In his new book, Howard Gardner argues that to survive the demands of tomorrow’s world we must develop five ways of thinking, or five ‘minds’.
1. The disciplined mind has mastered at least one way of thinking. It takes up to ten years to achieve mastery.
2. The synthesising mind takes information from disparate sources. It understands and evaluates information objectively, puts it together in ways that make sense and is more important as the tide of information increases.
3. The creating mind breaks new ground and raises new ideas. It poses unfamiliar questions and arrives at unexpected answers. It is impossible to hone without a foundation of discipline and synthesis.
4. The respectful mind welcomes differences between people, tries to understand others and seeks to work effectively with them. It is a necessity in the global village.
5. The ethical mind ponders the nature and purpose of work and assesses the needs and desires of society. It thinks beyond self-interest and seeks to improve the lot of all.
Five Minds for the Future by Howard Gardner is published by Harvard Business School Press
Check out his interview in The Times.
