SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Copyright © Michael Hewitt-Gleeson 2004 Mi c hael H ew i tt- Glees o n has as s erted hi s mo ...
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SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Copyright © Michael Hewitt-Gleeson 2004 Mi c hael H ew i tt- Glees o n has as s erted hi s mo ral ri ght to be i d en ti fi ed as the au tho r o f thi s w o rk i n ac c o rd an c e w i th the Co p y ri ght A c t. A ll ri ghts res erv ed . Ap art fro m an y fai r d eali n g fo r the p u rp os e o f p ri v ate s tu d y , res earc h, c ri ti c i s m o r rev i ew as p ermi tted ; n o p art o f thi s p u blic atio n may be rep ro d u c ed , s to red i n a retri ev a l s y s tem, o r tran s mi tted i n an y fo rm o r by an y means , d i gi tal, elec t ro n i c , mec han i c al, p ho to c o p yi n g, rec o rd i n g o r o therw i s e w i tho u t p ri o r w ri tten p ermi ss i o n . Inqu i ri es to be mad e to the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g – http : // w w w .s c ho o lo fthi n k i n g.o rg
Nati o n al Li bra ry o f A u s trali a Catalo gu i n g- i n - p u blic ati o n d ata: H ew i tt- Glees o n , Mi c hael, 1947So ftw are fo r y o u r b r ai n ISB N 1 8 7 58 57 49 4 1. C reati v e thi n k i n g. 2. Pro bl em- s o lv i n g. I H ew i tt- Glees o n , Mi c hae l, 194 7So ftw are fo r th e b rai n . W hi le ev ery c are has been tak en to trac e an d ac k n o w led ge c op y ri ght w e ap o lo gi s e fo r an y ac c i d en tal i n fri n gemen ts that may hav e o c c u rred . Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g PO B o x 3 0 0 T o o rak VIC 3 142 A U ST RA LIA Vo i c e: +613 .950 0 .8 0 0 0
i Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN W hat they s ay ab ou t Mi c hael H ew i tt- Glees o n hi s brai n s o ftw are an d his w o rk in teac hi n g p eo p le ho w to thi n k … J A C K WELC H , The Ge ne ra l Ele c tr i c Co m p a ny, N e w Yo rk I w o u ld lo v e to hav e a man agem en t team tha t re ally u n d ers to o d the C VST OB VS eq u ati o n - - i t's the ' v alu e- ad d ed ' ro le i n the man agemen t p ro c es s . PR OF ESSOR GEOR GE GA LLU P, T he Ga llu p Po ll, Pri nc e t o n I beli ev e the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k in g’s w ork i n teac hi n g p eo p le to thi nk may be the mo s t i mp o rtan t thi n g go i n g o n i n the w o rld to d ay . ED WA R D D E B ON O, co - f o u nde r of t he Sc ho o l of Thi nk i ng I w o u ld exp ec t a Sc ho o l o f T hi n k in g member to u s e thi n k i n g in a qu i et an d c o n fi d en t man n er. I w o u ld exp ec t that p ers o n to hav e p rid e in hi s o r her thi n k in g s k i ll. T hi s ap p li ed thi n ki n g is p rac ti cal- - the s o rt o f thi n k in g that i s requ i red to get thi n gs d o n e! PETER F ITZSIMO N S, Sy dne y Mo rni ng H e ra ld, Sydne y If Dr. H ew i tt- Glees o n has hi s w ay , A u s trali an s c ho o lc hi ld ren w i ll hav e th e s tu d y o f ' thi n k in g' as muc h a p art o f thei r c urri c u lu m as the trad i ti o n al s u bj ec ts o f maths an d En gli s h are n o w . T he d o c to r is i n Sy d n ey as p art o f a n ati o n wi d e to u r to p ro mo te hi s i n n ov ati v e c o nc ep t - CVST OB VS. TH E TOD A Y SH O W, C ha nne l 10 TV, Sydne y A u s trali an k i ds w