Teacher Discussion Forums

In the followin sentence, what does "common sense dictates mean? Given the North's track record of provocative behavior and definace of the United Nations, "common sense" would dictate that it is preparing for another nuclear test, South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Won Tan-Jae told reporters.

"it should be pretty obvious to everyone (i.e. anyone who has been observing North Korea's behaviour all along up to now) that NK is very likely preparing another nuclear test". Something like that.

The usage is rather subtle though, and a Korean source/translator may not be using it as it is usually used.

Even though common sense means an ability to solve problems without special expert knowledge it has a very positive connotation, and thus "common sense dictates but the experts say" is probably going to be arguing with the experts.

If the words "common sense" really are in quotes like the OP wrote the example though, then probably the author is trying to say that common sense is wrong in this case.

Given that N.Korea is a famous enigma it is a strange situation in which to talk about "common sense" and who knows if it is being used in the normal way by a possible non-native speaker, especially if the quotation marks are there. If they aren't then Fluffy's interpretation is very probably correct, even though in fact people often say "common sense dictates" before offering a solution/reason that is not especially obvious.

Presumably the quotes weren't there I suppose - it would be strange to add them to the quote of a spokesman in that situation.

Here's the story as covered by The Associated Press:

SKorea braces for 3rd nuclear test by North Korea
By KWANG-TAE KIM – Jun 12, 2009

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea was bracing for a possible third nuclear test by the North, which a U.S. official said was likely despite looming U.N. sanctions on the communist state for its previous test in May.

Given the North's track record of provocative behavior and defiance of the United Nations, "common sense" would dictate that it is preparing for another nuclear test, South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Won Tae-jae told reporters Friday.

He said the test was "probably possible."

However, South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted an unidentified intelligence official as saying there was no imminent indication that Pyongyang was restoring a test site where the second underground blast took place on May 25.

.....

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... wD98P0IE80

Hmm..."probably possible"...

As I suspected, no point trying to parse this too deeply.

Ah, hedging. We have a good example here of how hedging can render your statement pointless.

So if you had a discipline in which all things in line with the intellectual fashion could be said loud and clear, and all unfashionable things were supposed to appear with some heavy hedging in order to be intellectually proper, you would get a rather non-critical semi-pseudo-science.

Good job we don't know any subjects like that.

I want to thank the people who took the time to answer my question.
Best wishes,
Here in China

I would say that when a journalist says "common sense dictates" it's because they want to peddle a line without bothering to explore proper arguments. This happens in the British press al the time.