The Philosophy and Common-Sense Reader

Writings on Critical Thinking

Publication Information

Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Publication Date: 2020
ISBN: 978-1-3500-7374-6
Editor: Markar Melkonian

About The Book

What is common sense? Is it a natural human capacity, a collection of practical truths, or something shaped by history and culture?

The Philosophy and Common-Sense Reader examines the nature of common sense through a carefully selected collection of writings drawn from philosophy, political theory, economics, religion, and the sciences. The volume explores how thinkers across different traditions have understood common sense, knowledge, judgment, and critical reasoning.

Bringing together both classical and modern perspectives, the reader investigates questions that continue to shape public life, intellectual inquiry, and everyday decision-making. Through editorial introductions and historical context, the collection makes complex ideas accessible to students, researchers, and general readers alike.

Topics Covered

  • Common sense and human understanding

  • Epistemology and theories of knowledge

  • Philosophy of science

  • Philosophy of religion

  • Meta-ethics

  • Political philosophy

  • Economics and society

  • Critical thinking and public reasoning

Featured Thinkers

The collection includes writings by:

  • Thomas Reid and the Scottish Common Sense School

  • Ludwig Wittgenstein

  • W. V. O. Quine

  • Karl Popper

  • Charles Darwin

  • Hannah Arendt

  • Gary Becker

  • Antonio Gramsci

  • Thomas Frank

and other influential contributors to debates concerning knowledge, society, and human understanding.

Reviews & Endorsements

"The range of this collection is considerable. There are no similar anthologies available, and this one provides an excellent overview of some of the key issues and texts that take up the epistemological status of common sense either by itself or in relation to politics, economics and the sciences."

— Sophia Rosenfeld
Walter H. Annenberg Professor of History, University of Pennsylvania

"A wide-ranging survey of different understandings of 'common sense' that will be a valuable resource for all those interested in mapping this slippery concept."

— Kate Crehan
Professor Emerita, The City University of New York

"The texts in the volume are supplemented with detailed introductions that place the readings in their historical and intellectual context. Both students and researchers will find the reader accessible and of great value."

— Marcus E. Green
Instructor in Political Science, Pasadena City College

Additional Resources

Additional excerpts, reviews, and related materials will be added as they become available.