The Pros And Cons Of A Common Sense Approach
In this essay I aim to discuss how social construction differs form a common sense approach.
We all have experiences that tell us that some things are true and that other are not. Here we are using common sense, which is basic knowledge and experiences that we all share and use in our daily lives.
Sociologists argue that common sense is generally based on our own limited and biased opinions already held. More importantly that common sense does not require evidence to substantiate it claims. Common sense statements are therefore simply assumed knowledge that individuals take for granted as being the truth or real (Stuart el, 2015). Sociologist C. W Mills (1959) sought to question this assumed knowledge and suggests that there is a need …show more content…
Some may look to economic and political conditions that make some people poor. Whereas others look at the behaviours or morals of some people which result in them being poor (Aiken, 2008).
What is significant about a common sense statement such as ‘nobody needs to be poor’ is that it makes assumptions about the very nature of poverty such as ‘if there are poor people, it is only as a result of their poor choices’. It also implies that we all share the assumptions contained within the statement and therefore to stop being poor they need to become like the rest of us.
Common sense views are not just discussions or idle chatter they are very much connected to social and political action. These pre conceived assumptions and ideas of poverty and explanations of its causes are instrumental in how society and politicians respond to poverty.
In concluding it is evident that social construction and the common sense approach differ in their explanations of problems. Common sense requires no evidence and predominately relies on basic knowledge and pre conceived ideas that exist within a society. In contrast social construction uses evidence and research to question these statements and further explores how these problems affect
We all have experiences that tell us that some things are true and that other are not. Here we are using common sense, which is basic knowledge and experiences that we all share and use in our daily lives.
Sociologists argue that common sense is generally based on our own limited and biased opinions already held. More importantly that common sense does not require evidence to substantiate it claims. Common sense statements are therefore simply assumed knowledge that individuals take for granted as being the truth or real (Stuart el, 2015). Sociologist C. W Mills (1959) sought to question this assumed knowledge and suggests that there is a need …show more content…
Some may look to economic and political conditions that make some people poor. Whereas others look at the behaviours or morals of some people which result in them being poor (Aiken, 2008).
What is significant about a common sense statement such as ‘nobody needs to be poor’ is that it makes assumptions about the very nature of poverty such as ‘if there are poor people, it is only as a result of their poor choices’. It also implies that we all share the assumptions contained within the statement and therefore to stop being poor they need to become like the rest of us.
Common sense views are not just discussions or idle chatter they are very much connected to social and political action. These pre conceived assumptions and ideas of poverty and explanations of its causes are instrumental in how society and politicians respond to poverty.
In concluding it is evident that social construction and the common sense approach differ in their explanations of problems. Common sense requires no evidence and predominately relies on basic knowledge and pre conceived ideas that exist within a society. In contrast social construction uses evidence and research to question these statements and further explores how these problems affect