scientifically proven?

They cannot be scientifically proven because they have

as the soul of the individual and not the 'man' in his
totality.

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FIM

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