# Toward a New Science of Common Sense

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2112.12754 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2112.12754/

## Key facts

- Cited by 6 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 2 of its 43 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 23 Dec 2021.

## Builds on (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [Intriguing properties of neural networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1312.6199/) (2013)
- [COMET: Commonsense Transformers for Automatic Knowledge Graph Construction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1906.05317/) (2019)

## Built on by (most cited first, 6 of 6)

- [ChatGPT is a Knowledgeable but Inexperienced Solver: An Investigation of Commonsense Problem in Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.16421/) (2023)
- [I2D2: Inductive Knowledge Distillation with NeuroLogic and Self-Imitation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2212.09246/) (2022)
- [On Reality and the Limits of Language Data: Aligning LLMs with Human Norms](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2208.11981/) (2022)
- [A Theoretically Grounded Benchmark for Evaluating Machine Commonsense](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.12184/) (2022)
- [Rule or Story, Which is a Better Commonsense Expression for Talking with Large Language Models?](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.14355/) (2024)
- [A Community-driven vision for a new Knowledge Resource for AI](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2506.16596/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Common sense has always been of interest in Artificial Intelligence, but has rarely taken center stage. Despite its mention in one of John McCarthy's earliest papers and years of work by dedicated researchers, arguably no AI system with a serious amount of general common sense has ever emerged. Why is that? What's missing? Examples of AI systems' failures of common sense abound, and they point to AI's frequent focus on expertise as the cause. Those attempting to break the resulting brittleness barrier, even in the context of modern deep learning, have tended to invest their energy in large numbers of small bits of commonsense knowledge. While important, all the commonsense knowledge fragments in the world don't add up to a system that actually demonstrates common sense in a human-like way. We advocate examining common sense from a broader perspective than in the past. Common sense should be considered in the context of a full cognitive system with history, goals, desires, and drives, not just in isolated circumscribed examples. A fresh look is needed: common sense is worthy of its own dedicated scientific exploration.