Wikipedia defines it as: Common knowledge or general knowledge is knowledge that is known by everyone or nearly everyone, usually with reference to the community in which the term is used. Common knowledge need not concern one specific subject, e.g., science or history. Rather, common knowledge can be about a broad range of subjects, including science, literature, history, entertainment etc. Often, common knowledge doesn’t need to be cited.
In this Internet age, common knowledge often morphs into urban legend. There are tons of site that debunk the knowledge spread by people for various reason. Snopes.com is an interesting site about them. Google makes finding information almost too easy. Good and valid aren’t search options for the most part.
It is surprising how long I can retain misinformation. The partial information I hold is even more massive and can be equally damaging. Half truths abound. And claims are often based on such weak data.
The government has been the biggest beneficiary of my blind acceptance of things that seem right and become common knowledge. I’d like to mention some.
Global Warming: Of all those around this has the greatest potential. I just can’t determine whether it is to benefit or damage me. I do now know that the EPA is major driving force which means that control has moved from the elected to the appointed. In fact they continue to do things congress has told them not to do. My local weatherman is very accurate about tomorrow. Next week is very iffy. He has access to multiple models that are far more accurate than in the past but they are suspect as they go farther into the future. These models have been developed over time and are commercial products that need quality and improving quality to be viable products. Can I rely then on academics who’s livelihood is based on their preconceived view giving me a model that will be accurate in 100 years?
Drugs: The term War on Drugs was first used by President Richard Nixon in 1971. That makes Iraq and Afghanistan Johny-come-lately. At least those we have a chance to win. As I drifted toward the Libertarian view, their drug policy that was a sticking point. They call for full decriminalization. But, my common knowledge made drugs bad/evil/debilitating. Switzerland provides heron and free needles. Holland had open sale of marijuana but has recently made it locals only. On Cops last week I watched them arrest 3 guys for a small amount of grass. They were just getting by but the one had picked up the other two from work on his way home from work. One of the cops chortled it was going to cost him $765 to get his car back. Looks like 3 working stiff will have a problem getting to work tomorrow. Drug gangs keep expanding control in many neighborhoods and this is how we are fighting drugs. I am ready to see an approach other than war.
The Patriot Act goal is to keep us safe. The vehicle compromises our rights. That’s been traditional in times of war. But, most of that was voluntary. War correspondents didn’t give details and even misled during WWII. Today, we have legislation and are prosecuting people also protected by whistle blower status. AT&T provides the NSA with every telephone conversation — international and domestic. That goes even beyond the act itself. They base it on their need for knowledge and justify it with a negative. The negative is common knowledge — we haven’t had repeats. Actually we have but the perpetrators weren’t very smart about it.
Common knowledge is often valid knowledge. Business constantly uses things like cost:benefit. It is a basic tool. We know that “Seat belts save lives” and air bags are even better. So we added that and side bags and in a few years when all deploy the vehicle will be not economical to repair. Government tells us that creates jobs in the airbag industry and then in autos where a car must be added as we junk the one in the fender bender.
A 19th century economist observed:
Have you ever witnessed the anger of the good shopkeeper, James Goodfellow, when his careless son happened to break a pane of glass? If you have been present at such a scene, you will most assuredly bear witness to the fact that every one of the spectators, were there even thirty of them, by common consent apparently, offered the unfortunate owner this invariable consolation—”It is an ill wind that blows nobody good. Everybody must live, and what would become of the glaziers if panes of glass were never broken?”
Now, this form of condolence contains an entire theory, which it will be well to show up in this simple case, seeing that it is precisely the same as that which, unhappily, regulates the greater part of our economical institutions.
Suppose it cost six francs to repair the damage, and you say that the accident brings six francs to the glazier’s trade—that it encourages that trade to the amount of six francs—I grant it; I have not a word to say against it; you reason justly. The glazier comes, performs his task, receives his six francs, rubs his hands, and, in his heart, blesses the careless child. All this is that which is seen.
But if, on the other hand, you come to the conclusion, as is too often the case, that it is a good thing to break windows, that it causes money to circulate, and that the encouragement of industry in general will be the result of it, you will oblige me to call out, “Stop there! Your theory is confined to that which is seen; it takes no account of that which is not seen.”
It is not seen that as our shopkeeper has spent six francs upon one thing, he cannot spend them upon another. It is not seen that if he had not had a window to replace, he would, perhaps, have replaced his old shoes, or added another book to his library. In short, he would have employed his six francs in some way, which this accident has prevented.
Often common knowledge bring on all too common reasoning. I’m guilty. You?
ADDENDUM:
Congrats to Bill Rini who getting married and going back to work. I am guessing there is a relationship there. I am basing that on pretty common knowledge.
Here’s a bit of seemly uncommon knowledge about the common knowledge. Its not easy being green.
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