Conventional wisdom 🎓🤝
Meaning
Widely accepted beliefs or practices that are considered sensible and reliable, even if not always empirically proven.
Origin
The term 'conventional wisdom' solidified its place in the English language thanks to economist John Kenneth Galbraith. In his 1958 book, The Affluent Society, Galbraith highlighted how a society often clings to comfortable, widely-held beliefs rather than challenging them with new ideas or evidence. He specifically used the phrase to describe these accepted notions that serve as a sort of intellectual wallpaper – familiar and seemingly solid, but often hiding a lack of deeper thought or examination. His use popularized the concept, giving us a pithy way to refer to the prevailing, often unexamined, opinions of the day.
Conventional wisdom represented with emoji🎓🤝
This playful composition of graduation cap and handshake functions as a delightful visual pun. It underscores the notion that what seems like solid, established knowledge, represented by the cap, is often built upon and confirmed through agreement and common understanding, symbolized by the handshake. It teaches the viewer to playfully consider the origins and social construction of what we deem 'common sense'.
Examples
- Conventional wisdom suggests that saving money is the best way to achieve financial security.
- Despite technological advancements, the conventional wisdom that hard work leads to success still holds true for many.
- Conventional wisdom says if you can't find a unicorn, you should at least try to ride a really fast pony.
- A lot of people follow the conventional wisdom of always looking both ways before crossing, but I prefer to cross when the light turns a delightful shade of chartreuse.
Frequently asked questions
Conventional wisdom is not inherently untrue, but it often represents widely accepted beliefs that haven't been rigorously tested or may be outdated. John Kenneth Galbraith coined the term to describe ideas that society finds comfortable and familiar, rather than necessarily accurate or optimal.
John Kenneth Galbraith viewed conventional wisdom as a comfortable but often unexamined set of beliefs that societies tend to cling to, potentially hindering progress or objective analysis. He used the term in *The Affluent Society* to highlight how these prevailing notions can act as intellectual inertia, preventing deeper scrutiny.
Yes, conventional wisdom can be dangerous when it leads to inaction, the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes, or resistance to necessary change. By focusing on what is accepted rather than what is effective or just, conventional wisdom can sometimes lead societies down the wrong path.
The opposite of conventional wisdom might be considered unconventional thinking, radical ideas, or insightful or contrarian perspectives. These are viewpoints that challenge the widely accepted norms and require deeper examination of evidence and assumptions.