The main thing I got out of DeBono was the limitations of logic. As a matter of routine, we generally start solving a problem with logic, (assuming that we are not jumping to premature conclusions.) and we should do so. Logic, when used, usually carries the day; however, with seemingly intractable problems, logic locks you into endlessly repeating iterations of already-known approaches. I have found great value in the technique of casting about for any and all conceivable approaches-no matter how ridiculous with no initial judgement or evaluation. It breaks one out of the rut of endlessly trying mere iterations of the same old approaches. We sometimes talk about "thinking outside the box" but we don't stop to consider the details of what that must really mean. To me, I have to think inside the box most of the time, that is I must make routine decisions routinely; however, when I have exhausted every method inside my box, then there is no good alternative than to look outside of the box. Here is the real problem: On the one hand, everything we have already decided is relevant, is already inside "the box" but we have already, rightly ruled those approaches out. On the other hand, we have already decided that everything outside the box is irrelevant (or else we would have already put it into the box where we keep "relevant" approaches.) When one is really stuck on a problem, it really helps to make a conscious decision to whimsically start considering all the absurd or humorous or ridiculous impossibilities. Its the only thing that is going to deliver you from endless, and fruitless permutations of known approaches. Once you successfully "leap" to a new possibility--even an absurd one, your mind is finally in new territory and is getting new perspective that might lead to a better approach. I am looking forward to exploring your Alternative Modes of Thought. What do you specifically object to in Top Hat thinking? Thank you for your time! You might enjoy my essays on Populistocracy---Democratic Election by lottery!z-pec.yolasite.com Scott Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2011 21:27:34 +0200 Subject: Re: [Vo]:DeBono's "Top Hat Thinking" From: [email protected] To: [email protected]
I sam grateful for your sttention. My method is an slternstive to the Six Hats- I sm telling the story at the blog.An other discovery of De Bono I have used are the septoes- a literarygenre. You will find some interesting things at the Blog. I own it in common with a lady (Georgina) who is working at a great bank in Vienna and was my best e-collaborator at my former newsletter.(2002-2010) She writes very well and I hope she will be a writer.Peter On Sun, Mar 6, 2011 at 8:53 PM, Wm. Scott Smith <[email protected]> wrote: I will be checking out your site with great interest. Modes of Thinking remind me of DeBono's Books on "Top Hat Thinking" which has to do with "Changing your Thinking Cap" My dear friends, Next week I will publish my Real Life ProblemSolving System at my blog. This system isbased on my MODES OF THINKING- a paper that I published today on my blog. It's first variant was published in Contemporanul - Ideea europeana in July 1990.Please read it, it is well verified in practice and up-to-dated..I really don't want to become popular with my blog EGO OUT but I take my work seriously; there are so manywicked problems on our Planet. http://egooutpeters.blogspot.com/2011/03/modes-of-thinking-my-taxonomy.html Thank you for your attention, excuse me for disturbingall my best wishes! Peter -- Dr. Peter GluckCluj, Romaniahttp://egooutpeters.blogspot.com -- Dr. Peter GluckCluj, Romaniahttp://egooutpeters.blogspot.com