i ll s o o n b e tau ght to thi n k fo r thems elv es . PR OF ESSOR R OB ER T H A Y ES, H arva rd B u s i ne ss Sc ho o l, B os t o n In bu s i n es s , mo v i n g fro m CVST OB VS s ho u ld be the c o n s tan t. R A Y MA R TIN , R a y Ma rt i n Sho w, Me lbo u rne I w an t thi s fo r my o w n k i d . GQ Ma g a zi ne , N e w Y o rk Mi c hael H ew i tt- Glees o n , s c i en ti s t an d lec tu rer, i s an i n tern ati o n al mo v er an d s hak er. Th e St e ve He lle r Sho w, K R EX C o lo ra do CVST OB VS i s s o s i mp le y et i t really w o rk s ! U SA IR Ma g a zi ne Mi c hael H ew i tt- Glees o n an d the Sc hoo l o f T hi n ki n g are sp read i n g thei r i d eas . So me p eo p le hav e d u b bed them the " Mc Do n ald ' s o f T hi n k in g" . N a t i o na l Edu c a ti o n A ss o ci a t i o n, Wa s hi ng t o n. Seld o m hav e I b een as exc i ted by th e p o ten ti al o f a p ro j ec t as I w as o n d i s cu s si n g the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g w i th y o u . R e a de rs D i ge s t , C o ve r St o ry, Wo rldwi de H i s s ys tem has been ad o p ted b y c o rpo rate exec u ti v es , tau ght i n s c ho o ls and s tu di ed by go v ern men t o ffi c i als .
ii Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
INTRODUCTION TO THIS 2004 EDITION A p p aren tly I w as the fi rs t to c o i n the term ne c kto p c o m p u te r. In the 8 0 s , w hi le o n th e lec tu re c i rc u i t i n the U SA an d E u ro p e, I w as i n v i ted to gi v e the k ey n o te ad d res s to a s eri es o f IB M exec u ti v e c o n feren c es i n Mo n te Carlo . I i n tro d u c ed my thi n k in g s trate gy - CVS T O B VS - as ' s o ftw are fo r the b rai n ' an d refe rred to the b r ai n as a ne c kto p com p u te r. It hi ghly amu s ed the IB M exec u ti v es in the au d i en c e s o I k ep t ‘n ec k to p c o mpu ter’ i n my talk s fo r a lau gh. In 198 9 I w ro te i t u p i n S o ft w ar e F o r The B r ain an d n o w i t' s c o mmo n c u rren c y . Y o u an d I, w i th o u r hu man brai n s , a re p rep o s tero u s ly o v er en d o w ed w i th thi n k i n g hard w are b u t w e’re v ery s ho rt o n so ftw are . W hy thi s i s s o an d w hat yo u c an d o abo u t i t i s i n this b o o k . T hi s e- bo o k i s the n ew an d ev o lv ed 2004 Edi t i o n o f S o ft w ar e F o r Y our B r ain an d si nc e the fi rs t ed i ti o n , 15 y ears ago , i ts ev o lu ti o n has p ro d uc ed a few c han ges w o rth n o ti n g. T he fi rs t mu tati o n i s i n the n ame. It has ev o lv ed fro m ‘s o ftw are fo r the brai n ’ to ‘s o ftw are fo r yo u r brai n ’. Pa rt o f the reas o n fo r thi s i s bec au s e thi s bo o k has als o bec o me the bas i c text fo r the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g ( SOT ) si n c e i t w en t o n line i n 1995 . F o r y o u r i n fo rmati o n :
It w as the SOT w hi c h p u t ' thi n k i n g' on the c u rri c u lu m i n U S sc ho o ls .
It w as the SOT t hat h elp ed d ev elo p t he i d ea o f ' s i x thi n k i n g c ap s ' w hi c h E d w ard d e B o n o has d es c ri bed as " the m o s t i m p o rta nt c ha ng e i n hu m a n thi nki ng fo r the p a s t 2 3 0 0 ye a rs " .
It w as the S OT that es tabli s hed the i d ea o f ' thi n k i n g in s tru c to rs ' fo r d i s s emi n ati n g thi nk i n g s ki lls aro u n d the w o rld .
