Importance of Reason

One distinction Arendt makes and stresses is the difference between intellect and reason. She quotes Kant saying, "the intellect (Verstand) desires to grasp what is given to the senses, but reason (Vernunft) wishes to understand its meaning" (pg 57). I think that this corresponds with her discussion on common sense and intellect. As she points out and as many people are aware, raw intelligence does not indicate common sense. Sometimes the most "book smart" people don't have an inkling of "street smarts."  Arendt says that "it is the sixth sense's [common sense's] function to fit us into the world of appearances  and make us at home in the world given by our five senses" (pg 59). She is merely emphasizing that it is thinking (which Kant called reason) that allows human beings to function properly.