Common sense in philosophical and scientific perspective

摘要

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to deepen our understanding of the philosophical andrnscientific pedigree of the concept of "common sense", and explore the implications for managerialrndecision-makers.rnDesign/methodology/approach - After examining the management literature on this topic, a briefrnhistory of the notion and philosophy of common sense is followed by a review of recent findings inrncognitive science and other fields and a discussion of implications for managerial decision-making.rnFindings - The notion of common sense has a stable perceptual basis in the makeup of the humanrnmind, as has been shown by philosophers and scientists. Common sense intuitions serve as the basisrnfor making sense of the world: visual perception, scientific reasoning, language, psychology,rnmathematics, and moral judgments are all rooted in "mental hardware" of common sense. While it is arnnecessary element of human cognition, common sense can nevertheless lead us astray if we arernunaware of its contours and limitations, which are outlined in this paper.rnPractical implications - Understanding that the mind comes equipped with a host of commonrnsense mental instincts will have an impact on both one's own decision-making processes, and howrndecision-makers attempt to influence others.rnOriginality/value - Based on original research as well as literature from a variety of disciplines, thisrnpaper provides a comprehensive understanding of the philosophical and scientific pedigree ofrn"common sense" and its implications for decision-makers.