It w as SOT tha t es tabli s hed the i d ea o f ' d ai ly trai n i n g' by emai l.
It w as SOT that es tabli s hed the CVS T O B VS " un i v ers al brai n s o ftw are" w hi c h w as later t ak en u p an d u s ed by J ac k W elc h thro u gho u t G en eral E lec tri c . " F i nd i ng a b e tte r wa y e v e ry d a y" bec ame a GE s lo gan w hi c h w as p u t u p i n ev ery GE o ffi c e an d fac to ry aro u n d the w o rld .
iii Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
T he SOT s en d s o u t less o n s by emai l ev ery d ay to members i n o v er 40 co u n tri es w o rld w i d e. E ac h d ai ly les s o n i s a c hap ter o f thi s bo o k – p ers o n ali zed f r o m me to the tr ai n ee - an d the bo o k has ev o lv ed to bec o me mu c h mo re p ers o n al an d i n ti mate. So the ti tle i s n o w mo re p ers o n al. T he o the r mo re i n ter es ti n g mu tati o n s i n thi s ed i ti o n are d u e to feed bac k I get fro m all th es e tr ai n ees . T he o n li n e tr ai n in g gi v es me a ri c h an d c o n ti n u ou s s tream o f d ai ly c o mmen ts fro m trai n ees – w hat they li k e abo u t the les s on s , w hat they d o n ’t li k e abo u t them an d w hat i d eas they hav e fo u n d u s efu l en o u gh to t ran s fer i n to thei r o w n li v es . T hi s in terac ti v e exp eri en c e has help ed me ev o lv e man y o f the i d eas , to s tren gthen the w eak er p arts an d to hav e a c lear er u n d ers tan d in g o f ho w p eo p le pu t thi s brain s o ftw are i n to ac ti o n at ho me, at s c ho o l, i n s p o rt an d i n thei r d i v ers e c areers . F o r thes e re as o n , thi s 2 0 0 4 E d i ti o n p res en ts the la tes t ev o lu ti o n o f t hi s w o rk . In s tead o f the o ld c ha p te rs there a re the n ew d a ys . Y o u c an read thi s ed i ti o n as a bo o k , i n a c o u p le o f ho u rs at a s i tti n g, o r y o u c an rati o n y o u rs elf o n e les s o n a d ay as a c o u rs e o f trai n i n g fo r 3 7 d ay s . W hat y o u hav e here is n o t j us t a bo ok abo u t theo ry bu t a u ni qu e w o rk -i n -p ro gres s . It’s a p res en tati o n o f b rai n s o ftw ar e that has been tri ed , tes ted an d e v o lv ed b y tho u s an d s o f b rai n us ers w o rld w i d e o ver the las t few d ec ad es . A s a bon u s I in c lu d e tw o extra p arts alo n g w i th thi s edi ti o n – Fe e dba ck and F A Qs . T he F eed bac k is a c o llec ti o n o f c o mmen ts fro m members aro u n d the w o rld w ho hav e u s ed thes e les s o n s . Y o u may fi n d thei r exp eri en c es i n teres ti n g. T he F A Qs are t hei r frequ en tly as k ed qu es ti o ns ab o u t p ro blems w i th the brai n s o ftw are an d th e materi al i n thi s bo o k an d als o my rep li es . I ho p e y o u fi n d thes e bo n us es a u s efu l ad d i ti o n to the w o rk . In thi s sp ec i al ed i ti on , I hav e als o i n c lud ed a n ew an d s o mew hat c o ntro v ers i al c hap ter i n Day 6 c alled A B ri g ht Ide a W hos e T i m e H as Co me . T he c on tro v ers y i s c o n n ec ted to the materi al i n the fi rs t p art o f the bo o k ( Day s 1 to 12 ) w hic h trac es the hi s to ry o f w hy w e thi nk the way w e d o i n W es tern c u ltu re. T he d o mi n an t
