Difference Between Common Sense and Science

常识与科学

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 orknowledgeof the physical and natural world based onobservationand 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 includesour 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社会。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.

一般用法，常识一词可以如下使用。观察这两个句子：

He showed common sense in this case.

学生缺乏常识。

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.

什么是科学？

科学can be defined asthe 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 arenatural sciences and social sciences。自然科学包括chemistry,physics,zoology, biology, etc. Social sciences include社会学, 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:

动物学是一门有趣的科学。

He learned all the sciences.

在这两个句子中，您都可以看到科学一词是在“一种知识”的意义上使用的。

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.

What is the difference between Common Sense and Science?

• Definitions of Common Sense and Science:

• Common sense is our usual understanding of practical matters.

•科学是基于观察和实验的物理和自然世界的研究或知识。

• Sense:

•普通这个词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:

•一个外行人常识。

• 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.

图像提供：

1. ManbyMika-photography(CC BY-SA 3.0)
2. Medical Laboratory Scientist通过Wikicommons（公共领域）