I Am Right, You Are Wrong - Edward de Bono

["Summary\tof\tPractical\tOutcomes At\tthis\tpoint\twe\thave\treached\tthe\tend\tof\ta\tprogression\twhich\thad\tthe\tfollowing stages: 1.\tA\tlook\tat\tthe\tself-organizing\tmodel\tof\tthe\tbrain\tand\ta\tcontrast\tbetween\tself- organizing\tinformation\tsystems\tand\ttable-top\tsystems. 2.\tA\tlook\tat\thow\tthe\tbehaviour\tof\tperception\tarises\tdirectly\tfrom\tthe\tbehaviour of\tself-organizing\tsystems. 3.\tA\tlook\tat\tthe\timpact\tof\tan\tunderstanding\tof\tperception\ton\tour\ttraditional thinking\thabits\tand\ttheir\tdefects. 4.\tA\tlook\tat\tthinking\tin\tsociety\tand\tits\tinstitutions. I\twould\tnow\tlike\tto\tpull\ttogether\tand\tsummarize\tin\tthis\tsection\tsome\tof\tthe practical\toutcomes\tof\tthis\texercise.\tThere\tare\tmany,\tranging\tfrom\tthe\tvery specific\t(such\tas\tcreativity\ttools)\tto\tthe\tmore\tgeneral\t(such\tas\tconcern\twith\tthe deficiencies\tof\tlanguage).\tSome\tof\tthe\tpoints\tare\tsimple\tbut\tothers\topen\tup\thuge areas\tof\tfurther\tconsideration.\tTo\trepeat\ta\tpoint\tI\thave\tso\toften\tmade\tin\tthis book,\tI\thave\tnot\tset\tout\tto\tprovide\tall\tthe\tanswers\tbut\tto\tindicate\tthat\tthese matters\tnow\tneed\tvery\tserious\tattention.\tThere\tare\tother\tpoints\timplicit\tin\tthe book\twhich\tI\thave\tnot\tlisted\there\tbut\twhich\tindividual\treaders\twill\tnote\tand consider. The\tpractical\toutcomes\tfall\tinto\ttwo\tbroad\tareas: 1.\tPractical\tpoints\tarising\tdirectly\tfrom\tour\tunderstanding\tof\tthe\tnature\tof perception. 2.\tDefects\tin\tour\ttraditional\tthinking\thabits\tmade\tvisible\tby\tour\tunderstanding\tof perception.","Complacency The\tmost\tastonishing\tthing\tis\tour\tremarkable\tcomplacency\tand\tself-satisfaction with\tour\ttraditional\tthinking\tsystems.\tWe\tare\tso\tlocked\tinto\ttable-top\tlogic\tthat it\thas\talmost\tbecome\ta\tbelief\tsystem.\tWe\tcan\tsee\tthe\tworld\tonly\tin\tthese\tterms, so\tthat\twhat\twe\tsee\treinforces\tour\tway\tof\tlooking.\tWe\tare\tso\tbemused\twith\tthe success\tof\tour\tthinking\tin\ttechnical\tmatters\tthat\twe\taccount\tfor\tits\trelative failure\tin\thuman\taffairs\tby\tsaying\tthat\tthese\tmatters\tare\tsimply\tintractable\towing to\tthe\tperversity\tof\thuman\tnature. The\tNeed\tfor\tMore\tEffort\tand\tAttention We\tneed\tto\tpay\tfar\tmore\tattention\tto\tour\tthinking\tsystems\tand\tthe\tmatters\tthat have\tbeen\tconsidered\tin\tthis\tbook.\tThis\tis\tthe\tmost\tfundamental\tof\thuman concerns\t(the\tvery\tnature\tof\tour\tthinking)\tand\tyet\tthe\tmost\tneglected.\tAfter many\tyears\tI\tmoved\tout\tof\tthe\tacademic\tarea\t(Oxford,\tCambridge,\tLondon, Harvard)\tbecause\tit\twas\tnot\tpossible\tto\tfind\ta\tway\tof\tpursuing\tthese\tmatters. This\tis\tbecause\tthey\tdo\tnot\tfit\tinto\tpsychology\tor\tphilosophy\tor\tmathematics, but\tcut\tacross\tmany\tdisciplines. System\tBasis For\tthe\tfirst\ttime\tin\thistory\twe\thave\ta\tsystem\tmodel\tfor\tthe\tbrain.\tThis\tis\tthe self-organizing\tmodel\tdescribed\tsimply\tin\tthis\tbook.\tThis\treopens\tthe\twhole area\tof\tthinking\tand\tperception\tin\tparticular.\tWe\tcan\tnow\tsee\thow\tthe\tbrain might\tbe\ta\tsimple\tmechanism\tthat\tis\tcapable\tof\tbehaving\tin\tthe\tcomplex\tways we\tknow\tas\tmental\tactivity. Traditional\tPhilosophy\tIs\tDead Traditional\tphilosophy\tcan\tcontinue\tonly\tas\ta\tword-game.\tMany\tphilosophers had\tcome\tto\tthis\tconclusion\tanyway.\tIn\tfuture\tphilosophers\twill\tneed\tto\thave\ta good\tunderstanding\tof\tsystems\tbehaviour\tand\tdifferent\tmodels\tof\tinformation systems,\tin\tparticular\tself-organizing\tsystems.\tAnything\telse\tis\tjust\tthe exploration\tof\tthe\tinadequate\twords\twe\tuse\tto\tdescribe\tthings\twe\tdo\tnot understand. Perception","Our\tunderstanding\tof\tthe\tdifference\tof\tbehaviour\tbetween\tpassive\tinformation systems\tand\tactive\t(self-organizing)\tsystems\tallows\tus\tfor\tthe\tfirst\ttime\tto explore\tperception,\tas\tI\thave\tbeen\tdoing\tin\tthis\tbook.\tWe\tcan\tbegin\tto understand\tthe\tlogic\tof\tperception.\tWith\tan\tunderstanding\tof\tthis\tlogic\twe\tcan look\tforward\tto\tbig\tchanges\tin\thuman\taffairs. Mental\tIllness The\tself-organizing\tmodel\tof\tthe\tbrain\tcan\tgive\tus\tnew\tinsights\tinto\tmental illness.\tFor\texample\tin\tparanoia\tthere\tis\tan\t\u2018excess\tof\tmeaning\u2019.\tIn schizophrenia\tthere\tis\t\u2018disorganized\tmeaning\u2019.\tIn\tautism\tthere\tis\ta\t\u2018lack\tof meaning\u2019.\tIn\tthe\tmodel\twe\tcan\tpinpoint\tthe\tdefects\tthat\tcould\tgive\trise\tto\tthis type\tof\tbehaviour.\tAt\tany\tof\tthese\tpoints\ta\tdefect\twould\tgive\trise\tto\twhat\twe\tsee in\tthat\ttype\tof\tmental\tillness.\tFor\tany\ttype\tof\taberrant\tbehaviour\tthere\tmay\tbe many\tpossible\tpoints.\tAnd\tat\tany\tof\tthese\tpoints\ta\tnumber\tof\tthings\tmight\tbe wrong.\tBut\twe\tcan\tmove\tfrom\tthe\tpurely\tdescriptive\tto\tthe\thypothesis\tstage\tand begin\tto\ttest\tdifferent\tapproaches. Free-Will We\tcan\tbegin\tto\tunderstand\tthe\tphysiological\tbasis\tof\tsuch\tmatters\tas\tfree-will. We\tcan\tbegin\tto\tunderstand\thow\tit\tis\tpossible\tto\tbe\tfree\tin\ta\tdeterministic system.\tThis\thas\tprofound\timplications.\tFor\texample\tit\tmay\tsometimes\tmake sense\tto\tpunish\toffenders\teven\tif\tthey\tcould\tnot\thelp\twhat\tthey\twere\tdoing.\tThis is\ttotally\tcontrary\tto\tour\tideas\tof\tjustice. Evolution\tfor\tChange We\tneed\tseriously\tto\treconsider\tour\ttraditional\tmodel\tof\tevolution\tfor\tprogress. For\tmany\treasons\tthis\tis\tgrossly\tinadequate.\tFor\texample,\tin\torder\tto\tgo\tforward we\tmay\tneed\tto\ttake\tto\tpieces\texisting\tconcepts\tso\tthat\tthe\telements\tmay\tbe recombined\tin\tdifferent\tways.\tParadigm\tshifts\talso\trequire\tthis\ttype\tof\tchange. Our\tcomplacency\twithin\tthe\tevolution\tmodel\thas\tmade\tus\trely\ton\tcritical thinking,\targument\tand\tproblem-solving\tas\tmethods\tof\tchange.