iv Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN s o ftw are w e teac h o u r k i d s at s c ho ol i s the RIGH T /W RONG s o ftw are w hi c h w as d ev elo p ed by the Vati c an an d s p read aro u n d the w o rld w i th mis s i on ary zeal d u ri n g the p as t 40 0 y ears . E v en tho u gh the fac ts I refer to ar e w ell k n o w n to s c ho lars and c an eas i ly be c hec k ed o u t, i t i s bec au s e I tak e s uc h a c ri ti c al ap p ro ac h to the ro le o f c ertai n reli gi o u s i d ea v i ru s es an d ho w they hav e i n fec ted o u r thi n k i n g habi ts t hat man y p eo p le feel u n c o mfo rtable , s o me ev en an gry . I c o n ti nu e to get mi xed reac ti o n s fro m read ers . So me w an t the materi al remo v ed fro m th e t rai n i n g bec au s e they are o ffen d ed by the r eli gi o u s c ri ti c i s m and o thers are s i mp ly bo red bec au s e they d o n ’t s ee the relev an c e. H o w ev e r, the ma j o ri ty o f read ers ap p lau d the c han c e to ha v e thes e i s s u es d i sc u ss ed an d o thers hav e ac c lai med thi s s ec ti on to be mo s t li berati n g fo r them. In a Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g all v i ew p o in ts n eed to be c o ns id ered , s o I hav e le ft i t i n . Rec en tly T he Da Vi nci Co de b y Dan Bro w n has in tro d u c ed a wi d e au di en c e to man y o f thes e c o n tro v ers i al matters an d s o tho s e o f y o u w ho hav e read B ro w n ’s bo o k may n o w fin d the read i n g o f this bo o k mu c h eas i er go i n g than s o me o f my earli er read ers . If y o u c an n o t s to mac h an y c ri ti c is m o f reli gi o n o r i f y o u c ann o t s ee the in flu en c e that reli gi o n s ti ll exerts o v er all o u r t hi n k in g to d ay ( es p eci ally B i g Reli gi on li k e the Vati c an ) then y o u c an s k ip Day s 1 to 12 an d s tart fro m Day 13 . B u t the re are tw o mai n reas o n s fo r k eep in g thi s materi al i n thi s bo o k an d w hy y ou s ho u ld read an d thi n k abo u t i t: W elfare an d Sec u ri ty . T he qu ali ty o f y ou r w elfare - y o u r p ro d u c ti vi ty , y ou r health, y o u r p ro fes s i o n al s u c c ess – wi ll alw ay s be a d i rec t c on sequ en c e o f the qu ali ty o f y o u r thi nk in g. If y o u are to u p g rad e y o u r thi n k i n g s o ftw are i t i s help fu l to u n d ers tan d w hy y o ur c u rren t s o ftw are w o rk s the w ay i t d o es an d w hy y o u thi n k the w ay y o u d o . T hi s c an n o t be u n d ers to o d w i tho u t exami n i n g the hi s to ry o f o u r thi n k i n g an d ho w w e c a me to b e d o mi n ated by o n e d an gero u s id ea fro m o n e an c i en t man – Pla to ’s c o n c ep t o f T RU T H . So w e exami n e thi s i n the fi rs t 12 d ay s . Y o u w i ll exp lo re Pla to ’s i d ea o f o b j e cti v e tru th an d y o u w i ll s ee ho w thi s has led to the s tro n g d efen c e o f T he T ru th w hi c h s o d i mi n is hes the thi n k er' s abi li ty to es c ap e
v Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN fro m hi s v i ew p o in t to fi n d a mu c h better o n e. Y o u w i ll un d ers tan d ho w A ri s to tle later i mbed d ed Plato ’s i d ea i n hi s s y llo gi s m w hi c h w as then p i c k ed up b y T ho mas A qu in as an d bec ame the bas i s o f l o g i c , the d o mi n an t b rain s o ftw are p u s hed by the Vati c an . W es tern ed u c ati o n has mad e a go d o u t o f lo g i c an d the ' s earc h fo r c ertai n ty ' . T he W es tern ed u c