Use Your Common Sense Day is observed annually on November 4, since common sense is an important tool for living life. Common sense is “the applied knowledge of simple, sensible things”, such as not putting metal into microwaves or jumping into rivers without knowing what is under the water. This date also marks the birthday of Will Rogers — the man who remarked “Common Sense ain’t that common”! We need to remind ourselves of the importance of applying common sense to our everyday lives and decisions to avoid unnecessary dangers and make the most of opportunities! In the social media age, this is a pet peeve of many — that common sense seems to have fallen by the wayside. There are even calls for subjects stimulating common sense in the school curriculums in the U.S. because so few seem to employ it!
History of Use Your Common Sense Day
Common sense as a concept is ancient, first being brought to the limelight by the great philosopher, Aristotle. He described it as the ability with which animals (including humans) process sense perceptions, memories, and imagination to reach many types of judgments. To his thinking, only humans have real reasoned thinking, which takes them beyond common sense. This was then carried forward in the Roman interpretation, which holds that concepts like ideas and perceptions are held by man and make them more sophisticated than animals.
French philosopher, René Descartes, established the most common modern meaning, and its controversies, when he stated that everyone has a similar and sufficient amount of common sense, but it is rarely used well.
Since the Age of Enlightenment, the term “common sense” has been used for a rhetorical effect both approvingly, as a standard for good taste, and source of scientific and logical axioms.
In modern times, common sense is defined as ‘the basic level of practical knowledge and judgment that we all need to help us live reasonably and safely”. Without any doubt, applying common sense could save one a lot of problems.
Common Sense Day was created by Bud Bilanich, a career mentor, motivational speaker, blogger, and author. He’s starred in some leading TV shows and magazines and has written 19 books that highlight how to succeed in life, and how the application of common sense is vital to that success. Common Sense Day was first celebrated in 2015.
Use Your Common Sense Day timeline
Thomas Paine compiles a pamphlet called “Common Sense” and stated the need for independence of the 13 British colonies in North America from Britain.
Philosophers such as Thomas Reid and Dugald Stewart espouse the thought that common sense is based on more than mere feelings, and it places all men on relatively equal terms.
G.E. Moore writes an essay titled “A Defense of Common Sense” in which he argues that individuals can make many types of statements about what they judge to be true.
The role of memes on topics such as common sense, especially in shaping the thinking of teens, becomes a subject for research in the Introduction of Meme Studies.
Use Your Common Sense Day FAQs
When was the first time common sense was celebrated?
By all accounts Use Your Common Sense Day was first celebrated in 2015.
When is common sense not so common?
Because our current age focuses more on enlightenment which is a theoretical exercise, what passes for common sense (often more practical), is less common.
Are you born with common sense?
Your mental ability and life experiences together teach you to make good judgments, so we are not born with common sense.
How To Celebrate Use Your Common Sense Day
Spend time in introspection
This is a good day to spend time reviewing the events of the past with a fresh perspective. This will help recognize areas where you made avoidable mistakes, and help make better decisions in the future.
Laugh, shrug it off, and carry on
When you do make that silly mistake, laugh and shrug it off as a lesson learned and continue from there. We all suffer from lapses in common sense, and the best way to deal with it is with humor and then making a different choice next time.
Host a common sense meme evening
Have a blast laughing about silly things people do, and chat about how to avoid making mistakes like that.
5 Facts About Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” Pamphlet That Will Fascinate You
It partly influenced the American Revolution
The thought-provoking and expository nature of the 47-page pamphlet made it powerful enough to stir people to take part in the American revolution.
Very popular within the country
It was sold and distributed widely and read aloud at taverns and meeting places.
Massively reproduced
It was copied over 500,000 times during the years of the American Revolution.
Most circulated book in the country
In proportion to the population at that time, it had the largest sale and circulation of any book published in American history.
Most-sold American book
As of 2006, it remains the all-time best-selling American title, and it is still in print today.
Why We Love Use Your Common Sense Day
Reminder of the value of thinking right
Thinking and making decisions might seem so normal that we at times overlook their importance. This day reminds us of just how vital they are and raises our awareness of the effect of our choices and actions.
Helps avert danger for us and others
By applying common sense to our everyday doings, we get to avoid potentially dangerous or expensive situations. This is not only beneficial to us but to others as well.
Keeps us sensitive and humble
As humans who have done amazing things from building airplanes to going to space, we can forget how easy it is to still make silly mistakes. This day reminds us and keeps us humble.
Use Your Common Sense Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | November 4 | Monday |
| 2025 | November 4 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | November 4 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | November 4 | Thursday |
| 2028 | November 4 | Saturday |
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