Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
HOWARD GARDNER is professor of cognition and education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
He is also a senior director of Harvard Project Zero. Dr. Gardner, a graduate of Harvard University, is the
recipient of twenty-one honorary degrees from universities and colleges in a number of countries. He is the
author of more than twenty books including Changing Minds, Good Work and Multiple Intelligences. Dr.
Gardner was selected by Foreign Policy and Prospect magazines as one of 100 most influential public
intellectuals in the world in 2005.
Dr. Gardner’s Web site is at www.howardgardner.com.
SUMMARIES.COM is a concentrated business information service. Every week, subscribers are e-mailed a
concise summary of a different business book. Each summary is about 8 pages long and contains the
stripped-down essential ideas from the entire book in a time-saving format. By investing less than one hour
per week in these summaries, subscribers gain a working knowledge of the top business titles. Subscriptions
are available on a monthly or yearly basis. Further information is available at www.summaries.com.
Five Minds for the Future - Page 1
MAIN IDEA
The marketplace of the 21-st century is certain to feature accelerating globalization, rapid increases in the amount of information
which is available and stunning breakthroughs in science and technology. What will it take to succeed in that kind of world?
Irrespective of how the future will eventually unfold, there are five types of cognitive abilities or “minds” which are certain to command
a premium in the years ahead:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
The Disciplined The Synthesizing The Creative The Respectful The Ethical
Mind Mind Mind Mind Mind
Understand and apply the structured Go beyond existing knowledge to To act in ways which exemplifies
ways of thinking associated with fashion new solutions that build on sound judgement and which in
academic disciplines or major and enhance what has been done every way will be considered
professional fields before in the same field to be good citizenship
If you plan on excelling in the future, cultivate these five very different and distinctive ways of thinking.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
The Disciplined The Synthesizing The Creative The Respectful The Ethical
Mind Mind Mind Mind Mind
1 Background knowledge
3 Study your field in a number of different ways
Discipline 2 Mental habits or from a number of different entry points. Look in
depth at various case studies, logical analysis,
3 Patterns of behavior controversial debates and so forth. Doing this
enables you to develop a genuine understanding
for the state-of-the-art and robust mental agility.
1. Background knowledge – to become proficient in any field,
you first need to study what those who have gone before
have learned. As you gain this knowledge base – which takes
time – you’ll also gain a deeper appreciation for the
knowledge which exists in other professions and fields of
expertise as well. Once you’ve gone through the process of 4 Set up ample opportunities for you to get some
learning a discipline yourself, you’ll also have a better hands-on experience in this field. This may be under
appreciation for what it takes to become proficient in some the guidance of an experienced mentor or in other
other field. settings. Doing this enables you to gain performances
of understanding or actual experience in how things
2. Mental habits – studying a discipline to professional standard happen under a variety of conditions. By participating in
always requires that you put aside unstructured thinking and these formative exercises, your understanding of your
develop solid mental habits. In effect, you learn how to think field will be deepened beyond mere memorization of
about problems in a structured and systematic way. Almost key facts and formulas. Until you are forced to apply
all of the professions and certainly all of the different what you’ve learned into real-world situations, your
academic fields have their own distinctive way of thinking and know-how is of limited use. You then become equipped
discussing things. Unless you know the accepted way of to pose new questions or puzzles in your field and to
thinking in each discipline, you’ll find it very difficult to work add to the knowledge base throughout your career.
with others who are deeply immersed in their areas of
specialization.
3. Patterns of behavior – disciplined professionals approach
problems in a structured manner which is ingrained by their Clearly then to master a discipline is not something which can
training. For example, scientists observe the world, come up happen overnight or even by mail order. Instead, time and
with tentative suggestions, design experiments to test their access to mentors who are themselves sufficiently well qualified
theories, revise those theories in light of what they find and is required, along with actual hands-on experience in the field to
then return to make new observations and start the cycle validate the learning which is happening. If you don’t pay the
running all over again. Professionals in other fields often use price to become competent in the discipline of your choice, you
equivalent or similar patterns of behavior which are the direct effectively stay at the same level of someone who is completely
result of their professional training. unschooled. Instead of taking advantage of the progress made
by experienced people in your field over the past few thousand
years, you have to figure everything out for yourself. This is, of
course, highly restrictive and counterproductive.