ati o n s y s tem w as s et u p by the med i ev al Chu rc h a n d s p read thro u gho u t E u ro p e an d exp o rted to o ther p a rts o f the w o rld w i th mi s s i o n ary zeal . E v en to d ay , w e s ti ll s en d ou r c hi ld ren to sc ho o l p ro grammi n g thei r y o un g brai n s w i th the lo gi c o p erati n g s ys tem. T hen , they ' re gi v en the i mp res s io n that all they hav e to d o i n li fe i s " to g et th e ri gh t an s w er" o r " tel l T he T ru th" . H o w c o u ld y o u abu s e a c hi ld mo re than letti n g hi m thi n k that li fe i s s i mp ly mad e up o f RIGH T an d W RONG? On ly Mi c ro s o ft' s glo bal exp o rt o f DOS s o ftw ar e has ev er ri v alled the Vati c an ' s glo bal e xp o rt o f the lo g i c brai n s o ftw are. In ad d i ti on to hi s to ry , the s ec on d reas o n fo r bein g up fro n t abo u t all thi s has to d o w i th y o u r fu tu re s ec u ri ty . Si n c e 9/1 1 the w o rld has bec o me a mo re d an ge r o u s p lac e an d there i s a d i rec t li n k to thi s d an ger an d to the exc es s es o f c ertai n reli gi o u s i d eav i ru s es . Man y s c i en tis ts aro u n d the w o rld a r e fi n ally s tar ti n g to s p eak u p . T hi s i s u n u su al bec au s e s c i en ti s ts us u ally p refer to g o abo u t thei r bu s i n es s leav i n g the head li n es to the c ha tte ra ti o f bu s i n es s , p o li tic s , en tertai n men t an d s p o rt. B u t n o t an ymo re. T he threat to o u r s ec u ri ty p o s ed by the extremes o f re li gi o u s fu n d amen tali s m i s o n e o f the mo s t leg en d ary i s s u es o f o u r ti mes . So , i n Day 6 I h av e c o me o u t , as ha v e s o me o ther s c i en ti s ts , i n an effo rt to d r aw atten ti o n to thi s threat an d to help o t hers w ho may feel i n c li n ed to d o s o . Lo o k i n g b ac k o v er the p as t tw o d e c ad es o f thi s d i sc u ss i on an d the c on tro v ers y as s o c i ated w i th i t the mo s t ti res o me reto r t by my c ri ti c s is that I am a nti- re li g i o n. T hi s c lai m i s mean t to s u gges t that my thi n k i n g o n thi s is s u e i s s o p re- determi n ed by p rej ud i c e that i t c an therefo re be d is mi ss ed . Of c o u rs e, as a p ers on who v alu es
vi Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN thi n k i n g, I am n o t an ti - reli gi o n at al l bu t I a m an ti the v e ry d an gero u s c la i m mad e by s o me reli gi o u s fu n d amen tali s ts that my - reli gi o n - i s - the- o n e- tru e- reli g i o n - and w hat- are- w e- go i n g- to - d o - abo u t- y o u . So , I’ ll t ak e thi s o p p o rtu n i ty to s tate o nc e a g a i n that I am f ar f ro m bei n g an ti - r eli gi o n . In A u s trali a, the las t n ati o n al c en s u s s ho w s that there i s a ri c h d i v ers i ty o f c u ltu res , p hi lo s o p hi es , i d eo lo gi es an d reli gi o n s . T his is an examp le o f o u r ‘freed o m o f reli gi o n ’ w hi c h has b een a p ro blem fo r man y o ther n ati o n s . In A u s trali a, the re a re o v e r 2 70 d i s ti n c t reli gi o u s gro u p s . T hi s i s ev id enc e o f the c reati v i ty , to le ran c e an d go o d w i ll o f o u r n ati o n an d mad e p o s s i ble by Sec ti o n 116 o f the A u s trali an Co n s ti tu ti o n w hi c h s ay s A LL reli gi o n s are equ a l u n d er th e Law o f A u s trali a.