\tAll\tthese\tare flawed\tand\tlimited\tin\ttheir\teffectiveness. Argument","Argument The\targument\tprocess\tis\tcentral\tboth\tto\tour\ttraditional\tthinking\tsystem\tand\talso to\tsuch\tpractical\tinstitutions\tin\tsociety\tas\tlaw,\tpolitics\tand\tscientific\tprogress. We\tneed\tseriously\tto\treconsider\tthe\teffectiveness\tof\tthe\tmethod.\tIf\targument\tis intended\tas\t\u2018exploration\u2019\tof\tthe\tsubject,\tthere\tare\tmuch\tbetter\tmethods\t\u2013\tand\twe can\tdevise\teven\tnewer\tand\tbetter\tmethods\tof\texploration.\tThe\tvalidity\tof argument\tdepends\ton\tcertain\tassumptions\tabout\tabsolutes\tand\talso\ton\ta\tlack\tof imagination.\tThe\tpolarizing,\tdistorting\tand\tconflict-generating\taspects\tof argument\thave\tlong\tbeen\tself-evident. Critical\tThinking We\thave\talways\thighly\testeemed\tcritical\tthinking\tbecause\twe\thave\tbelieved\tthat a\t\u2018search\tfor\tthe\ttruth\u2019\tis\twhat\tthinking\tis\tall\tabout.\tAs\ta\tresult\tof\tthis\tfallacy\twe have\tsadly\tneglected\tthe\tgenerative,\tproductive,\tconstructive,\tcreative\tand design\taspects\tof\tthinking.\tNew\tconcepts,\tnew\tperceptions,\tnew\thypotheses, new\tdesigns\thave\tto\tbe\tcreated\t\u2013\tthey\tare\tnot\tjust\tdiscovered.\tWe\talso\tneed\tto realize\tthat,\tfar\tfrom\tbeing\ta\tdifficult\tmental\tprocess,\tcritical\tthinking\tis\tvery easy\tbecause\tof\tthe\tpossibility\tof\tchoosing\tyour\treference\tstandard.\tWe\tdo\tneed critical\tthinking\tbut\tonly\tas\tpart\tof\tthinking\talong\twith\tthe\tgenerative\tside, which\tis\tso\tmuch\tmore\timportant.\tWe\tcan\talso\trealize\tthat\tthe\tmost\teffective critical\tthinking\tis\tactually\tcreative\tthinking,\tbecause\tthe\tability\tto\tgenerate\tan alternative\texplanation\tis\tthe\tmost\tpowerful\tway\tof\tdestroying\tthe\tuniqueness\tof a\tclaim.\tAlso\tthe\timagination\tto\tsee\tthe\tconsequences\tis\tthe\tbest\tcritique\tof action\tproposals. Clash Our\tbelief\tin\trevolution\tthrough\tclash\thas\tlimited\tus\tto\tconcepts\tof\tnegative revolution.\tThis\tmeans:\tdefine\tthe\tenemy,\thate\tthe\tenemy,\tattack\tthe\tenemy. Because\tthis\tis\toften\timpractical\tand\toften\tunsuccessful\twe\tdo\tnot\thave\tthe revolutions\tthat\tare\tneeded.\tIt\tis\tquite\tpossible\tto\tdesign\tpositive\trevolutions. Analysis We\tneed\tto\trealize\tthat\tthe\tanalysis\tof\tdata\tis\tnot\tenough.\tWe\tcan\tfind\tin\tthe data\tonly\treflections\tof\tthe\tideas\twe\talready\thold.\tThis\tarises\tdirectly\tfrom\tthe nature\tof\tperception.\tSo\tour\treliance\ton\tanalysis\tfor\tdecision-making\tis inadequate.\tWe\tneed\tto\tdevelop\tcreative\tconceptual\tskills\tas\twell.\tIn\tthe","inadequate.\tWe\tneed\tto\tdevelop\tcreative\tconceptual\tskills\tas\twell.\tIn\tthe scientific\tarea\tthe\ttraditional\tbelief\tin\tthe\tmost\treasonable\thypothesis\tis\talso faulty,\tbecause\twe\tare\tthen\trestricted\tto\tviewing\tthe\tdata\tthrough\tthat hypothesis.\tSo\tother\thypotheses\tare\tessential\teven\tif\tthey\tare\tfar\tless\treasonable. Problem-Solving The\tmajor\tdefect\tof\tthis\ttraditional\tmethod\tof\tsurviving\tis\tthat\tproblem-solving will\tonly\tget\tus\tback\tto\twhere\twe\twere\tbefore.\tIn\tbusiness,\tpolitics\tand\tsocial progress\tthis\tidiom\tof\t\u2018problem-solving\u2019\tdangerously\tlimits\tprogress.\tProblem- solving\tneeds\tto\tbe\tcontrasted\twith\tthe\tprocess\tof\t\u2018design\u2019,\twhich\tmoves forward\tto\ta\tneed.\tWe\tmust\tcertainly\tstop\tusing\tthe\tterm\t\u2018problem-solving\u2019\tto cover\tall\tthinking,\tsince\tthis\trestricts\tus\tto\tone\tsmall\taspect\tof\tthinking. Truth\tand\tAbsolutes We\tneed\tto\tre-examine\tcarefully\tour\tconcepts\tof\ttruth.\tThere\tis\tconstructed truth,\tas\tin\tmathematics,\tand\tthere\tis\tperceptual\ttruth,\tas\tin\tbelief.\tThen\tthere\tis relative\ttruth\tprovided\tby\tauthority,\tparticular\tcircumstances\tand\tthe\tconcept repertoire\twe\thave.\tTruth\tmay\tbest\tbe\tdescribed\tas\ta\tparticular\tconstellation\tof circumstances\twhich\twill\tgive\ta\tparticular\toutcome.\tOur\ttraditional\tconcept\tof truth\thas\tled\tto\tour\tcreation\tand\tuse\tof\tabsolutes.\tThe\trigidity\tof\tthese\tand\ttheir independence\tfrom\tcircumstance\tgives\tthem\ta\tcertain\tpractical\tvalue\tbut\talso makes\tthem\tpoor\tinstruments\tfor\tprogress.\tWe\tneed\tto\tdevise\tsystems\tbased\ton \u2018water\tlogic\u2019\trather\tthan\t\u2018rock\tlogic\u2019.\tThis\tcertainly\tdoes\tnot\tmean\t\u2018relativism\u2019 or\t\u2018anything\tgoes\u2019.\tWe\tneed\ta\tpragmatism\twith\tintegrity. Description We\tneed\tto\tbe\tvery\tclear\tabout\tour\tuse\tof\tdescription.\tSome\ttypes\tof\tdescription are\tno\tmore\tthan\tfancy\tarabesques\tof\tlanguage\tand\tideas\twith\ta\tvalue\tthat\tis only\tdecorative.\tOther\ttypes\tof\tdescription\thave\tthe\tvalue\tof\tallowing\tus\tto perceive\tdifferences\tand\tidentities.\tThen\tthere\tis\tdescription\tas\tan\texercise\tin\tthe design\tof\tpossible\thypotheses.\tSo\tdescription\tcan\tbe\tvery\tvaluable\tor\ta misleading\twaste\tof\ttime. Obsession\twith\tHistory We\tneed\tto\tescape\tfrom\tour\tobsession\twith\thistory,\twhich\tmops\tup\ttoo\tmuch","We\tneed\tto\tescape\tfrom\tour\tobsession\twith\thistory,\twhich\tmops\tup\ttoo\tmuch talent\tand\tresources.\tA\thigh\tconcern\twith\thistory\treduces\tthe\teffort\tto\tlook forward\twith\t\u2018design\u2019.\tThe\tconcepts\tit\thas\tprovided\tlimit\tour\tperceptions\tand may\tactually\tbe\tdangerous\tin\tcircumstances\tthat\tare\tnow\tvery\tdifferent. Intelligence\tIs\tNot\tEnough The\tgeneral\tnotion\tthat\tintelligence\t(analysis,\tlogic,\tand\targument)\tis\tenough\tis dangerous\tin\tmany\tways.\tThe\temphasis\tis\ton\tthe\tlogical\trather\tthan\tperceptual skills,\twhich\tare\tso\timportant\tin\treal-life\tthinking\tand\tdoing.\tThe\tability\tof\tan intelligent\tperson\tto\tavoid\tobvious\terrors\tand\tto\tput\ttogether\ta\tcoherent argument\toften\tblinds\tthat\tperson\tto\tthe\tneed\tto\tdevelop\tdeliberate\tthinking skills.