Rationalization as a principle of civilization process and the problem of "Common sense"

Abstract

Recently, the topic of “reason” or “common sense” has increasingly come up in political discourse. During heated political debates opponents are often denied not only cognitive abilities of an educated, intellectually developed person, but also the ability to use elementary logical operations, tested by mankind for thousands of years in everyday life. These operations may concern the correct identification of objects (in particular, “one’s own” and “stranger’s” or rather “friend-or-foe”), calculating the consequences of steps taken, assessing emerging risks, crossing “red lines”, understanding the ratio of big and small, part and whole, harmful and useful, norm and deviation from the norm, qualitative leap, use of double standards, neglecting the sense of proportion, etc. The issue of the reasons for the departure from common sense deserves separate consideration – among such reasons can be mentioned passionarization caused by natural and social cataclysms, attempts to implement obviously utopian projects, wars or malicious manipulation of public opinion, as well as general civilizational degradation.