Universität zu Köln

Erren, Thomas C., Koch, Melissa S. and Meyer-Rochow, V. Benno (2013). Common sense: folk wisdom that ethnobiological and ethnomedical research cannot afford to ignore. J. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed., 9. LONDON: BMC. ISSN 1746-4269

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Abstract

Common sense [CS], especially that of the non-scientist, can have predictive power to identify promising research avenues, as humans anywhere on Earth have always looked for causal links to understand, shape and control the world around them. CS is based on the experience of many individuals and is thus believed to hold some truths. Outcomes predicted by CS are compatible with observations made by whole populations and have survived tests conducted by a plethora of non-scientists. To explore our claim, we provide 4 examples of empirical insights (relevant to probably all ethnic groups on Earth) into causal phenomena predicted by CS: (i) humans must have a sense of time, (ii) at extreme latitudes, more people have the winter blues, (iii) sleep is a cure for many ills and (iv) social networks affect health and disease. While CS is fallible, it should not be ignored by science - however improbable or self-evident the causal relationships predicted by CS may appear to be.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Erren, Thomas C. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Koch, Melissa S. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Meyer-Rochow, V. Benno UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-470334
DOI:	10.1186/1746-4269-9-80
Journal or Publication Title:	J. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed.
Volume:	9
Date:	2013
Publisher:	BMC
Place of Publication:	LONDON
ISSN:	1746-4269
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language SEASONAL AFFECTIVE-DISORDER; BREAST-CANCER; RETINAL PHOTORECEPTORS; SOCIAL NETWORKS; FOOD TABOOS; MELATONIN; LIGHT; PREVALENCE; LATITUDE; SUICIDE Multiple languages Biodiversity Conservation; Plant Sciences; Pharmacology & Pharmacy Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/47033