\tThe\tavoidance\tof\terror\tis\tcertainly\tnot\tenough\tin\tthinking. Language We\tneed\tto\tbe\teven\tmore\taware\tof\tthe\tdeficiencies\tand\tdeceptions\tof\tlanguage. The\tdirect\temotional\tappeal\tof\tvalue\tadjectives\tand\tthe\tinsidious\teffect\tof \u2018sneer\u2019\tadjectives\tset\tthe\tcontext\tfor\tperceptions\tand\tso\tdetermine\tthe\trange\tof patterns\tthat\tcan\tbe\tused.\tThe\tphenomenon\tof\tthe\twide\tcatchment\tof\tperceptual patterns,\tcombined\twith\tthe\tcertainty,\tidentity\tand\tcategories\tof\tlogic,\tallow logic\tto\tbe\tused\tto\tsupport\talmost\tany\tcase.\tIn\taddition,\tlanguage\tis\tan encyclopaedia\tof\tignorance,\tsince\tperceptions\tbased\ton\tcomparative\tignorance are\tfrozen\tinto\tthe\tpermanence\tof\twords\tand\tso\tlimit\tfuture\tthinking.\tWe\tmust realize\tthat\tlanguage\tis\tnot\ta\tthinking\tmedium\tat\tall\tbut\ta\tcommunication medium.\tThe\tability\tof\tlanguage\tto\tdescribe\tsomething\tadequately\tin\thindsight by\tmeans\tof\tan\tassembly\tof\twords\tmay\tactually\tprevent\tus\tfrom\tdeveloping\ta richer\tcode\tof\tlanguage\twith\twhich\tto\tperceive\tthings\tin\tthe\tfirst\tplace\t(for example,\tthe\tpaucity\tof\twords\tto\tdescribe\thuman\trelations). Polarizations The\tdichotomy\thabit\tof\tlanguage\t(us\/them,\tfriend\/enemy,\ttyranny\/freedom) gives\trise\tto\tcrude\tand\tdangerous\tperceptions.\tThis\tsystem\thas\tbeen\tessential\tto our\ttraditional\tthinking\thabits\tin\torder\tthat\twe\tmay\toperate\tthe\tprinciple\tof contradiction.\tIn\tpractice\tit\tmay\tbe\tthe\tsingle\tmost\tdamaging\taspect\tof\tthat tradition.\tWe\tneed\tto\texplore\tthe\tmiddle\tground\tand\tcreate\ta\twhole\tspectrum\tof perceptions.\tWe\tneed\tto\tsee\tthat\ta\tcategorization\tunder\tone\tset\tof\tcircumstances does\tnot\thold\tunder\tother\tcircumstances.\tWe\tneed\tto\tcreate\tnew\tconcepts\tthat cut\tacross\tdichotomies,\tfor\texample\t\u2018friend\/enemy\u2019\tas\tone\tconcept.","cut\tacross\tdichotomies,\tfor\texample\t\u2018friend\/enemy\u2019\tas\tone\tconcept. More\tIs\tBetter The\ttraditional\thabit\tof\tfixed\tcategorization\tcauses\tproblems\twith\tthe\tLaffer\tor \u2018salt\u2019\tcurves.\tIf\tsomething\tis\tgood,\tmore\tmust\tbe\tbetter.\tTable-top\tlogic\tsimply cannot\tcope\twith\tthis\tproblem\tand\tthe\tresult\tgives\trise\tto\tserious\tinefficiencies in\tsociety\t(for\texample\tin\tthe\tUS\tlegal\tsystem). Limited\tGate-Keepers The\tgate-keepers\tfor\tchange\tin\tculture\tor\tthinking\ttend\tto\tbe\tpeople\tin\tthe literary\ttradition.\tVery\toften\tthey\tare\tsimply\tunable\tto\tcomprehend\tother\tidioms. These\tother\tidioms\tare\ttherefore\tignored\tor\tinadequately\trepresented.\tThe\tresult is\tthat\tsociety\tis\tinsulated\tfrom\tpotential\tchange\tand\talso\tsteeped\tin\tthe defective\tthinking\tof\tthe\tlanguage\tculture. Understanding\tPerception We\thave\talways\tbeen\table\tto\tdescribe\tperceptions.\tWe\thave\talways\thad\ta feeling\tthat\tperception\twas\ta\tvery\timportant\tpart\tof\tthinking.\tWe\thave\ttried, with\tlittle\tsuccess,\tto\tapply\tlogic\tto\tperception\tand\tonly\tfound\tourselves\tbasing our\tlogic\ton\tother\tperceptions.\tAt\tlast,\tfor\tthe\tfirst\ttime,\twe\tcan\tbegin\tto understand\tperception.\tWe\tcan\tdo\tthis\tbecause\twe\tcan\tnow\tsee\tperception\tas\tthe natural\tbehaviour\tof\ta\tself-organizing\tsystem.\tWe\tcan\tsee\tthat\tperception\tis\tnot haphazard\tbut\thas\tits\town\tlogic.\tThe\tlogic\tof\tbehaviour\tis\tthe\tinescapable behaviour\tof\tthe\tunderlying\tsystem. Perception\tand\tEmotion We\tcan\tbegin\tto\tunderstand\thow\temotions\tcan\tchange\tperceptions.\tThis\tis\tpart of\tthe\tgeneral\teffect\tof\tcontext\ton\tperception\tand\tcan\thave\tpractical\toutcomes where\tefforts\tto\tchange\tthe\tcontext\tmay\tchange\tperceptions. Perception\tand\tBelief Circularity\tin\ta\tself-organizing\tsystem\tcan\tvery\teasily\tset\tup\tbeliefs.\tWe\thave the\tdifficult\ttask\tof\trealizing\tthat\tbeliefs\tare\tso\teasy\tto\tset\tup\tthat\tthey\tneed\tonly a\tslight\tbasis\tin\treality.\tAt\tthe\tsame\ttime\tthe\tperceptual\ttruth\tof\ta\tbelief\tcan\tbe","a\tslight\tbasis\tin\treality.\tAt\tthe\tsame\ttime\tthe\tperceptual\ttruth\tof\ta\tbelief\tcan\tbe very\tstrong\tindeed.\tFurthermore,\ta\tbelief,\teven\tif\tfalse,\tcan\tprovide\tan organizing\tsystem,\ta\tvalue\tsystem\tand\ta\tmeaning\tframework. Perception\tand\tTruth There\tcan\tbe\tno\ttruth\tin\tperception\texcept\tthe\tcircular\ttruth\tof\ta\tbelief.\tWe should\tnot\texpect\ttruth\tor\tobjectivity\tin\tthe\tmedia,\twhich\tare\textensions\tof\tthe perceptual\tsystem.\tIt\tmay\tbe\tbetter\tto\taccept\tthis\trather\tthan\tpretend\totherwise. Prejudice\tand\tLogic Once\twe\tunderstand\tthe\tbasis\tof\tperception\twe\tcan\tsee\twhy\tlogic\tcannot\talter prejudices,\tbeliefs,\temotions\tor\tperceptions.\tOver\tthe\tages\twe\thave\tput\ta\tgreat deal\tof\teffort\tinto\tthis\tuse\tof\tlogic\tand\tbeen\tdisappointed\tat\tthe\tfailure.\tWe\tcan now\tsee\thow\tonly\tperceptions\tand\temotions\tcan\talter\tthese\tthings.\tEven experience\tmay\tbe\tpowerless.\tThat\tis\twhy\twe\tneed\tto\tgive\ta\thigh\tpriority\tto\tthe development\tof\tspecific\tperceptual\tskills\t(for\texample\twith\tthe\tCoRT programme\tin\tschools). Time\tSequence The\tbuild-up\tof\tperceptions\tis\thighly\tdependent\ton\tthe\tsequence\tof\texperience over\ttime.\tThe\tperception\tat\tany\tmoment\tis\thighly\tdependent\ton\tthe\ttime sequence\tleading\tup\tto\tthat\tmoment.\tConsciousness\tcan\thave\ta\tpractical\teffect on\tinstructions,\tannouncements,\tpresentations,\tnegotiations,\tpropaganda\tetc., etc.\tThis\teffect\tis\tcertainly\talready\tknown,\tbut\tthe\tsystem\tbase\tshows\tit\tto\tbe even\tmore\timportant\tthan\twe\thad\tsupposed. Reconstruction The\t\u2018trigger\u2019\teffect\tof\tperception\tmeans\tthat\twe\tcan\tconstruct\tor\treconstruct matters\twhich\tare\tnot\tthere\tat\tall.