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What is the meaning of “commonwealth” in this context?

English Language & Usage Asked on May 16, 2021

Here is an excerpt from the book called I’m right and You’re an Idiot.

You don’t choose what you believe; you believe what you believe because you are furnished with the kinds of evidence that impel a certain kind of cognition. People have what Kahan called a “commonwealth” of sensibilities, values and dilemmas that exert control over them and can cause them to misunderstand things.

In this context, what is the meaning of the word “commonwealth”?

One Answer

The mening must be this one.

From SOED

commonwealth 3 fig. Any aggregate of persons or things united by some common factor.

In the case of the present sentence the things are abstract concepts ( sensibilities, values, dilemmas, …). The common factor is the characteristic common to all these mental elements of being put to work on the decision process.

Correct answer by LPH on May 16, 2021

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