Common Sense vs Science

Common sense and science are two words that are often confused when it comes to their
meanings when strictly speaking, there is a difference between the two words. Common sense
is our usual understanding of practical issues. The word common sense is used in the sense of
natural instinct. On the other hand, science is the study or knowledge of the physical and
natural world based on observation and experimentation. The word science is used in the
sense of a kind of knowledge. Common sense is our knowledge of day to day life. Science
goes a step beyond and provides scientific explanations for realities in life and those that we
take for granted. This is the main difference between the two words. This article attempts to
highlight the difference between these two while providing a comprehensive understanding of
each word.
What is Common Sense?
Common sense includes our knowledge of day to day realities. It is how a lay person
comprehends the world around him. Common sense provides practical solutions to daily
matters. As human beings, through the process of development, we all acquire common
sense. It is this knowledge that allows us to behave properly in the society. Simply common
sense includes things that we take for granted.
In academic discourses, it is believed that the distinction between a lay person and an
academic is that while a lay person is only confined to common sense, the academic goes on
to acquire the scientific knowledge as well. He does not stop and state it is the way things
are done, but is eager to explore why things are done in that particular way.
In general usage, the word common sense can be used as follows. Observe the two sentences:
He showed common sense in this case.
The student lacked common sense.
In both the sentences, you can find that the word common sense is used in the sense of
natural instinct or common understanding. In the first sentence, the meaning would be he
showed common understanding in this case. The meaning of the second sentence would be
the student lacked common understanding. This provides a basic understanding of the word.

He showed common sense in this case

What is Science?
Science can be defined as the study or knowledge of the physical and natural world based
on observation and experimentation. There are different sciences that can be mainly put
into two categories. They are natural sciences and social sciences. Natural sciences
include chemistry, physics, zoology, biology, etc. Social sciences include sociology, political
science, demography, etc. All sciences provide a scientific understanding of the natural or the
social world.
In day to day usage, the word science can be used as follows.Observe the two sentences:

Zoology is an interesting science.

He learned all the sciences.
In both the sentences, you can see that the word science is used in the sense of a kind of
knowledge.
Overall this highlights that the word science is used in the sense of a branch of knowledge.
This may not come in handy in our day to day life even though it expands our understanding
of the world. Science assists to bring about new discoveries in the world. Despite the fact that
common sense does not contribute to such a purpose, it should be utilized to solve a number
of problems related to life. One who does not use common sense is subjected to difficulties.
These are the main differences between the two words, namely, science and common sense.
He learned all the sciences
What is the difference between Common Sense and Science?
Definitions of Common Sense and Science:
Common sense is our usual understanding of practical matters.
Science is the study or knowledge of the physical and natural world based on observation
and experimentation.
Sense:
The word common sense is used in the sense of natural instinct.
The word science is used in the sense of a kind of knowledge.
Daily Life:
Common sense is vital for day to day life.
Science is not vital to day to day life.
Lay Person and Academic:
A lay person has common sense.
An academic has both common sense and scientific knowledge.
Connection:
Science goes a step beyond common sense and explores why an incident occurs in that
particular way.

SCIENCE VERSUS COMMON SENSE

Science, as a way of thinking, possesses many vital qualities for true understanding that
common sense does not. Based on observations we make, science operates under theories,
constantly revised and checked by experiment. Based on the required validity that we need to
make judgments, science tests its own propositions, throwing out the theories which do not fit
our world. Science also has controls, or ways of eliminating other explanations that may fit
our preconceptions and intuitions but do not adequately explain phenomena. Causation, itself
crucial to decision-making and judgment, can only reliably be determined through analytical
methods that common sense pretends to involve but does not. Lastly, science rules out
the metaphysical(so far). Common sense allows us to believe that ghosts, goblins, and angels
run amok throughout our world, themselves causal agents of events in our lives. To suggest
that angels cured your disease, and not modern medicine, for example, is exactly why
common sense is such a poor master.
We will take all of these components in turn. Hopefully, by the end, you will realize that the
chains of intuition and common sense that bind you should be cast off, unless you prefer the
darkness of ignorant assumption.
Theory
Theories construct the enterprise of science. A theory is an abstraction that applies to variety
of circumstances, explaining relationships and phenomena, based upon objective evidence.
For example, evolution is a theory that applies to a wide range of phenomena (the diversity of
life, development, etc.), and explains the observations of said phenomena, all of which is
based upon evidence. Gravity too is a theory, explaining the phenomena that we observe in
interactions of bodies with mass.
To get technical:

Science uses conceptual schemes and theoretical structures built through internal consistency
which are empirically tested.
Scientists also realize that these are man-made terms that may or may not exhibit a close
relationship to reality (but with objectivity we try our best).
The distinction between this structure of thought and common sense should be, well,
common sense. Common sense has no structure to it, is explicitly subjective, and is subject to
all manner of cognitive biases. There is no need for testing, replication, or verification when
you are reasoning for yourself. No checks for you to pass or fail, no peers reviewing. It is no
wonder why science is so much better at explaining things.

Testing/Verification
Unlike common sense or intuition, science systematically and empirically tests theories and
hypothesis. This is important when viewed in the light that psychological research shows us
that the default mode of human information processing includes the confirmation bias, which
is a form of selective testing, and unworthy of scientific thinking.
If unchecked, most people intuitively notice or select ideas, beliefs, or facts that fit within
what they already assume the world to be like and dismiss the rest. Common sense reasoning
has no problem with the idea that the Sun goes around the Earth because it sure looks like it
does, doesnt it? Humans already feel like they are the center of the universe, why not accept
a belief that confirms that notion? Science is free from such constraints.
Controls
Science controls for possibly extraneous sources of influence. The lay public does not control
for such possibilities, and therefore the chains of causation and explanation become tangled.
When trying to explain a phenomena, science rigorously excludes factors that may affect an
outcome so that it can be sure where the real relationships are. Common sense has no such
control. The person who believes that a full moon increases the rate of crime does not control
this hypothesis. Without control they may never see that statistics speak to the contrary.
Assuming a connection is never as meaningful as proving one.
Correlation and Causation
Science systematically and conscientiously pursues real relationships backed by theory and
evidence. Common sense does not. Common sense leads us to believe that giving children
sugar causes them to be more hyper. Science shows us that this is not the case. We see
possible correlations everywhere, but that does not mean much if we cant prove it. It seems
right is not enough.
When we use science to actually establish causation, it is for the betterment of society. For a
long time the tobacco industry would have us believe that smoking did not lead to lung
cancer, it is merely a correlation. Medical science has now shown unequivocally that smoking
causes lung cancer. How could common sense ever lead us to this healthy conclusion? Would
common sense ever intuit that smoke hurts your lungs or that it contains harmful chemicals?
It may seem like common sense now, but remember that hindsight is 20/20. People who
began smoking 60 years ago had no clue that it was harmful. Even children smoked back
then. Could common sense ever grasp the methodological measures required to prove such a
harmful connection? I do not think so. Thats why we use science.
Metaphysics
Science rules out untestable, metaphysical explanations where common sense does not.
That which cannot be observed (at least tangentially) or tested is of no concern to science.

This is why religious-based explanations of scientific concepts, i.e. creationism, is not a

science and has no business in the science classroom.
Ghosts and goblins may be thought to be the causes of many a shenanigan, but their
reluctance to be tested or observed renders them, at least scientifically, non-existent. If they
have no effects that cannot be explained naturally, if they are invisible, if they interact with
no one and are only revealed in anecdotes, what is the difference between those qualities and
non-existence? Metaphysical explanations so far offer nothing to the understanding of the
natural world. Common sense invokes them heavily, see the problem?