Voltaire was a talented French writer, playwright, philosopher and historian from the 17th century. He was an outspoken critic of the French aristocracy, religious dogma and corrupt institutions. He was banished from France after a fall out with a minor aristocrat and was exiled to the United Kingdom for three years during the Scottish enlightenment. This influenced him a great deal. He thought very highly of Scotland, famously saying 'We look to Scotland for all our ideas of civilisation'. He is famous for stating;
“Common sense is not so common.”
Voltaire, Dictionnaire Philosophique (1764)
He was not saying that common sense does not exist, simply that such a thing is not universal. The concept of “common sense” is widely known and cited in our society. “Common sense” is a core of knowledge and wisdom that we possess and think everyone else should share. In truth though it is based on an individual’s experience and their subjective perceptions. Therefore, “common sense” is dif
