A content bureau for complex ideas and large-scale projects
This is not an ode to ourselves, but rather a play about who we are and what we can help you with
Common Sense
A content bureau for complex ideas and large-scale projects
This is not an ode to ourselves, but rather a play about who we are and what we can help you with
Common Sense
Characters:
Prologue
Common Sense (joyful and energetic, as he is true only to himself)
Skeptic (she doubts therefore she is)
Pragmatist (a chess player who doesn't distinguish between the shades of gray in life)
Humanist (a decent person who truly loves people)
Aesthete (thinks that he is simply fascinating and embraces art for art’s sake)
Idealist (an athlete and a romantic, she sulks dreamily about reality and ideals)
Chorus (sometimes is on point, but usually just sings background)
Skeptic (she doubts therefore she is)
Pragmatist (a chess player who doesn't distinguish between the shades of gray in life)
Humanist (a decent person who truly loves people)
Aesthete (thinks that he is simply fascinating and embraces art for art’s sake)
Idealist (an athlete and a romantic, she sulks dreamily about reality and ideals)
Chorus (sometimes is on point, but usually just sings background)
A shady garden on a warm, quiet night. A few thinking people are taking a walk together. They stroll along with no particular goal besides entering into a dialogue with Common Sense.
Chorus: No one has ever actually seen him. Some people say that he disappeared long ago, while others insist that he never existed at all. Some think that you have to make sense, or talk him, or that for some reason he can be found in abundance near horses. They look for him (and sometimes find him) in humor or style, and some seem to require that sense be knocked into them. But not many people know that sense has a body. He is palpable. He creates the cosmos from chaos and bestows value upon reality. He is always somewhere close by…
* * *
Characters:
Prologue
Common Sense (joyful and energetic, as he is true only to himself)
Skeptic (she doubts therefore she is)
Pragmatist (a chess player who doesn't distinguish between the shades of gray in life)
Humanist (a decent person who truly loves people)
Aesthete (thinks that he is simply fascinating and embraces art for art’s sake)
Idealist (an athlete and a romantic, she sulks dreamily about reality and ideals)
Chorus (sometimes is on point, but usually just sings background)
A shady garden on a warm, quiet night. A few thinking people are taking a walk together. They stroll along with no particular goal besides entering into a dialogue with Common Sense.
Chorus: No one has ever actually seen him. Some people say that he disappeared long ago, while others insist that he never existed at all. Some think that you have to make sense, or talk him, or that for some reason he can be found in abundance near horses. They look for him (and sometimes find him) in humor or style, and some seem to require that sense be knocked into them. But not many people know that sense has a body. He is palpable. He creates the cosmos from chaos and bestows value upon reality. He is always somewhere close by…
* * *
Act One
Our characters are discussing the absurdity and chaos of the world, coming to the conclusion that the world needs Common Sense, throwing around metaphors hinting that the world has lost its senses and that something has definitely gone wrong.
Idealist: The evening is just lovely! But I am rather plagued by a sense that the world is not quite perfect… There’s always a “but” around every corner. And these leaps towards harmony seem to be getting harder and harder to make. I suppose experience is taking its toll.
Skeptic: There is no doubt that this harmony simply does not exist. Actually this leap towards an ideal is a task without a real goal. We know that we know nothing, and there’s absolutely no reason to try.
Pragmatist: Well, any sport cultivates discipline. But how would you use this harmony to check algebra? Is that even possible? In what sense?
Idealist: Yes, in the sense sense, exactly! That’s what it’s all about! It doesn’t exist, and there’s nothing to even use as a lever, let alone move the world…
Humanist: I agree. But humans are spontaneous and not systematic. Which is, by the way, why they are so wonderful. They see meaning in many different ways, but it’s very rare that someone looks at everything with sense.
Aesthete: The most important thing is beauty. Attacking a windmill with a lance may not seem to make much sense, but it is beautiful. You have to ask why it’s being done to see where sense is.
* * *
Act Two
Sense is in his white pants, catching up to the group walking along the path. They try to determine whether or not he is real.
Common Sense: Sense, Common Sense. Greetings to you all!
Idealist: Is that really you, my friend?! We’ve been looking for you for a whole hour, and here you are walking beside us.
Skeptic: I don’t believe it! Someone pinch me!
Common Sense: Well that’s nothing new these days. It’s getting rare for people to actually recognize me (laughs). And really, why so formal with these encounters, I wonder? All anyone has to do is call. I’m always available.
Pragmatist: Um… what exactly do we need you for? Actually a better question might be – how much do you cost?
Common Sense: You need me if you want to figure anything out. Although, of course, you could try to get somewhere without a destination in mind, live without meaning, work without anything to show for it in the end, create without inspiration. But that usually costs more. We’re not that expensive in comparison. Give us a call.
Humanist: Fine, maybe when it comes to technology and various types of communication that makes sense. But what about humanity? Are you trying to say that common sense is more important than emotions, sensations, individuality?
Common Sense: Let’s just say that common sense is the foundation of originality. It forces us to empathize with the common fate of humans, to understand what is most important, to experience things uniquely, and in the end to find the best solution. Our variety is the key to meeting every specific need.
Aesthete: But what about glorious art!?
Common Sense: Don’t you worry! We’ll make it all nice and pretty.
Epilogue
Anything can make some sort of sense, but it’s best when sensibly done.
“Sensus communis” ut Aristoteles dixit. Ipse dixit
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