The underlying argument of the book is that there are two kinds of thinking — vertical and lateral. Most of us are educated to think vertically, to go from one logical step to the next, moving all the time towards the one correct solution of our problem. We are not usually educated to be creative, to generate idea after idea.
DeBono argues that the function of vertical, logical thinking is to argue what is wrong. It is a very useful way of thinking, but it is not the only useful way. To claim it is, is the sort of intellectual arrogance that makes creative thinking unlikely.
Word of the Day
lat·er·al /ˈladərəl,ˈlatrəl / adjective = of, at, toward, or from the side or sides; relating to the sides of something, or moving in a sideways direction. Example: "He estimated the lateral movement of the bridge to be between four and six inches." Synonyms = sideways, side, flanking, edgeways.
3 comments:
Colleen also has something to say today about how we think:
2. “Two men looked into a pond. Said the one: ‘I see a quantity of mud, a shoe and an old can.’ Said the other: ‘I see all these, but I also see the glorious reflection of the sky.’” via Alan Watts
https://looseleafnotes.com/2023/08/13-mirror-mirror/
I couldn't guess the answer so had to look it up!
The person who originally posted the problem said the twelfth person simply picked up the carton with the last egg still in it.
While I was at lunch today, two people (independently) came up with equally good answers to the eggs in a carton problem, saying that one of the twelve put their egg back in the carton.
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