First Blog

Common sense is a type of intelligence, not given to the classroom or books.   Common sense is not taught like a subject. It is a generalized set of rules mostly self-learned. It has a feature set that is broad and sweeping. We classify a few of them as abilities – just as our regular senses of sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell.   It is also related to good sense and practical sense, less general terms. Ability to generalize. Example. You’ve learned not to put your hand on the stove. You generalize to other sources of heat. Ability to assess capabilities. You gradually restrict your activities and goals to those achievable. Ability to survive. You sidestep dangers that present directly and indirectly. Ability to discern. You can distinguish between options based on what is overall best for you and perhaps family. You easily chose not to do dumb things. Ability to avoid unnecessary risks. This is not to say risks are not undertaken, but senseless or stupid risks are avoi

One problem with wisdom is that it compels you to make decisions you'd rather not make. On the other hand, without wisdom, you have more freedom to choose and therefore more free will. ---------------------- The same can be said about education and knowledge. The more you have the better you are able to solve problems, the less choices you have to select solutions even though more solutions can be offered, the less free will you have to make choices.  So, education works against free will.   -------------------- The seeds of knowledge combined together with with the seeds of experience, when cold-pressed, render droplets of wisdom. The residue is called textbooks.

On this earth, there are many who do good, doctors, nurses, teachers, ministers, and countless other warm-hearted people. Their helping sustains nations, making life livable, making life a joy while taking joy in selflessness, making honesty a constant virtue.   Another class of citizens are the do-gooders , mostly with their goal to do good for themselves by doing something for others.   They gossip, cheat, preach, rumor, condemn, include, exclude, and depress all for their good. For do-gooders, the “for me” dominates the “for you.” These do-gooders are here forever.   Diving a little deeper… If your goal is to do good, and you have no basis for what good is, you may execute simplistic acts for which there is little reason and particularly pragmatism.   You could be seduced by a facet or two of a logical, social, or political complex of great depth.   Only when the need to do good is tempered on the anvil of contemplation can the result have lasting consequence and to be