Six Thinking Hats • Edward de Bono • 1985
On Mapmaking Rather Than Dialectical Argument
In Short
The typical Western mode of thinking emphasizes the discovery of truth through argument and dialogue. A fuller map of thinking needs to include the generative and creative.
In Depth
For de Bono, critical thinking is only one of multiple modes of thinking that need to be understood. However, he sees Western thought dominated by the idea of dialogue and dialectical argument.
He describes his alternative approach metaphorically as “mapmaking”:
You explore the subject and make the map. You make the map in an objective and neutral fashion. To do this you must look broadly. (p.11)
Each of his six thinking hats is another color layer on the map, another way to think about the situation. Once all colors have been considered, the thinkers have a fuller picture of the whole map and can pick the most effective route forward.
While I notice that de Bono doesn’t offer much discussion here about how the best route is selected (he seems to assume that it will be self-evident for everyone involved), I do appreciate the idea that multiple perspectives should be actively pursued when seeking to understand a situation. It seems to me to be a foundational part of design, and the six thinking hats are a neat way to force people out of their typical patterns of thought.