F o r o v er 10 0 y ears , Sec ti o n 116 has allo w ed all A u s trali an s to ben efi t fro m o u r great c o mmo n w ealth o f reli gi o - d i v ers i ty . J u s t to men ti o n a few : A u s trali an s s hare the lo n g ev o lu ti o n o f th e A bo ri gi n al d re a mi n g, the w i s d o m gai n ed fro m the s u fferi n g o f J u d ai s m, the w armth o f the b ro th erh o o d o f Is lam, the c ha ri ty o f the Chri s ti an s w i th thei r lo v e o f Go d an d fello w hu m an s bei n gs ,
the p eac e an d c o mp as s i on o f
B u d d his m, the p lu rali s m o f the H in du s , the T ao i s t res p ec t o f n atu re, the emp has i s o n relati o n s hi ps an d man n ers o f Con fu c i ani s m, the s o c i al j u s tic e o f Mar xi s m, the hu man i s t freed o m o f the li b erals , th e ho li s ti c ap p ro ac h o f the A fri c an s , the Si k hs w i th thei r hu mo u r an d s in c eri ty , an d , a gro w i n g n u mber o f A u s trali an s - abo v e 2 5% - w ho are fr ee to s tat e that they hav e n o reli gi o n at all . W e hav e thes e an d man y o ther reli gi o u s s ys tems w hi c h are a p ri c eles s p art o f o u r v as t treas u re o f i n tellec tu a l c ap i tal. A ll thes e d i v ers e reli gi o u s v alu es hav e thri v ed an d are c o mp ati ble i n an en v i ro n men t o f mu tu al r es p ec t an d freed o m. A s a y o u n g c o u n try , w e hav e lea rn t fro m the bi tt er exp eri en c e o f o th ers . W e h av e s een that i t i s o n ly w hen o n e reli gi o n s eek s to i mp o s e i ts au tho ri ty an d ri gh teo u s n es s o v er an o the r that w e c an exp ec t the bru ta li ty an d the te rro r o f r eli gi o u s w ars an d c ru sad es , the ho rro r o f fatw ahs an d i n q u i s i tio n s , an d the fu ry o f the p ers ec u ti o n s that f o llo w . So w hat then i s the qu i n tes s en ti al ben efit o f Sec ti o n 116?
vii Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN It i s , s i mp ly , freed o m o f c ho i c e. T hat mean s freed o m fo r y o u to c ho o s e, n o t fo r s o meo n e els e to c ho o s e fo r y o u . B u t, A u s trali an s are n o t bli n d . A s w i th all n ati o n s , w e hav e s een the p ra c ti s e fall s o mew hat s ho rt o f t he i d eal . A u s trali a, li k e all n ati o n s , c an ref lec t o n i ts o w n s o rry hi s to ry o f p ers ecu ti o ns w hic h hav e inc lu d ed the flo ggi n gs o f Iri s h c on v ic ts, the ' p i g tai li n g' o f th e Chi n es e, the theft o f A bo ri gi n al c hi ld ren , the s c hi s m o f t he Labo u r mo v emen t, the t reatm en t o f Vi etn am Veter an s an d the W hi te A u s trali a Po l i c y . Sti ll, the i d eal o f F r eed o m o f Reli gi o n i s qu i n tes s en ti ally A u s trali an an d i t i s o n e that I p ers o n ally hav e alw ay s s u pp o rted . B u t fi n ally , the re al p u rp o s e o f thi s ed i ti o n is to p res en t to y o u the fu ll s u i te o f brai n s o ftw are – SD N T C VS TOB VS QR H PR R – w hi c h has been the c entral o f fer o f thi s bo o k si n c e i t w as fi rs t p u bli shed i n 198 9. I ho p e y o u w i ll enj o y thi s 2 00 4 E d i ti on o f So ftwa re F o r Y o u r B ra i n wi th i ts fres h mi x o f the o ld an d the n e w . M ic h ae l H e w it t - Gl e e so n Pr inc ipal S OT M e l bo ur ne 2004
viii Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Contents
DAY 1 OF 37............................................................................................................................. 1 Welcome to the School of Thinking. .................................................................................................................1 The School of Thinking Explained ....................................................................................................................1 The Daily Thinking Lesson ................................................................................................................................1 Day 2 OF 37 .............................................................................................................................3 Brainpower and Intelligence............................................................................................................................. 3 Cognitive Science............................................................................................................................................... 4 Brain software for better thinking.................................................................................................................... 5 Interpretation..................................................................................................................................................... 7 DAY 3 OF 37 ........................................................................................................................... 8 What if you had a virus in your brain?.............................................................................................................8 And, in YOUR brain??? ................................................................................................................................... 10 Ideaviruses, Memes and Memeplexes ........................................................................................................... 10 Plato the TruthFreak ....................................................................................................................................... 10 STC - The Problem and The Solution.............................................................................................................. 11 DAY 4 OF 37 .......................................................................................................................... 12 Cognitive Dissonance: From Flat Earth to Round Earth ............................................................................. 12 The Father of Modern Science........................................................................................................................ 13 Dosage of Dissonance...................................................................................................................................... 14 DAY 5 OF 37 .......................................................................................................................... 16 My-Teacher-is-Right-and-Your-Teacher-is-Wrong.......................................................................................17 Truth 'R' Us ...................................................................................................................................................... 18 Myths, Theories and Hypotheses ...................................................................................................................20 Bores and Bullies ............................................................................................................................................. 21 Today?...............................................................................................................................................................24 Experiment....................................................................................................................................................... 25 DAY 6 OF 37 ..........................................................................................................................26 DAY 7 OF 37...........................................................................................................................32 Always remember, if you don't do your own thinking, someone else will do it for you.............................33 Mail sorting and Labelling ..............................................................................................................................33 Aristotle's Silly Syllogism ................................................................................................................................34 No Contradictions, Please!.............................................................................................................................. 35 Judging Right from Wrong ............................................................................................................................. 35 Ancient Software..............................................................................................................................................36 Let's Be Fair......................................................................................................................................................36 Beyond Critical Thinking ................................................................................................................................36 DAY 8 OF 37 ......................................................................................................................... 38 Doctor Truth and The Truth ...........................................................................................................................38 Truth Machines................................................................................................................................................40 'Angelic Doctor' Truth .....................................................................................................................................40 Exporting the Virus ......................................................................................................................................... 41 DAY 9 OF 37 ..........................................................................................................................42
