Common Quote by E. O. Wilson
“Common sense is merely unaided intuition, and unaided intuition is reasoning performed in the absense of instruments and the tested knowledge of science. Common sense tells us that massive satellites cannot hang suspended 36,000 kilometers above the one point on the earth's surface, but they do.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Science and Philosophy, 1990
Common sense is intuition without tools or scientific verification, which can be misleading when confronting complex facts.
In simple terms: Intuition alone can be wrong about reality.
Key Takeaway
Question intuition with evidence.
Themes
science
intuition
knowledge
skepticism
Mood
cautious
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- evaluating claims
- educational curricula
- public policy
- media literacy
Key Concepts
epistemology
cognitive bias
empiricism
Questions to Reflect On
- When have you relied on intuition and been surprised?
- How can we balance intuition and data?
A Different Perspective
Intuition may still be useful in low‑risk, familiar contexts.
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