\tThis\tis\tdone\twith\tno\telement\tof\tdishonesty\tor fraud.\tSo\tperception,\tno\tmatter\thow\thonest,\tmust\talways\tbe\tsuspect.\tWe\tcome\tto see\twhat\twe\tthink\tis\tthere. What\tWe\tAre\tPrepared\tto\tSee When\twe\tthink\twe\tare\tanalysing\tdata\twe\tare\tactually\tonly\tlooking\tat\tit\tthrough","When\twe\tthink\twe\tare\tanalysing\tdata\twe\tare\tactually\tonly\tlooking\tat\tit\tthrough our\texisting\tparadigms\tand\twith\ta\tlimited\trange\tof\tavailable\tconcepts.\tIn\tthe future\twe\tmay\tcome\tback\tto\tthe\tsame\tdata\tand\tsee\tthem\tvery\tdifferently.\tThere is\ttherefore\ta\tpractical\treason\tfor\tre-examining\told\tdata\tthrough\tnew perceptions.\tThere\tis\talso\ta\tpractical\treason\tfor\tgenerating,\tand\tlistening\tto,\tnew concepts. Innocence The\tresearch\ttradition\thas\tinsisted\tthat\tyou\tshould\tread\tall\tavailable\tknowledge on\ta\tmatter\tbefore\tstarting\twork\tin\tthat\tfield.\tBut\tif\twe\tbecome\ttoo\taware\tof\tthe existing\tconcepts\twe\tshall\tonly\tbe\table\tto\tview\tthe\tfield\tin\texactly\tthe\tsame\tway. So\tthere\tis\ta\tdilemma.\tInsufficient\tknowledge\tmeans\tduplication\tand\talso\tthe inability\tto\tbuild\ton\texisting\twork.\tToo\tmuch\tknowledge\tmeans\tlack\tof originality.\tThere\tare\tsome\tways\taround\tthis.\tIn\tany\tcase\tthe\tpractical\tpoint\tis that\ttoo\tmuch\tresearch\tcan\thave\ta\tnegative\teffect. Humour We\tcan\tsee\thumour\tin\ta\tnew\tlight.\tHumour\tis\tnot\tjust\tan\todd\taberration\tof\tmind but\tan\timportant\tbehaviour\tof\tself-organizing\tsystems.\tAs\tsuch,\thumour\tis\tone of\tthe\tbest\tindications\tthat\tthe\tbrain\tworks\t(at\tleast\tin\tperception)\tas\ta\tself- organizing\tsystem.\tThe\tpattern-switching\tof\thumour\tis\ta\tgood\tmodel\tfor creativity\tand\tinsight. Poetry We\tcan\tsee\tthat\tthe\tlogic\tof\tpoetry\tis\tthe\t\u2018water\tlogic\u2019\tof\tperception\tin\twhich meaning\tis\tnot\tbuilt\tup\tsequentially\tbut\tlayer\tby\tlayer.\tPoetry\tworks\tbecause\tof the\t\u2018sensitivity\u2019\tor\t\u2018readiness\u2019\teffect\tin\tthe\tself-organizing\tsystem. Stratal The\tstratal\tis\ta\tnew\tgrammatical\tform\tthat,\tlike\tpoetry,\tseeks\tto\ttake\tadvantage of\tthe\tsensitivity\tbehaviour\tof\tthe\tself-organizing\tsystem.\tThe\tmeaning\tis\tbuilt up\tby\tthe\tlayering\tof\tdifferent\tstatements\tbetween\twhich\tthere\tis\tno\tneed\tof\ta logic\tconnection.\tA\tconvenient\tnumber\tof\tstatements\tmight\tbe\tfour\tor\tfive.","Six\tThinking\tHats This\tis\ta\tdeliberate\tthinking\tdevice\twhich\tbuilds\tdirectly\ton\tthe\tsensitivity\tand \u2018context\u2019\tbehaviour\tof\tperception.\tEach\tof\tthe\tsix\thats\tsets\ta\tnew\tcontext\tin\ta way\tthat\tis\tdeliberate\tand\tartificial.\tInstead\tof\tjust\twaiting\tfor\tthe\tcontext\tto change\twe\tcan\ttake\tsteps\tto\tchange\tthe\tcontext. Attention The\tself-organizing\tmodel\tof\tthe\tbrain\texplains\tthe\timportant\tphenomenon\tof \u2018attention\u2019\tand\tshows\thow\tattention\tcan\tflow\tfrom\tarea\tto\tarea.\tThe\tmodel\talso explains\twhy\tattention\tis\t\u2018unitary\u2019.\tFrom\tthis\tunderstanding\tof\tattention\twe\tcan move\tin\tseveral\tpractical\tdirections. Perceptual\tTools The\tCoRT\tthinking\ttools\tthat\tare\tbeing\ttaught\tin\ta\tpractical\tway\tto\tmillions\tof schoolchildren\tare\tbased\tdirectly\ton\tthe\tself-organizing\tmodel.\tThe\ttools provide\tsimple\tattention\tdirectors.\tInstead\tof\tattention\tjust\tflowing\tfrom\t\u2018point to\tpoint\u2019\tas\tin\tmost\tperceptual\tthinking,\tthere\tare\tdeliberate\tattention\tdirectors the\teffect\tof\twhich\tis\tto\tgive\tthe\tthinker\tmore\tcontrol\tover\tattention.\tAs\ta\tresult attention\tis\tbroader\tand\tdeeper.\tYoungsters\tare\table\tto\tlook\tat\tthe\tconsequences of\taction,\tat\tother\tpeople\u2019s\tviews,\tat\talternatives\tetc. Mechanics\tof\tInterest Quite\tsoon\twe\tshall\tbe\table\tto\twork\tout\tthe\tbasic\tmechanics\tof\t\u2018interest\u2019.\tWhat makes\tsomething\ton\ttelevision\t\u2018interesting\u2019?\tThis\tinterest\tneed\tnot\tarise\tfrom the\tactual\tcontent.\tSuch\tan\tunderstanding\twould\tbe\textremely\tuseful\tto programme\tdesigners\tbecause\tit\twould\tgive\tthem\ta\tway\tof\tbecoming\tarchitects of\tinterest.\tIt\twould\talso\tbe\tof\tuse\tto\tadvertisers\tand\tpropagandists. Attention\tFlow\tin\tArt We\tmay\tfind\tthat\tsuccessful\tart\tis\ta\tchoreography\tof\tattention.\tThat\tmay\tbe\tthe basis\tof\taesthetics.\tWhere\tdoes\tattention\tflow?\tHow\tlong\tdoes\tattention\tstay there?\tHow\tdoes\tattention\tloop\tback? Manipulation\tof\tPerception","Manipulation\tof\tPerception There\tis\ta\tdanger\tthat\tas\twe\tcome\tto\tunderstand\tthe\tlogic\tof\tperception\twe\tshall become\tmore\tand\tmore\tpowerful\tat\tmanipulating\tperception\tfor\tthe\tpurposes\tof advertising,\tpolitical\tcampaigns\tand\tmedia\tratings.\tThere\tis\tnothing\tnew\tin\tthis. Art,\tliterature,\tpolitical\tcampaigns\tand\tadvertising\thave\tbeen\tstriving\tto\tdo\tthis for\ta\tlong\ttime.\tIt\tis\tjust\tthat\twe\tmay\tbecome\tso\tvery\tgood\tat\tthe\tprocess\tthat society\twill\tnot\tbe\table\tto\ttolerate\tit.\tLogic\tand\tcritical\tthinking\twill\tnot\tprotect us\tbecause\tthey\twill\twork\twithin\tsome\tperceptual\tframework.\tThat\tis\twhy\tit\tis so\textremely\timportant\tthat\twe\tdevelop\tskills\tof\t\u2018perceptual\tthinking\u2019\tdirectly and\tseriously\t(such\tas\tthe\tCoRT\tprogramme). Zero-Hold Our\tunderstanding\tof\tthe\tbehaviour\tof\tpatterns\tin\tthe\tself-organizing\tsystem\tof the\tbrain\tsuggests\tthat\twe\tneed\ta\t\u2018zero-hold\u2019\tdevice\twhich\twould\tallow\tus\tto\tput forward\tpatterns\twhich\tdid\tnot\texist\tin\texperience\t(provocation)\tand\twhich would\tdelay\tour\tquick\tentry\tinto\texisting\tpatterns. \u2018Same\tas\t\u2026\u2019 We\thave\ta\tstrong\ttendency\tto\tsee\tnew\tthings\tas\texamples\tof\tthings\twe\talready know.