After the Renaissance and in the Middle Ages, 'thinking' was largely the domain of theologians. The Church also controlled education through schools and universities. The 'thinking' that concerned theologians was very much the thinking of analysis, definitions, words and argument. There was a need to preserve the faith and to prove heretics wrong. As a result there was no emphasis at all on constructive and creative thinking. Religion does not seem to need constructive and creative thinking.
So it is hardly surprising that, to this day, thinking is very limited. That is why we are so poor at conflict resolution and at problem solving where the cause of the problem cannot be removed. Design and value creation are indeed done by individuals but these aspects of thinking have never become part of the intellectual culture. 'Creativity' is seen merely as artistic expression.
Sadly, there is very little insight into this glaring deficiency.
Edward de Bono nmt
3rd February 2002
New York
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