HOW TOSCHOOL YOUR MINDTO THINK LATERALLY

WHAT IS LATERAL THINKING ANYWAY?

Lateral thinking is solving problems through an indirect and creative approach, using reasoning that is not immediately obvious and involving ideas that may not be obtainable by using only traditional step-by-step logic. The term was coined in 1967 by EDWARD DE BONO. According to de Bono, lateral thinking deliberately distances itself from standard perceptions of creativity as either "vertical" logic (the classic method for problem solving: working out the solution step-by-step from the given data) or "horizontal" imagination (having a thousand ideas but being unconcerned with the detailed implementation of them).

Edward de Bono is a Maltese physician, author, inventor and consultant. He originated the term lateral thinking, wrote the book Six Thinking Hats and is a proponent of the teaching of THINKING as a subject in schools.

TO THINK LATERALLY OR VERTICALLY

Lateral thinking refers to the ability to make decisions using unconventional and 'unlawful' thinking techniques without invoking linear assumptions or logical reasoning.  Unlike adversarial (vertical) thinking where solutions to problems are inspired by related arguments, LATERAL THINKING IS NOT STRAIGHTFORWARD.

VERTICAL THINKING IS EVOLUTION

satisfying solutionyour mind stop when it reaches

Using lateral thinking we should try to acknowledge the promising approach

(we may return to it later) and go on generating other alternatives. The

lateral search for alternatives is deliberate whilst the natural search for

alternatives is more often just an intention not a fact.

The most BASIC PRINCIPLE OF LATERAL THINKING you should always keep in mind is that any given way of looking at things is only one from among many (sometimes endless) other possible ways.

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One of the most renown books on lateral thinking is a textbook of creativity titled accordingly Lateral Thinking by Edward De Bono. It shows how the habit of lateral thinking can be encouraged and new ideas generated. LA

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