COMMON SENSE

Questioning the Origins of Domination

This morning, I found myself wondering why mankind ever believed that domination was the proper way to rule. The question lingered: how did common sense factor into this reasoning? It seems that the urge to dominate must have come from a belief in superiority — a conviction that some have the right to control others. Yet when viewed through the lens of simple, practical judgment, such thinking appears flawed.

The ability to see situations clearly should guide decision-making, but perhaps in the pursuit of power, common sense was set aside. This invites reflection on how both domination and common sense have shaped leadership throughout history.

Understanding Common Sense

Merriam-Webster defines common sense as the ability to see a situation clearly and make a practical decision. That definition reminds me how important simple, steady judgment is in everyday life.

When I think about the pull between domination and personal freedom, I notice how common sense affects the outcome. Choices made with clear thinking usually lead to balance, while choices made from pressure or emotion often do not. Seeing the difference shows how much common sense shapes the direction we take.

Defining Domination

Domination is essentially about holding power, whether through authority, control, or influence. At its core lies the idea of superiority—without it, the notion of domination wouldn’t exist.

It seems obvious that domination happens when one group sees itself as superior and uses that to take control over others. This belief in superiority shapes how power and influence are exercised.

Limitations of Domination

Common sense also tells me that this type of rule is inconsistent with human nature. At some point, it will collapse.

Systems based on domination run counter to fundamental human instincts and desires. People naturally value autonomy and fairness, so any system that suppresses these instincts is inherently unstable. Over time, internal contradictions build until the structure can no longer sustain itself.

This understanding reinforces the idea that domination cannot last indefinitely.

Why Domination Ultimately Fails

Domination contradicts the fundamental nature of humanity. People instinctively seek autonomy and fairness, and systems based on domination attempt to suppress these essential qualities.

Because these systems ignore the human desire for self‑determination and equitable treatment, they are unstable from the start. Eventually, the pressures within them mount until they break.

In the end, domination collapses under its own weight.

Common Sense as the Foundation for Governing

Common sense should guide governing because it plays a role in every part of daily life. The ability to see situations clearly and make practical decisions is essential not only in personal matters but also in leadership.

When those in power use common sense as their guide, their choices are more likely to be balanced and fair. This avoids the pitfalls that come from decisions made under pressure or emotion.

Common sense helps leaders create systems that respect autonomy and promote fairness, making governance more stable and sustainable. It ensures that authority does not become domination, but a means of serving the true needs of people.

Where Domination Really Begins

When I look at domination through the lens of common sense, I see that it begins long before anyone takes power. It starts in the small beliefs people carry about who is “above” and who is “below,” who deserves trust and who does not.

Quiet judgments might seem harmless, but they’re the tiny cracks that can pave the way for domination. If domination collapses, when people begin to see things clearly, the next step is to uncover the hidden ideas that kept them from seeing clearly in the first place.

That is where bias and prejudice begin — and where the real work of understanding must continue.

How Bias Makes Domination Possible

Domination never begins with force. It begins with a thought — a quiet belief that one person is somehow above another. That belief may seem small, but it is the seed from which bias and prejudice grow.

These early judgments shape how people see one another long before any system of domination is built. When they go unchallenged, they create the mental ground where larger forms of control can take root.

Common sense helps us recognize that domination is not born in power, but in the everyday assumptions we allow to stand.

What Is Considered Bias?

Common sense is the tool that reveals domination and uncovers bias. Bias is where domination first takes shape, long before any system is built. This is where common sense becomes essential — because it helps us see the beliefs we never thought to question.

Bias happens when we judge someone or a group before truly getting to know them. It’s our mind filling in the gaps with past experiences, assumptions, or lessons we’ve learned, without ever stopping to see if they’re actually true.

Bias can look like:

  • Expecting someone to act a certain way because of their race, age, gender, or background
  • Assuming you already know who someone is before you’ve spoken to them
  • Believing a stereotype because you’ve heard it repeated
  • Trusting the first explanation you hear because it matches what you already think
  • Treating someone differently based on appearance, accent, or social status
  • Thinking “people like that always…” without ever meeting “people like that.”

Bias doesn’t always come from hate. Sometimes it comes from:
habit, upbringing, culture, fear, repetition, misinformation, or simply never questioning what we were told.

Bias is the untested belief.
Prejudice is the belief accepted without question.
Domination occurs when those beliefs are put into action.

The Effect of Bias

When bias goes unchallenged, it becomes the lens through which we see people. And once that lens is in place, it shapes:

  • How we interpret someone’s actions
  • How we speak to them
  • How we treat them
  • What opportunities do we think they deserve
  • What we expect from them
  • what we believe they are capable of

Bias creates a chain reaction:

Bias → Prejudice → Behavior → Harm → Division → Domination

In simple terms:

  • Bias makes us misjudge people before we know them.
  • Prejudice makes us believe those misjudgments are true.
  • Behavior based on prejudice creates unfair treatment.
  • Unfair treatment creates inequality.
  • Inequality creates resentment and division.
  • Division creates the conditions where domination becomes possible.

Bias is the spark.
Prejudice is the flame.
Domination is the fire that grows when no one puts it out.

Checking What We’re Told

In a world full of loud opinions and fast information, common sense reminds us not to accept everything at face value.

Social media is not a reputable source of information, and YouTube — while entertaining — often contains content that conflicts with basic common sense. Much of what appears there is opinion, emotion, or material shaped to get attention, not to tell the truth.

This is why verifying information matters. Slow down long enough to ask simple questions:

  • Where did this come from
  • Is there more than one independent source saying the same thing
  • Are those sources reputable

When we fact‑check and look for trustworthy information, we protect ourselves from confusion, fear, and division. This is not about winning arguments. It is about staying grounded in truth.