\tIn\tgeneral\tthis\tis\tuseful\tbecause\tit\tallows\tus\tto\textend\tour\texisting patterns\tto\tcover\tnew\tsituations.\tThe\thabit\tis\tdangerous,\thowever,\tbecause\tit prevents\tcreativity\tby\ttreating\tan\temerging\tnew\tidea\tas\tsomething\tunworthy\tof attention\tbecause\tit\tis\talready\tknown.\tThe\thabit\talso\tprevents\tprogress\tin general.\tThe\tphrase\t\u2018the\tsame\tas\t\u2026\u2019\tis\tvery\teasy\tto\tapply\teven\tif\tthe resemblance\tis\tslight.\tProper\tattention\tand\texamination\tof\tthe\tnew\tidea\tis thereupon\thalted.\tThis\tis\ta\tdanger\tto\twatch\tfor. Understanding\tCreativity We\tknow\tthat\tcreativity\thappens.\tWe\tcan\tdescribe\tit\tand\teven\tattempt\tto\textract some\tfeatures\twhich\tseem\tto\trecur.\tAll\tthis\tis\tvery\tweak.\tNow,\tfor\tthe\tfirst\ttime, we\tcan\tunderstand\tthe\t\u2018logic\u2019\tof\tcreativity.\tThe\tlogic\tarises\tdirectly\tfrom\tthe asymmetric\tpatterns\tthat\tinevitably\tform\tin\ta\tself-organizing\tsystem.\tSo\tfrom the\tself-organizing\tmodel\twe\tcan\tgo\tdirectly\tto\tunderstanding\tcreativity\tin\ta\tway which\twas\tnever\tpossible\tbefore.","The\tLogic\tof\tProvocation In\ttraditional\tlogic\tsystems\tprovocation\tcould\tnever\thave\ta\tplace.\tThere\tcould be\tno\tplace\tfor\tsomething\twhich\tdid\tnot\tmake\tsense\tand\twhich\twas\tnot\trelated to\twhat\thad\tcome\tbefore.\tBut\tin\ta\tself-organizing\tsystem\tprovocation\tis\tnot\tonly logical\tbut\ta\tmathematical\tnecessity.\tThe\tlogic\tof\tprovocation\tcan\tbe\tsignalled by\tthe\tword\t\u2018po\u2019,\twhich\tI\tinvented\tmany\tyears\tago. The\tLogic\tof\tInsight If\tyou\tenter\ta\tpattern\tat\ta\tcertain\tpoint\tyou\tmay\thave\tto\tfollow\tthe\tlong\tway round.\tIf\tyou\tenter\tthe\tsame\tpattern\tat\ta\tslightly\tdifferent\tpoint\tthe\troute\tmay\tbe very\tshort\tindeed.\tThis\tnatural\tbehaviour\tof\tpatterns\tis\twhat\tgives\trise\tto\tthe surprising\tphenomenon\tof\t\u2018insight\u2019\tin\twhich\twe\tsuddenly\tsee\tsomething differently. Specific\tTools\tof\tLateral\tThinking From\tan\tunderstanding\tof\tcreativity,\tfrom\tthe\tlogic\tof\tprovocation,\tfrom\tthe logic\tof\tinsight,\twe\tcan\tdesign\tspecific\tcreative\ttools.\tInstead\tof\tjust\twaiting\tfor inspiration\twe\tcan\tuse\tsuch\ttools\tdeliberately\tin\torder\tto\tgenerate\tnew\tconcepts and\tideas.\tThese\tare\tthe\tspecific\ttools\tof\tlateral\tthinking,\twhich\thave\tnow\tbeen used\teffectively\twith\tpractical\tsuccess.\tThese\ttools\tcould\tnot\thave\tbeen\tdesigned in\tour\ttraditional\tthinking\tsystem.\tFor\texample,\tin\tour\ttraditional\tsystem\tthe simple\t\u2018random-word\u2019\ttechnique\twould\tbe\ttotal\tnonsense.\tYet\tin\ta\tself- organizing\tsystem\tthis\ttechnique\tmakes\tperfect\tsense.\tIn\tpractice\tit\tworks\tvery well. Resistance\tto\tChange Our\tunderstanding\tof\tperception\thelps\tus\tto\tsee\twhy\tthere\tis\tsuch\tresistance\tto change.\tOur\texisting\tperceptions,\tconcepts,\tmodels\tand\tparadigms\tare\ta summary\tof\tour\thistory.\tWe\tcan\tlook\tat\tthe\tworld\tonly\tthrough\tsuch\ta framework.\tIf\tsomething\tnew\tcomes\talong\twe\tare\tunable\tto\tsee\tit.\tOr,\tif\twe\tdo see\tit,\twe\tsee\tit\tas\ta\tmismatch\twith\tour\tolder\tperception\tso\twe\tfeel\tcompelled\tto attack\tit.\tIn\tany\tcase\twe\tcan\tjudge\tit\tonly\tthrough\tthe\told\tframe\tof\treference.\tFor example\tthe\tjudgements\tand\tabsolutes\tof\t\u2018rock\tlogic\u2019\tmake\tit\tvery\tdifficult\tfor us\tto\tsee\thow\t\u2018water\tlogic\u2019\tcan\twork.\tThe\tother\ttype\tof\tresistance\tto\tchange\tis the\tdismissal\tof\tan\tidea\twith\t\u2018the\tsame\tas\t\u2026\u2019\tresponse.\tThis\tis\tall\tquite\tapart","the\tdismissal\tof\tan\tidea\twith\t\u2018the\tsame\tas\t\u2026\u2019\tresponse.\tThis\tis\tall\tquite\tapart from\tthose\twhose\tvested\tinterests\tin\tthe\told\tidea\tmake\tthem\tactively\thostile\tto the\tnew\tone. The\tNext\tStep The\tnext\tstep\twe\ttake\tis\tvery\tmuch\tdetermined\tby\twhere\twe\tare\tat\tthe\tmoment. Change\tmay\trequire\tthat\twe\tstep\tback\tseveral\tpaces\tin\torder\tto\tmove\toff\tin\ta new\tdirection,\tand\tthis\tis\textremely\tdifficult.\tEverything\tbecomes\tlocked\tin\twith everything\telse.\tThere\tis\ta\tweb\tof\tconcepts\tand\tperceptions\teach\tof\twhich supports\tthe\tothers.\tThis\tmeans\tthat\tany\tsuccessful\tstrategy\tfor\tchange\tshould provide\tan\teasy\tdirection\twhich\tcan\tbe\ttaken\tbut\twhich\tdoes\tnot\trequire\tany backstepping.\tThat\tis\twhy\tour\tunderstanding\tof\tthe\tself-organizing\ttype\tof information\tsystem\tis\tsuch\ta\tkey\tpoint\tthat\tallows\tus\tto\treview\tour\tentire thinking\tsystem. Education Traditionally\teducation\thas\tconcerned\titself\twith\tinformation,\tanalysis\tand\tsome critical\tthinking.\tThis\tmay\thave\tseemed\tsufficient\tin\tterms\tof\tthe\ttraditional thinking\tsystem.\tIn\tthe\tnew\tperspective,\teducation\tis\tdoing\tless\tthan\thalf\tits\tjob. There\tneeds\tto\tbe\tdeliberate\tattention\tto\tperceptual\tthinking\tskills.\tSuch\tskills are\tquite\tseparate\tfrom\ta\tconcern\twith\tart\tand\tliterature.\tThere\tis\tneed\tfor attention\tto\toperacy\tand\tthe\tskills\tof\tdoing.\tThere\tis\tneed\tfor\tattention\tto\tdesign thinking\tin\tits\tbroadest\tsense.\tThere\tis\tneed\tfor\tattention\tto\tthinking\tthat\tis productive,\tconstructive,\tgenerative\tand\tcreative.\tReactive\tthinking\tand problem-solving\twill\tnot\tequip\tpeople\tto\timprove\tsociety.\tUnfortunately education\tis\tso\tlocked\tinto\tits\ttraditional\tconcepts\tthat\tthe\tneeded\tchanges\twill not\teasily\ttake\tplace. Universities On\tthe\twhole\tuniversities\tare\tnot\tequipped,\tintellectually,\tto\tdo\tthe\tventure thinking\tthat\tis\tneeded.\tUniversities\tabsorb\tthe\tbulk\tof\thuman\tand\tfinancial resources\tavailable\tin\tany\tcountry\tfor\tintellectual\tprogress.\tMuch\tof\tthese resources\tare\twasted\ton\tsheer\tcontinuity.