The Two Main Types of Thinking: Analytical Thinking vs. Possibility Thinking

As we begin thinking, I think its helpful to understand that there are two main types of thinking that we do. Firstly, Analytical Thinking; and secondly, Possibility Thinking.


1. Analytical Thinking
Most of the thinking that is done in the western world is of the analytical type. It involves things such as:

• describing a situation/problem/position etc;
• classifying the situation;
• judging the merits of the situation;
• criticising the situation;
• arguing between two (or more) parties to try to get the best answer (eg. in politics!!).

Much of this type of thinking was formalised by the ancient Greeks, by philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, and has been adopted in western society as the default way in which people do their thinking.

A classic example of this type of thinking is seen during political elections: the two opposing candidates try to prove their own position right, by analysing, and then arguing against, their opponents. This "thinking" pretty much assumes that if they can argue and destroy the other persons' point of view, then by default their own must be better.

While this type of thinking has its place in the world (we do need to analyse, to understand, and to evaluate many things - eg. whether to upgrade to a new car, which health insurace to buy, etc). it is not the only type of thinking that we need to use. As Edward DeBono says in his book Teach Yourself How To Think,

"While analysis does solve a great many problems, there are other problems where the cause cannot be found and if found cannot be removed...Most of the major poblems in the world will not be solved by yet more analysis. There is a need for creative design." (p11).

In other words, its one thing to understand what a problem is, and what the cause of it is. Its another thing to design a workable way forward.

This brings us to the second type of thinking, namely Possibility Thinking.

2. Possibility Thinking

While analytical thinking is excellent as far as it goes, Possibility Thinking gives us the tools we need to survive, and thrive, in the changing environment that is our world. You see, analytical thinking might give us the "boxes", or "maps", that help us to make sense of our world as it is today...but when our world changes so rapidly, these "boxes" or "maps" become obselete. New "boxes" need to be thought out, new "maps" of reality need to be drawn up.

Just think of how quickly France fell to the German Army in WW II...the French still had the old mindset or mental "map" that war involved trench warefare...whilst the Germans had the new mental "map" of Blitzkrieg. Not keeping up with a changing world had tragic consequences for France (and for the rest of the world, for that matter).

So Possibility Thinking is all about designing a way forward, of coming up with new approaches to tackle new problems, or take advantage of new opportunities. It involves imagination, of looking at the way things could be, rather than simply accepting things the way things are. It involves challenging and changing our perceptions, and of generating new ideas.

I'm reminded of a scene from the movie "traffic" (a great movie about the many sides of the Mexican drug trade). The newly appointed US head of Counter-Drug Operations, played by Micheal Douglas, is sitting on his VIP aircraft, along with representatives of various law enforcement agencies, and military personnel. He's just come to understand the magnitude of the drug problem, and is looking for ways to fix them. So he asks his people to "think outside the square", to come up with new ideas to tackle the growing problem. But all he receives is deafening silence. No one says a word. They're gobsmacked. They just can't think of anything.

In other words, they were poor Possibility Thinkers. They couldn't design a new way forward. Even though they knew that the old "business as usual" approach clearly wasn't working.

And its not surprising that people aren't good at Possibility Thinking.

The skills, the mindset, the tools that are required for Possibility Thinking is not taught at school. Or university. But without such thinking, we're more likely going to counter tomorrow's problems with yesterdays solutions.

And that's not a good way to be.