Five Minds for the Future - Page 3
Any good synthesis attempt will have four essential components: To come up with a robust synthesis is difficult because anyone
who is trained professionally has mastered disciplines which are
1 A goal unique to his or her chosen field of specialization. To leap with
equal competence into entirely different areas of specialization
2 A starting point simply isn’t credible but a good synthesis enables these creative
Synthesis leaps to happen. This cross pollination of ideas from one field
3 Selection of approach injected into another entirely different subject area has produced
some stunning business breakthroughs, and will likely do so
4 Drafts and feedback again in the future.
As the business world’s ability to generate new information
1. A goal – you state what you’re actually trying to achieve with continues to accelerate in the foreseeable future, the ability to
your synthesis. give this information genuine context also increases in value.
2. A starting pint – the idea, image or previous work on which The key to being able to do this is to generate robust
you are attempting to build your synthesis. Darwin developed interdisciplinary or cross-functional thoughts. If your
his theory of evolution based on matching earlier organization aspires to be well positioned in the future, train
evolutionary theories to his field observations made while more people on how to develop a world-class synthesis of the
travelling on the Beagle. facts.
3. Selection of approach – the strategy and method you are “There are two kinds of truth, deep truth and shallow truth, and
choosing to use. If you’re developing a business plan as a the function of science is to eliminate the deep truth.”
synthesis, for example, you would probably consult experts, – Neils Bohr, physicist
do some test marketing, run focus groups and then make
financial projections based on extrapolations of data “We live in a time where our most talented minds know more and
samples. Every synthesis has to have some method on how more about increasingly narrow spheres. The division of labor
things are to be done. that Adam Smith noted in the marketplace of commerce has
swept the marketplace of ideas as well. And there is no reason to
4. Drafts and feedback – sooner or later the material has to be
expect the drive toward specialization will be stemmed – or even
put together and then shown to others for their feedback.
that it would be a good idea to put the brakes on heightened
First drafts of anything are usually reasonably primitive and it
‘laser’ disciplinary exploration. We need role models –
isn’t until the later reworkings of the synthesis that the real
individuals who are themselves good at synthesizing. We also
polish is applied.
need criteria that establishes the difference between excellent,
The most ambitious of any synthesis is when a person takes adequate, and inappropriate integrations. And we must accept
ideas from one discipline or field and applies them to another that these criteria are mission- or topic-specific. What counts as
with great success. If this integration of ideas is handled well, a good synthesis in evolutionary biology may differ markedly
synergy can be created which hopefully will lead to greater value from an integration that is appropriate for the arts or commerce.
further down the track. In the business context, an A synthesis suitable for determining the limits of complexity
interdisciplinary synthesis is more often termed as being theory may bear little resemblance to a synthesis adequate for
“cross-functional” because it combines the input of inventors, addressing the eradication of poverty or the control of the AIDS
designers, marketers, the manufacturing team and so forth. epidemic.”
There are three different contexts in which interdisciplinary – Howard Gardner
synthesis really comes into its own:
“I think intellect is a good thing unless it paralyzes your ability to
make decisions because you see too much complexity.
1 Test a new concept Presidents need to have what I would call a synthesizing
intelligence.”