\tSome\tof\tthem\tcould\tbe\tmore effectively\tused\tin\t\u2018intellectual\tventure\tunits\u2019\twhere\tthe\temphasis\twas\tnot\ton protecting\ttradition\tand\tanointing\thistory\tbut\ton\tnew\tareas\tthat\twere\topening\tup. Usually\tsuch\tnew\tareas\tcut\tacross\texisting\tdisciplines\tand\tare\ttherefore\tunlikely to\tarise\twithin\tthem.","to\tarise\twithin\tthem. Compartments Specialities\tget\tmore\tand\tmore\tspecialized\tuntil\teverything\tis\thappening\tin\tsmall compartments\twhich\thave\tlittle\tcommunication\twith\teach\tother.\tWe\tneed\tways of\thaving\tpeople\tcommunicate\twith\teach\tother\tacross\tspeciality\tboundaries.\tWe need\tways\tof\tovercoming\tthe\tadministrative\tboundaries\tthat\trestrict\tmovement of\tpeople.\tWe\tneed\tbasic\tconcept\tlanguages\tfor\tcommunication.\tThe\tperceptions and\tconcepts\tthat\toccur\twithin\ta\tspeciality\tshould\tbe\teasily\tavailable\tto everyone. Short-Term\tThinking Eventually\tmost\tstructures\tin\tsociety\twill\ttend\tto\tshorten\ttheir\tthinking\thorizons. With\tincreasing\tpressure\ton\tfunds\tthere\tis\ta\tneed\tto\tshow\tresults.\tShowing results\tmeans\tresponding\tto\tthe\tneeds\tof\tthe\tmoment.\tSuch\tshort-term\tthinking puts\tthe\temphasis\ton\timmediate\tproblem-solving.\tThere\tis\tless\ttime\tfor\tdesign, for\tspeculation\tand\tfor\tthe\tlarger\tissues.\tA\tjournalist\tbelieves\tthat\tthe\tfuture\tcan happen\tonly\tone\tday\tat\ta\ttime,\tso\tto\tlook\tafter\tthis\tday\tis\tto\tlook\tafter\tthe\tfuture. In\texploration\tand\tdesign\twork\tit\tmay\tbe\ta\tlong\ttime\tbefore\tthings\treach\ta critical\tmass\tof\tsense\tand\tvalue.\tIt\tis\tthis\tcritical\tmass\twhich\tlaunches\ta\tnew design\tor\ta\tnew\tparadigm. Ludecy When\ta\tgame\tis\tplayed\tas\tan\tend\tin\titself\twe\thave\twhat\tI\thave\tcalled\t\u2018ludecy\u2019.\tIt is\talmost\tlike\tan\taction\tbelief\tsystem:\twhat\tis\tdone\tis\tthere\tto\tsupport\twhat\tis being\tdone.\tUnless\tthere\tare\tways\tof\tgenerating\tfresh\tideas\talmost\tall organizations\twill\tsettle\tdown\tto\tthis\t\u2018self-organized\u2019\tsteady\tstate.\tBureaucracies are\tonly\tone\texample.\tThis\tis\tanother\tfault\tof\tour\treliance\ton\tevolution\tfor change. Learning\tBackwards Patterning\tsystems\tstrongly\tsuggest\tthat\tlearning\tbackwards\tshould\tbe\tmore effective\tthan\tlearning\tforwards.\tThis\tprediction\tneeds\tto\tbe\tworked\tout\tin practical\tdetail.\tFor\texample,\twhat\tdoes\tlearning\tbackwards\tmean\twhen\tapplied to\tmatters\twith\tlevels\tof\tcomplexity?\tThere\tis\twork\tto\tbe\tdone\there.","to\tmatters\twith\tlevels\tof\tcomplexity?\tThere\tis\twork\tto\tbe\tdone\there. New\tLanguage I\tam\tcurrently\tworking\ton\ta\tnew\tlanguage\tfor\tthinking\twhich\twill\tallow\tus\ta much\tricher\tperception\twithout\tthe\tbaggage\tof\tour\tusual\tlanguages. Water\tLogic We\tneed\tto\tclarify\tand\tdevelop\twater\tlogic\tso\tthat\tit\tbecomes\ta\tpractical,\tusable system.\tThe\t\u2018hodics\u2019\tsystem\toutlined\tin\tthe\tappendix\tis\ta\tstep\tin\tthis\tdirection. Hope If\twe\tfelt\tthat\twe\twere\talready\toperating\tat\tthe\tlimits\tof\tour\tthinking\tsystem, there\twould\tbe\tlittle\thope.\tWe\twould\tlook\tforward\tto\ta\tfuture\tin\twhich\tthe increasing\tproblems\twould\toverwhelm\tus.\tWith\tan\temphasis\ton\tnew\tthinking we\tcan\trekindle\thope\tfor\ta\tmuch\tbetter\tfuture.\tRevolutions\tdo\tnot\thave\tto\tbe negative.\tPositive\trevolutions\tcan\ttake\tplace.\tAnd\tthe\tfirst\tsuch\trevolution\tmust be\tin\tour\tattitude\tto\tthinking.\tThinking\tis\tnot\tjust\tbeing\tright\tand\tavoiding\terror. Thinking\tis\texploration,\tnew\tconcepts\tand\tdesign\tfor\ta\tbetter\tfuture.","Summary For\tcenturies\twe\thave\tworked\twithin\tour\ttraditional\tthinking\tsystem.\tWe\tare convinced\tthat\tthis\ttraditional\tthinking\tsystem\tis\tthe\tonly\tpossible\tone.\tSurely truth\tand\treason\tare\tabsolutes\tfor\twhich\tthere\tcan\tbe\tno\talternative\tand\tbeyond which\tit\tcannot\tbe\tpossible\tto\tgo.\tSurely\tthese\tare\tthe\tabsolutes\tdemanded\tby the\tsystem\titself.\tIt\tis\ttrue\tand\treasonable\tto\thave\ta\tsystem\tbased\ton\ttruth\tand reason. As\twe\tbegin\tto\tunderstand\tself-organizing\tsystems\twe\tfind\tthat\tneural networks\tcan\twork\tin\tthis\tmanner.\tThe\tvery\tsimple\tmodel\tof\ta\tself-organizing neural\tnetwork\tgiven\tin\tthis\tbook\tshows\thow\ta\tfew\tinteractions\tcan\tgive\trise\tto complex\tbehaviour.\tShould\twe\tjust\tignore\tthe\tbig\tstep\tforward\tthat\tthis\tprovides in\tunderstanding\thow\tthe\tbrain\tworks?\tShould\twe\tchoose\tto\tpersist\tin\tdogmatic ignorance\ton\tthe\tbasis\tthat\tsuch\tunderstanding\tmight\tbe\tdisturbing? The\timplications\tof\tself-organizing\tsystems\tfor\tperception\tand\tfor\tour traditional\tthinking\thabits\tare\tvery\tconsiderable.\tIn\tthis\tbook\tI\thave\ttried\tto\tspell out\tsome\tof\tthese\timplications.\tIn\teach\tcase\tI\thave\tdone\tno\tmore\tthan\thint\tat\tan implication.\tThere\tare\ttwo\tbasic\ttypes\tof\timplication.\tThe\tfirst\ttype\tis\tan understanding\tof\thow\tperception\tworks,\twhich\tcovers\tsuch\tthings\tas\thumour, creativity,\tcatchment,\tand\tcircularity\tof\tbeliefs.\tThis\tgives\tus\tan\tunderstanding of\twhy\tperception\tis\tso\tvery\tuseful\tand\tyet\tso\tdistorted.\tThe\tsecond\ttype\tof implication\tcovers\tthe\tdefects\tin\tour\ttraditional\tthinking\tsystem,\twith\tits absolutes,\tcategories,\tidentities\tand\tcontradictions.\tWe\tcan\teasily\tsee\thow\tthe imperfections\tof\tthis\tsystem\thave\tboth\tgiven\trise\tto\tserious\tproblems\tin\thuman affairs\t(wars,\tracism\tetc.)\tand\tprevented\tus\tfrom\tmaking\tmuch\tprogress\tin\tthem. At\tthis\tpoint\twe\thave\tsome\tchoices.\tWe\tcan\tsimply\tignore\tcompletely\twhat\tI have\twritten\tor\tset\tout\tto\tprove\tthat\tit\tis\tincorrect\t(at\tleast\tin\tsome\taspect).\tThis would\tbe\tvery\tsilly,\tbecause\tthe\tmatter\tis\tso\tfundamental\tthat\tit\twill\treturn\tagain and\tagain\twith\tmore\tforce.