ix Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN On Sovereign Thinkers, Religions, Belief Systems and PTV........................................................................43 The Sovereign Thinker ....................................................................................................................................44 The Scheme ...................................................................................................................................................... 45 Collecting Heaven Points ................................................................................................................................46 Pay Your Money, Collect Your Points ............................................................................................................46 "Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely" .......................................................................................................... 47 And he did! .......................................................................................................................................................48 The 'St Peters' Scam.........................................................................................................................................48 Luther's Pamphlets..........................................................................................................................................49 Sovereign Thinker............................................................................................................................................49 Inventor of the Media......................................................................................................................................50 Modern Martins...............................................................................................................................................50 The Internet .....................................................................................................................................................50 DAY 10 OF 37......................................................................................................................... 51 Replacing Old Truths With New Truths ........................................................................................................ 52 Another Truth Discovered! ............................................................................................................................. 53 Crick and Watson............................................................................................................................................. 54 What is life?...................................................................................................................................................... 54 Digital Genes .................................................................................................................................................... 55 The Human Genome Project .......................................................................................................................... 56 Knowledge and Power ..................................................................................................................................... 56 Instant auto-excommunication option .......................................................................................................... 57 The End of the Mystical Millennium..............................................................................................................58 The Greatest Thinkers .....................................................................................................................................58 DAY 11 OF 37 .........................................................................................................................59 The Effects of PTV ........................................................................................................................................... 59 Brain Vain......................................................................................................................................................... 59 Righteous and Sightless .................................................................................................................................. 59 Space Glutton ...................................................................................................................................................60 Lazy Critic.........................................................................................................................................................60 The Brain Software .......................................................................................................................................... 61 DAY 12 OF 37.........................................................................................................................62 The Truth..........................................................................................................................................................62 Unfair Conclusion? ..........................................................................................................................................62 DAY 13 OF 37.........................................................................................................................64 Problems and Opportunities...........................................................................................................................64 Intelligent Behaviour Equals Strategies and Options................................................................................... 65 DAY 14 0F 37.........................................................................................................................67 Units of Intellect ..............................................................................................................................................68 Messages In and Messages Out ......................................................................................................................68 To Send or Not To Send, That's the Decision................................................................................................69 DAY 15 OF 37 .........................................................................................................................70 BRAIN SOFTWARE: SDNT Search Engine...................................................................................................70 What is starting? ..............................................................................................................................................70 The Start of the Sale = Customer Attention....................................................................................................71 The Check Move................................................................................................................................................71 MBO or MBS? .................................................................................................................................................. 72
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SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Strategic Act ..................................................................................................................................................... 72 Why start things?............................................................................................................................................. 73 When to Start? ................................................................................................................................................. 74 Mistake-phobia ................................................................................................................................................ 74 Have a go! ......................................................................................................................................................... 74 Lazy Critic......................................................................................................................................................... 75 Starting by Asking............................................................................................................................................ 76 Ask and Receive ............................................................................................................................................... 