We Never Look Squarely At The Sensible Claim That "The Earth Is Flat"

Alan: Of course, the earth is flat. 

Without scientific clarification, those who trust in "common sense" are necessarily mislead.

Not always, but often.

In time of peace, "common sense" may be a tolerable -- even comforting -- fiction.

But in time of trial it becomes necessary to distinguish "difficult Truth" from "facile Fiction" 

When problems are complex, "common sense" is more often foe than friend.

Buffeted by cultural upheaval, it is "uncommon sense" we need -- sense that is suffused with paradox and irony - to dispel false arguments borne of xenophobia, paranoia, psychological projection and every kind of blinding hatred that conceives "The Other" as scapegoat.