\tWe\tcan\tsimply\tnever\tignore\tself-organizing\tsystems again,\tnow\tthat\twe\tknow\tabout\tthem.","We\tcan\taccept\twhat\tis\tsaid\tat\tleast\tin\tits\tbroad\tterms\teven\tif\tnot\tin\tall\tdetail. We\tcan\taccept\tit\tand\tthen\tignore\tit\tto\tcontinue\twith\tour\texisting\tsystem\tas\tif nothing\thad\thappened.\tBut\ta\tthought\tonce\tthought\tcannot\tbe\tunthought.\tSo\tat the\tback\tof\tour\tminds\tthere\twill\tbe\tsome\tgrowing\tdoubts\tabout\tthe\tarrogance and\tassurance\tof\tour\ttraditional\tthinking. We\tcan\ttake\tthe\tview\tthat\tthis\tis\tindeed\ta\tuseful\tdescription\tof\thow\tthe\tmind works.\tWe\tcan\ttake\tthe\tview\tthat\tthis\tdescription\tshows\tup\tthe\tmessiness\tand unreliability\tof\tthe\thuman\tbrain\tand\tthen\tmarvel\tat\tthe\tachievement\tof\tclassic Greek\tthinkers\tin\tgiving\tus\ta\tthinking\tsystem\t(with\tits\tabsolutes\tand\tlogic)\tthat gives\tsuch\ta\tpractical\tway\tof\tproceeding.\tMost\tpeople\twill\ttake\tthis\tview\tbut\tare then\tleft\tto\tanswer\tthe\toriginal\tquestion:\twhy\thave\twe\tbeen\tso\tunsuccessful\tin dealing\twith\thuman\taffairs\tas\tcompared\twith\ttechnical\tmatters? We\tcan\ttake\tthe\tview\tthat\twhat\thas\tbeen\tdescribed\tin\tthis\tbook\tdeals\twith perception\tand\tis\tmost\tvaluable\tand\tuseful\tfor\tthis\tpurpose.\tThen\twe\tsay\tthat\tthe second\taspect\tof\tthinking\tis\tprocessing\t(logic,\tmathematics\tetc.)\tin\twhich\twe construct\tartificial\tsystems\twith\twhich\tto\tprocess\tour\tperceptions.\tThis\tis\ta satisfactory\tview,\tbut\tit\tdoes\tmean\tthat\tlogic\thas\tto\tretreat.\tBecause\twe\thave never\tunderstood\tperception\twe\thave\ttried\tto\tapply\tthe\tlogic\tof\ttraditional thinking\tdirectly\tto\tthe\tworld.\tOnce\twe\tacknowledge\tthat\tperception\tmust\tcome first,\twe\tmust\tspend\ta\tgreat\tdeal\tmore\ttime\tworking\ton\tthe\tlogic\tof\tperception because\tthis\tis\textremely\timportant.\tWe\tshall\tthen\tfind\tthat\ta\tgreat\tdeal\tof\tour thinking\treally\ttakes\tplace\tin\tthis\tperception\tstage. I\twould\tbe\tvery\thappy\tindeed\tif\twe\tdid\tbut\tacknowledge\tthat\tperception\twas\ta very\timportant\tpart\tof\tthinking.\tOnce\twe\tdo\tthis\twe\tsoon\tfind\tthat\tthe\ttable-top logic\thabits\tof\tour\ttraditional\tthinking\tsystem\tdo\tnot\treadily\tapply\t(as\tI\thave been\tshowing\tin\tthis\tbook)\tand\tthat\twe\tmust\tdevelop\ta\tbetter\tunderstanding\tof perception\tand\tdeliberate\tperceptual\tskills\t(as\twith\tthe\tCoRT\tprogramme\tin schools).\tPerception\tbecomes\ta\tnew\tarea\tthat\twe\tmust\twork\twithin. That\thas\tbeen\tthe\tobjective\tof\tthis\tbook:\tto\tshift\tthe\temphasis\tto\tthe importance\tof\tperception.","Appendix:\tWater\tLogic At\tseveral\tpoints\tin\tthe\tbook\tI\thave\treferred\tto\t\u2018water\tlogic\u2019\tas\ta\tcontrast\tto\tthe \u2018rock\tlogic\u2019\tof\ttraditional\tthinking.\tThe\tpurpose\tof\tthis\tnaming\tof\t\u2018water\tlogic\u2019 is\tto\tgive\tan\timpression\tof\tthe\tdifference.\tAt\tthis\tpoint\tI\tshall\tspell\tout\tin\tmore detail\tsome\tof\tthe\tpoints\tof\tdifference. A\trock\tis\tsolid,\tpermanent\tand\thard.\tThis\tsuggests\tthe\tabsolutes\tof\ttraditional thinking\t(solid\tas\ta\trock).\tWater\tis\tjust\tas\treal\tas\ta\trock\tbut\tit\tis\tnot\tsolid\tor hard.\tThe\tpermanence\tof\twater\tis\tnot\tdefined\tby\tits\tshape. A\trock\thas\thard\tedges\tand\ta\tdefinite\tshape.\tThis\tsuggests\tthe\tdefined categories\tof\ttraditional\tthinking.\tWe\tjudge\twhether\tsomething\tfits\tthat\tcategory shape\tor\tnot.\tWater\thas\ta\tboundary\tand\tan\tedge\twhich\tis\tjust\tas\tdefinite\tas\tthe edge\tof\ta\trock,\tbut\tthis\tboundary\twill\tvary\taccording\tto\tthe\tterrain. Water\twill\tfill\ta\tbowl\tor\ta\tlake.\tIt\tadapts\tto\tthe\tterrain\tor\tlandscape.\tWater logic\tis\tdetermined\tby\tthe\tconditions\tand\tcircumstances.\tThe\tshape\tof\tthe\trock remains\tthe\tsame\tno\tmatter\twhat\tthe\tterrain\tmight\tbe.\tIf\tyou\tplace\ta\tsmall\trock in\ta\tbowl,\tit\twill\tretain\tits\tshape\tand\tmake\tno\tconcession\tat\tall\ttowards\tfilling the\tbowl.\tThe\tabsolutes\tof\ttraditional\tthinking\tdeliberately\tset\tout\tto\tbe circumstance-independent. If\tyou\tadd\tmore\twater\tto\twater,\tthe\tnew\twater\tbecomes\tpart\tof\tthe\twhole.\tIf you\tadd\ta\trock\tto\ta\trock,\tyou\tsimply\thave\ttwo\trocks.\tThis\taddition\tand absorption\tof\twater\tlogic\tcorresponds\tto\tthe\tprocess\tof\tpoetry,\tin\twhich\tnew images\tbecome\tabsorbed\tin\tthe\twhole. It\tis\talso\tthe\tbasis\tof\tthe\tnew\tartificial\tdevice\tof\tthe\t\u2018stratal\u2019.\tWith\tconditions and\tcircumstances,\tthe\taddition\tof\tnew\tcircumstances\tbecomes\tpart\tof\tthe\twhole set\tof\tcircumstances. We\tcan\tmatch\trocks\tby\tsaying\tthis\tshape\t\u2018is\u2019\tor\t\u2018is\tnot\u2019\tthe\tsame\tas\tanother shape.\tA\trock\thas\ta\tfixed\tidentity.\tWater\tflows\taccording\tto\tthe\tgradient.\tInstead","shape.\tA\trock\thas\ta\tfixed\tidentity.\tWater\tflows\taccording\tto\tthe\tgradient.\tInstead of\tthe\tword\t\u2018is\u2019\twe\tuse\tthe\tword\t\u2018to\u2019.\tWater\tflows\t\u2018to\u2019\tsomewhere. In\ttraditional\t(rock)\tlogic\twe\thave\tjudgements\tbased\tupon\tright\/wrong.\tIn perception\t(water)\tlogic\twe\thave\tthe\tconcepts\tof\t\u2018fit\u2019\tand\t\u2018flow\u2019.\tThe\tconcept\tof \u2018fit\u2019\tmeans:\t\u2018Does\tthis\tfit\tthe\tcircumstances\tand\tconditions?\u2019\tThe\tconcept\tof \u2018flow\u2019\tmeans:\t\u2018Is\tthe\tterrain\tsuitable\tfor\tflow\tto\ttake\tplace\tin\tthis\tdirection?\u2019\tFit and\tflow\tboth\tmean\tthe\tsame\tthing.\tFit\tcovers\tthe\tstatic\tsituation,\tflow\tcovers the\tdynamic\tsituation.\tDoes\tthe\twater\tfit\tthe\tlake\tor\thole?\tDoes\tthe\triver\tflow\tin this\tdirection? Truth\tis\ta\tparticular\tconstellation\tof\tcircumstances\twith\ta\tparticular\toutcome. In\tthis\tdefinition\tof\ttruth\twe\thave\tboth\tthe\tconcepts\tof\tfit\t(constellation\tof circumstances)\tand\tof\tflow\t(outcome). In\ta\tconflict\tsituation\tboth\tsides\tare\targuing\tthat\tthey\tare\tright.