Today’s Scripture Reading (April 1,
2013): Proverbs 8
I keep on
hearing the phrase that “common sense is just not that common” around me. It
comes in so many different disguises. From the actions of our favorite sports
teams to the decisions made by our politicians, common sense seems to have
taken a holiday. We see it when we (or those around us) seem to place our own
desires ahead of what is practical. In economic terms, common sense seems to be
absent when we buy things because we want them rather than because we know that
we can afford them. The financial crisis of a few years ago was built on the
back of those who borrowed so that they could have things that they could not
afford. History is filled with examples
of things that have been left unfinished because someone refused to count the
cost and at some point simply ran out of money.
Common sense
in its most ideal form is simply an extension of Occam’s Razor, an idea named
after William of Ockham, a 13th century philosopher, that says that
“the simplest idea is usually the right one.” While the principle is named
after William of Ockham, it definitely did not originate with him. Even in the
works of the philosopher mathematician Ptolemy in the second century we find
the idea placed front and center. Ptolemy wrote that “we consider it a good
principle to explain the phenomena by the simplest hypothesis possible.” The
term “Razor” is used because the principle instructs us to shave off the
complexities until we are left with just the simplest of possible explanations.
Plato and
Aristotle both seemed to understand the principle well – as did the writer of
Proverbs. While the argument rages over whether or not Proverbs 8 should be
considered Messianic, the simplest answer for the beginning of the chapter is
that the author of Proverbs was frustrated by the complex plans and the lack of
common sense that surrounded him. And it is out of that frustration that we
find the opening words of the chapter – Does not wisdom call out? Does not
understanding raise her voice? The proverbial exclamation is that we should be
able to hear the words of wisdom, but instead we turn deaf ears to her and
chase after the complex desires of our hearts.
In life,
often it is the simplest things that are the most satisfying. Proverbs 8 may
indeed be Messianic, but it should never be considered so at the expense of the
simple message that wisdom is available to all of us if we will but listen. And
wisdom always drives us toward the simple and not the complex. It reminds us
that the simple things that we have are more valuable than all of the complex
things that we might attain.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:
Proverbs 9
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