Interdisciplinary 2 Understand a phenomena – Bill Clinton
Synthesis
3 Solve an emerging problem “Synthesizing massive amounts of data, intelligence, slants,
opinions, tactics, and trying to maintain a strategic big picture
was a challenge. You feel it creeping up into your brain alike a
numbing cold and you just have to choke it down, sift faster, and
1. To test a new concept – for example a disruptive new stay with it. It’s challenging to be sure, but if you practice it, you
technology has been developed and your management team develop a good tool for the leadership toolbox.”
wants to forecast what will be the flow-on impact. – Richard Severs, navy captain
2. To understand a new phenomena – such as when a new drug “Whether one is working at a university, a law firm, or a
turns out to generate toxic side effects in a small proportion of corporation, the job of manager calls for synthesis. The manager
the population and a way forward needs to be agreed upon. must consider the job to be done, the various workers on hand,
3. To develop a solution for some pressing new problem – their current assignments and skills, and how best to execute the
which is beyond the scope of any individual discipline to current priority and move on to the next one. A good manager
handle. Typically, the challenges facing society (poverty, also looks back over what has been done in the past months and
pollution, terrorism) can’t be addressed unless numerous tries to anticipate how best to carry out future missions. And of
disciplines and specialties are combined in the overall effort. course, synthesizing the current state of knowledge,
incorporating new findings is part and parcel of the work.”
– Howard Gardner
Five Minds for the Future - Page 5
1. Neuroscience will identify which human genes contribute to In the present era, however, things are somewhat different. This
creative activities. Individuals who have the right biological is the age of mass weaponry – nuclear, biological and chemical
makeup may be identified and steered towards creative weaponry which has the power not only to readily cross territorial
activities, possibly leading to the establishment of new boundaries but also to render the world uninhabitable. Today,
centers of creative excellence around these superstar war on a global scale is clearly recognized as a zero-sum
creators. exercise which nobody ends up winning regardless of who is left
standing at the end. Everyone readily acknowledges it is now
2. Artificial intelligence will continue to advance in scope and impossible to outlaw war and weapons altogether, so a different
power. Computer programs will be developed which will yield tack is required.
new works of art, improved commercial designs and new
scientific theories. Computer simulation of the human “In a world composed of a few hundred nations, thousands of
intellect will continue to improve steadily and thereby open up groups speaking thousands of languages, and more than 6
all kinds of new possibilities. billion inhabitants, what is a reasonable goal? Clearly, we can no
3. Computers will continue to increase in power and therefore longer simply draw a curtain or build a wall that isolates groups
will become even more useful partners in the creative from one another indefinitely. We homo sapiens must somehow
process. Already computers are being used to crunch learn how to inhabit neighboring places – and the same planet –
through massive amounts of data that would have been without hating one another, without lusting to injure or kill one
inconceivable a few years ago. Architects are today able to another, without acting on xenophobic inclinations even if our
test their designs under a much broader range of operating own group might emerge triumphant in the short run. I prefer the
parameters than ever before. Using expanding computer concept of respect. Rather than ignoring differences, being
power as a tool will greatly enhance the creative output of inflamed by them, or seeking to annihilate them through love or
some very smart people. hate, I call on human beings to accept the differences, learn to
live with them, and value those who belong to other cohorts.”
“Major creative breakthroughs are relatively rare in accounting or – Howard Gardner
engineering, in law or medicine. Indeed, one does well to be
suspicious of claims that a radically new method of accounting, To respect the people you do business with doesn’t mean to
bridge building, surgery, prosecution, or generating energy has suspend judgement. Instead, it means to treat each person on
just been devised. Increasingly, however, rewards accrue to their own merits rather than to group people together by some
those who fashion small but significant changes in professional arbitrary yardstick such as the color of their skin, their political
practice. I would readily apply the descriptor ‘creative’ to the point-of-view or the religion of their choice. Some other points to
individual who figures out how to audit books in a country whose remember with regards to respect are:
laws have been changed and whose currency has been n Avoid attaching any moral significance to group membership
revalued three times in a year, or to the attorney who ascertains – because its always difficult to state definitively Group A is
how to protect intellectual property under conditions of monetary better than Group B. In making these kinds of judgement
(or political or social or technological) volatility.” calls, all you’re doing is reflecting your own personal biases
– Howard Gardner and preferences. Accept that almost all groups have some
positive elements and some negative and leave it at that.