\tThis\tthey\tcan show\tlogically.\tTraditional\tthinking\twould\tseek\tto\tdiscover\twhich\tparty\twas really\t\u2018right\u2019.\tWater\tlogic\twould\tacknowledge\tthat\tboth\tparties\twere\tright\tbut that\teach\tconclusion\twas\tbased\ton\ta\tparticular\taspect\tof\tthe\tsituation,\tparticular circumstances,\tand\ta\tparticular\tpoint\tof\tview. In\tthe\tbody\tof\tthe\tbook\twe\tsaw\tthe\tproblem\tthat\ttraditional\tthinking\thad\twith the\tLaffer\tor\t\u2018salt\u2019\tcurve.\t\u2018If\tlaw\tis\tgood,\tmore\tlaw\tmust\tbe\tbetter.\u2019\t\u2018If\tsalt\tis good,\tmore\tsalt\tmust\tbe\tbetter.\u2019\tThis\tproblem\tdoes\tnot\tarise\tin\twater\tlogic.\tThe \u2018amount\u2019\tof\tsomething\tis\ta\tcondition\tfor\tit\tto\thave\tvalue.\tThe\tpoint\tis\tthat\twater logic\tis\thighly\tdependent\ton\tdefined\tcircumstances\tor\tconditions,\twhereas\tthe very\tessence\tof\ttraditional\trock\tlogic\tis\tthat\tit\tis\tcircumstance-independent. We\tmust\tnote\tthat\twe\tare\tso\timmersed\tin\tour\trock\tlogic\tsystem\tthat\twater logic\twill\tat\tfirst\tseem\tso\tpragmatic\tthat\t\u2018anything\tgoes\u2019\tand\tthere\tis\tno\tway\tof making\tjudgements\tor\tgetting\ta\tdecision.\tThis\tis\tnot\tso\tat\tall.\tWater\twill\tnot flow\tuphill\tor\tagainst\tthe\tgradient.\tThe\tbehaviour\tof\twater\tis\twell\tdefined\tand\tso is\tthe\tbehaviour\tof\twater\tlogic.\tThe\tdifference\tbetween\trock\tlogic\tand\twater logic\twill\ttake\ta\tlot\tof\tgetting\tused\tto. Consider\tthe\tfollowing\texample\tof\tthe\tdifference\tbetween\trock\tlogic\tand water\tlogic.\tA\twoman\ttakes\ther\telectric\tkettle\tinto\ta\tsmart\tstore\tand\tasks\tthem\tto replace\tit\tbecause\tit\tdoes\tnot\twork: Assistant\tA:\t\u2018I\tam\tsorry\tbut\tyou\tcouldn\u2019t\thave\tbought\tthat\tkettle\there\tbecause we\tdon\u2019t\tsell\tthat\tbrand.\tSo\tI\tcan\u2019t\treplace\tit.\u2019","we\tdon\u2019t\tsell\tthat\tbrand.\tSo\tI\tcan\u2019t\treplace\tit.\u2019 Assistant\tB:\t\u2018Are\tyou\tquite\tsure\tyou\tbought\tit\there?\tDo\tyou\thave\tthe\treceipt? I\u2019m\tsorry\tI\tcan\u2019t\tchange\tit\tunless\tyou\tshow\tme\tproof\tthat\tyou\tbought\tit\there.\u2019 Both\tassistants\tA\tand\tB\tshow\ttraditional\trock\tlogic.\tThey\twant\tto\tknow\twhat \u2018is\u2019\tthe\tstate\tof\taffairs. Assistant\tC:\t\u2018Yes,\tof\tcourse\twe\u2019ll\tchange\tit.\tI\u2019m\tso\tsorry\tyou\twere\tput\tto\tthis trouble.\u2019 Now\tassistant\tC\tknows\tthat\tthe\tkettle\tcould\tnot\thave\tbeen\tbought\tin\tthat\tstore because\tthe\tstore\tdoes\tnot\tsell\tthat\tbrand.\tNevertheless\tthe\tassistant\tperceives that\tthe\tcustomer\tis\tgenuinely\tmistaken.\tThe\tassistant\tis\talso\tinterested\tnot\tin what\t\u2018is\u2019\tbut\tin\twhat\tthe\tsituation\tleads\t\u2018to\u2019.\tWhat\tthe\tsituation\tleads\tto\tis extraordinary\tcustomer\tservice.\tThis\tmay\tseem\tabsurd,\tyet\tresearch\tactually shows\tthat\tfor\tevery\tdollar\tspent\ton\tcustomer\tservice\tfive\tdollars\tare\treturned\tin increased\tsales\tand\tcustomer\tloyalty. What\tif\tthis\tbenevolence\tis\tabused?\tThen\tyou\tdeal\twith\tthat\tabuse\twhen\tit arises.\tAlso\tthe\tassistants\tare\tfree\tto\tuse\ttheir\town\tperceptions\tas\tto\twhether\tit\tis a\tgenuine\tmistake.\tIf\tyou\thave\ta\tpiece\tof\trock\tin\ta\tglass\tand\tyou\ttilt\tthe\tglass\tthe rock\tis\teither\tin\tthe\tglass\tor\tfalls\tright\tout.\tThere\tis\tan\t\u2018all\tor\tnone\u2019\teffect.\tThat is\tnot\tso\twith\twater.\tYou\tmay\tpour\tsome\twater\tfrom\tthe\tglass\tbut\tstill\tretain some\twater\tin\tit. Hodics The\tword\t\u2018hodics\u2019\tis\tderived\tfrom\tthe\tGreek\tword\tfor\troad\t(odos).\tHodics\tis\tthe name\tI\thave\tgiven\tto\ta\tsystem\tof\tnotation\twith\twhich\tto\thandle\tthe\tflow\tof\twater logic.\tI\thad\tintended\tto\tdescribe\thodics\tin\tthis\tbook\tand\thave,\tindeed,\tpromised this\tat\tsome\tpoints\tin\tthe\tbook.\tOn\treflection,\thowever,\tI\thave\tremoved\tthis section\tso\tas\tnot\tto\toverburden\tthe\treader\tand\talso\tto\tavoid\tthe\trisk\tof\tdiluting the\tmain\ttheme.\tI\tshall\treturn\tto\thodics\tin\ta\tlater\t(much\tshorter)\tbook.","","THE\tBEGINNING Let\tthe\tconversation\tbegin\t\u2026 Follow\tthe\tPenguin\tTwitter.com@penguinUKbooks Keep\tup-to-date\twith\tall\tour\tstories\tYouTube.com\/penguinbooks Pin\t\u2018Penguin\tBooks\u2019\tto\tyour\tPinterest Like\t\u2018Penguin\tBooks\u2019\ton\tFacebook.com\/penguinbooks Listen\tto\tPenguin\tat\tSoundCloud.com\/penguin-books Find\tout\tmore\tabout\tthe\tauthor\tand discover\tmore\tstories\tlike\tthis\tat\tPenguin.co.uk","PENGUIN\tLIFE UK\t|\tUSA\t|\tCanada\t|\tIreland\t|\tAustralia\tIndia\t|\tNew\tZealand\t|\tSouth\tAfrica\tPenguin\tLife\tis\tpart\tof\tthe Penguin\tRandom\tHouse\tgroup\tof\tcompanies\twhose\taddresses\tcan\tbe\tfound\tat global.penguinrandomhouse.com. First\tpublished\tby\tViking\t1990 Published\tin\tPenguin\tBooks\t1991 Published\tin\tPenguin\tLife\t2016 Copyright\t\u00a9\tIP\tDevelopment\tCorporation,\t1992 The\tmoral\tright\tof\tthe\tauthor\thas\tbeen\tasserted\tCover\tDesign:\tDan\tMogford Edward\tde\tBono\thereby\tasserts\this\tmoral\tright\tto\tbe\tknown\tas\tthe\tauthor\tof\tthis\twork. For\tmore\tinformation\tabout\ttraining\tin\tDr\tde\tBono\u2019s\tmethod,\tsee\twww.debono.com ISBN:\t978-0-241-33689-2","INTRODUCTION:\tTHE\tNEW\tRENAISSANCE fn1 \tM.\tH.\tLee\tand\tA.\tR.\tMarudarajan,\tInternational\tJournal\tof\tMan-Machine\tStudies\t(1982), vol.\t17,\tpp.\t189\u2013210. fn2 \tCoRT\t(Cognitive\tResearch\tTrust)\tis\ta\tsixty-lesson\tprogramme\tpublished\tby\tS.R.A.\tfor the\tdirect\tteaching\tof\tthinking\tas\ta\tschool\tsubject. ASYMMETRY\tOF\tPATTERNS fn1 \tThere\tare\tother\tbooks\tof\tmine\tthat\tfocus\ton\tpractical\tlateral\tthinking,\tsuch\tas\tLateral Thinking,\tWard\tLock\tEducational,\t1972;\tHarper\tand\tRow.\tI\tshall\tshortly\tbe\twriting\tanother book\tto\tbring\tthese\tmatters\tup\tto\tdate."]