I’ll apply George Orwell’s rules for clear and simple language to make the explanation even more straightforward and easy to understand. Here are the key changes I'll make according to Orwell's principles:
Use shorter words wherever possible.
Cut out unnecessary words.
Use concrete language instead of abstract terms.
Avoid complicated phrases and pretentious language.
Make sure it’s all active voice and as direct as possible.
Scottish Common Sense Realism Explained (Using Orwell’s Rules)
What Is It?
Scottish Common Sense Realism is an idea that came from Thomas Reid, a Scottish thinker. He worked at universities in Aberdeen and Glasgow. He had a big problem with the ideas of another philosopher named David Hume.
The Problem Reid Had
David Hume said that everything we know is just a copy of the real world in our minds. For example, he thought that when you look at a tree, you don’t actually see the real tree—you just see an idea of the tree that your mind makes. Reid thought this idea was wrong and dangerous because it made people doubt everything.
Reid thought if we follow this idea, we might not even know if anything is real. You might think, "Is this chair I’m sitting on really there? Or is it just my mind playing tricks?" This kind of thinking could make people doubt the world and lose touch with what’s real.
Reid’s Solution: Common Sense
Reid decided to fight against this doubt. He said we should trust our senses and what we see, hear, and feel every day. If you see a chair, the chair is there. If you feel the warmth of the sun, it’s real. This idea is called Scottish Common Sense Realism, and it’s all about using common sense to understand the world.
Why It Matters
Reid was answering four kinds of doubts (called skepticisms) that people like David Hume had:
Doubting Our Ability to Know Anything (Epistemological Skepticism):
Some people doubted that our eyes, ears, memory, and thoughts could be trusted at all. Reid said we can trust these basic abilities because they help us live our lives.
Doubting What’s Real (Metaphysical Skepticism):
Some doubted if things like personal identity (who we are) or free will are even real. Reid believed these ideas are real and make sense.
Doubting Right and Wrong (Moral Skepticism):
Some doubted if there’s such a thing as right and wrong. They thought morals were just our feelings, not something true. Reid believed in real morals that we can know.
Doubting Religion (Religious Skepticism):
Some people doubted if things like God or miracles were real. Reid believed that it’s common sense to trust some of these beliefs, especially because many people do.
Reid’s Common Sense Solution
Reid said that some beliefs are so basic that we don’t need to prove them—they are just common sense. For example:
Seeing a Tree: You know the tree is there because you can see it.
Trusting Your Senses: When you hear your friend’s voice or feel the wind, it’s real. We shouldn’t waste time doubting these things.
Reid called these the “principles of common sense.” He said they are built into human nature. These ideas are simple and basic, not something we learn from books or by overthinking things.
"The Based Antidote to Critical Constructivism"
Let’s break down this sentence too, simply:
"Based" means it’s straightforward and makes sense.
"Antidote" means it solves a problem.
"Critical Constructivism" is a way of thinking that questions everything. It says we don’t know what’s real because everything we know is shaped by our culture, learning, or what other people tell us. This way of thinking makes everything seem uncertain.
So, when someone says Scottish Common Sense Realism is "the based antidote to Critical Constructivism," they mean:
Scottish Common Sense Realism is a simple and strong way to deal with the confusing ideas that say, "You can’t trust anything."
It’s about trusting what you see, hear, and feel instead of doubting everything.
Summary (Orwell Style)
Scottish Common Sense Realism is a way of thinking that tells us to trust our everyday experiences. When you see something or feel something, it’s real. You don’t need to doubt it. Thomas Reid came up with this idea to fight against confusing thoughts that made people doubt everything—even their own senses. By trusting our common sense, we can stay connected to the real world and not get lost in endless questions.
I’ll apply George Orwell’s rules for clear and simple language to make the explanation even more straightforward and easy to understand. Here are the key changes I'll make according to Orwell's principles:
Use shorter words wherever possible.
Cut out unnecessary words.
Use concrete language instead of abstract terms.
Avoid complicated phrases and pretentious language.
Make sure it’s all active voice and as direct as possible.
Scottish Common Sense Realism Explained (Using Orwell’s Rules)
What Is It?
Scottish Common Sense Realism is an idea that came from Thomas Reid, a Scottish thinker. He worked at universities in Aberdeen and Glasgow. He had a big problem with the ideas of another philosopher named David Hume.
The Problem Reid Had
David Hume said that everything we know is just a copy of the real world in our minds. For example, he thought that when you look at a tree, you don’t actually see the real tree—you just see an idea of the tree that your mind makes. Reid thought this idea was wrong and dangerous because it made people doubt everything.
Reid thought if we follow this idea, we might not even know if anything is real. You might think, "Is this chair I’m sitting on really there? Or is it just my mind playing tricks?" This kind of thinking could make people doubt the world and lose touch with what’s real.
Reid’s Solution: Common Sense
Reid decided to fight against this doubt. He said we should trust our senses and what we see, hear, and feel every day. If you see a chair, the chair is there. If you feel the warmth of the sun, it’s real. This idea is called Scottish Common Sense Realism, and it’s all about using common sense to understand the world.
Why It Matters
Reid was answering four kinds of doubts (called skepticisms) that people like David Hume had:
Doubting Our Ability to Know Anything (Epistemological Skepticism):
Some people doubted that our eyes, ears, memory, and thoughts could be trusted at all. Reid said we can trust these basic abilities because they help us live our lives.
Doubting What’s Real (Metaphysical Skepticism):
Some doubted if things like personal identity (who we are) or free will are even real. Reid believed these ideas are real and make sense.
Doubting Right and Wrong (Moral Skepticism):
Some doubted if there’s such a thing as right and wrong. They thought morals were just our feelings, not something true. Reid believed in real morals that we can know.
Doubting Religion (Religious Skepticism):
Some people doubted if things like God or miracles were real. Reid believed that it’s common sense to trust some of these beliefs, especially because many people do.
Reid’s Common Sense Solution
Reid said that some beliefs are so basic that we don’t need to prove them—they are just common sense. For example:
Seeing a Tree: You know the tree is there because you can see it.
Trusting Your Senses: When you hear your friend’s voice or feel the wind, it’s real. We shouldn’t waste time doubting these things.
Reid called these the “principles of common sense.” He said they are built into human nature. These ideas are simple and basic, not something we learn from books or by overthinking things.
"The Based Antidote to Critical Constructivism"
Let’s break down this sentence too, simply:
"Based" means it’s straightforward and makes sense.
"Antidote" means it solves a problem.
"Critical Constructivism" is a way of thinking that questions everything. It says we don’t know what’s real because everything we know is shaped by our culture, learning, or what other people tell us. This way of thinking makes everything seem uncertain.
So, when someone says Scottish Common Sense Realism is "the based antidote to Critical Constructivism," they mean:
Scottish Common Sense Realism is a simple and strong way to deal with the confusing ideas that say, "You can’t trust anything."
It’s about trusting what you see, hear, and feel instead of doubting everything.
Summary (Orwell Style)
Scottish Common Sense Realism is a way of thinking that tells us to trust our everyday experiences. When you see something or feel something, it’s real. You don’t need to doubt it. Thomas Reid came up with this idea to fight against confusing thoughts that made people doubt everything—even their own senses. By trusting our common sense, we can stay connected to the real world and not get lost in endless questions.