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MESSAGE FOR WEEK BEGINNING 3rd April 2006 Why so Stupid?
On April 7th the paperback edition of my book 'Why so Stupid?' will be published. How the human race has never really learnt to think. The distribution may not be widespread so you may want to order in advance from you bookseller. The title may sound provocative but is meant in a completely seriuous way. I do not think the human race has really learnt to think. We have analysis and judgement. We have the recognition of standard situations and the provision of standard answers. But we are very poor at creative thinking, perceptual thinking and design thinking. To be sure there are individuals who have provided this sort of thinking from time to time - but as a culture we have not incorporated it into education.
Because we have achieved so much in science and technology we have been very complacent about our thinking. Yet in human affairs we have not achieved very much. We still have poverty and conflicts. The Israel / Palestinian difficulty is a classic example of inadequate design thinking from two of the most intelligent groups on earth.
We need very much better software for human thinking. I am providing some of it but there is a long way to go. The biggest obstacle is our absurd complacency with our existing thinking methods.
Why have we done so littlle for the last 2400 years?
Edward de Bono |