Five Minds for the Future - Page 7
n For the first few decades of life, most people are engaged in More and more, business ethics are moving to center stage. If
gaining an education. Teachers and formal education play you’re hoping to attract high quality talent to your organization,
key roles in encouraging young people to do good work and you have to act transparently and ethically. Definitions may differ
have active citizenship practices. but the litmus test of an ethical organization has always been:
n New employees take their cues for ethical behavior from their “Does what we do make for a better organization, a better city, a
peers and from their superiors. If they observe their friends better nation and a better world?” Increasingly, people will
and associates paying lip service to ethics but then doing choose occupations and organizations which are helping bring a
whatever they want, new employees will get the message better world into reality.
anything goes. This will be reinforced if they then see their “Individuals without ethics will yield a world devoid of decent
superiors crossing ethical lines and favoring those employees workers and responsible citizens; none of us will want to live on
who follow suit. that desolate planet.”
In the end, ethics is all about doing good work that you and your – Howard Gardner
organization can be proud of. A person with a strong ethical
grounding still keeps on trying to do good work even when the “He is certainly not a good citizen who does not wish to promote,
going gets tough. The signposts towards the achievement of this by every means of his power, the welfare of the whole society of
good work can be summarized in the four Ms of ethics: his fellow citizens.”
– Adam Smith
Mirror test – Professional “When everything that matters can be brought and sold, when
commitments can be broken because they are no longer to our
advantage, when shopping becomes salvation and advertising
M slogans become our litany, when our worth is measured by how
much we earn and spend, then the market is destroying the very
virtues on which in the long run it depend.”
M Ethics M – Jonathan Sacks, chief rabbi of Britain
Mission Models
“Perhaps there are no truly universal ethics: or to put it more
precisely, the ways in which ethical principles are interpreted will
M inevitably differ across cultures and eras. Yet, these differences
arise chiefly at the margins. All known societies embrace the
virtues of truthfulness, integrity, loyalty, fairness; none explicitly
Mirror test – Individual endorse falsehood, dishonesty, disloyalty, gross inequity.”
– Howard Gardner
“At the start of the third millennia, we live in a time of vast
changes – changes seemingly so epochal that they may well
1. Mission – Whether at school or in the workplace, an dwarf those experienced in earlier eras. In shorthand, we can
individual needs to specify what he or she is trying to achieve. speak about these changes as entailing the power of science
The absence of any goals means the person will be and technology and the inexorability of globalization. These
directionless which usually leads to trouble. changes call for new educational forms and processes. The
2. Models – It’s vital for individuals who aspire to do good work minds of learners must be fashioned and stretched in five ways
to have strong role models – people who embody what is that have not been crucial – or not as crucial – until now. How
desired. This conveys the sense that everything can be done prescient were the words of Winston Churchill: ‘The empires of
ethically and properly. the future will be empires of the mind’. We must recognize what is
3. Mirror test – Individual version – Aspiring good workers need called for in this new world – even as we hold on to certain
to be able to look in the mirror and like what they see. There perennial skills and values that may be at risk.”
needs to be a sense if everything you did was printed in the – Howard Gardner
local newspaper, you’d feel proud rather than ashamed.
“With these minds, a person will be well equipped to deal with
4. Mirror test – Professional version – If you’re doing good work what is expected, as well as what cannot be anticipated; without
personally but the organization you belong to is acting these minds, a person will be at the mercy of forces that he or she
unprofessionally or even illegally, then problems lie ahead. can’t understand, let alone control.”
You can’t belong to an organization you’re deeply ashamed – Howard Gardner
of and do good work. You have to look at your peers.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
The Disciplined The Synthesizing The Creative The Respectful The Ethical
Mind Mind Mind Mind Mind