76 Getting Started ................................................................................................................................................. 76 DAY 16 OF 37.........................................................................................................................78 DO ..................................................................................................................................................................... 78 The Quest - Seek and Ye Shall Find ............................................................................................................... 78 Questions are the Answer ............................................................................................................................... 79 Questions Help You Do ................................................................................................................................... 79 Do it bad! ..........................................................................................................................................................80 Bad Can Lead to Good .....................................................................................................................................80 Using Questions...............................................................................................................................................80 DAY 17 OF 37 ........................................................................................................................ 82 NOTICE ............................................................................................................................................................82 Objectivity ........................................................................................................................................................82 Cybernetics.......................................................................................................................................................82 Feedback Loops ...............................................................................................................................................83 Edward de Bono...............................................................................................................................................84 The Brain as a Body System............................................................................................................................84 Cognetics ..........................................................................................................................................................84 Who was a Noticer? .........................................................................................................................................85 Power to the People, Power to the Customer ................................................................................................85 Teaching Thinking...........................................................................................................................................86 Notice the CVS .................................................................................................................................................86 Your Own Gallup Poll Question......................................................................................................................86 How to Notice Things......................................................................................................................................86 Opposite Direction........................................................................................................................................... 87 Mistakes............................................................................................................................................................ 87 Future Consequences ...................................................................................................................................... 87 Last Chance to Choose a Safe Future .............................................................................................................88 Why notice things? ..........................................................................................................................................88 Input .................................................................................................................................................................88 Habits of Noticing............................................................................................................................................89 Skill and Training ............................................................................................................................................89 Distractions ......................................................................................................................................................89 DAY 18 OF 37......................................................................................................................... 91 Thinking vs Doing?.......................................................................................................................................... 91 Thought-Based Action:THINK-START-DO. .................................................................................................92 Action-Based Thought: DO-NOTICE-THINK...............................................................................................92 The Alternating Balance..................................................................................................................................92 The Cognetics Spiral........................................................................................................................................93 What if ...? Thinking ........................................................................................................................................94 Hardware and Software ..................................................................................................................................94 Logic and Cognetics......................................................................................................................................... 95 Thinking is Movement.....................................................................................................................................96
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SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Thought Experiment: ...................................................................................................................................... 97 DAY 19 OF 37........................................................................................................................ 98 CVSTOBVS - Cognetics Operating System ....................................................................................................98 The Cognetics Operating System....................................................................................................................98 From CVS to BVS; or CVS2BVS......................................................................................................................99 Beyond Logic....................................................................................................................................................99 Unique rightness..............................................................................................................................................99 The Law of Cognetics......................................................................................................................................101 Antidote to PTV...............................................................................................................................................101 Not Testing and Measuring = Faith ............................................................................................................. 102 Belief Systems ................................................................................................................................................ 102 Laws of Moses ................................................................................................................................................ 103 From Polytheism to Monotheism................................................................................................................. 104 Believing Science and Believing Faith.......................................................................................................... 105 Your Beliefs .................................................................................................................................................... 105 Thought Experiment ..................................................................................................................................... 106 DAY 20 OF 37 ....................................................................................................................... 111 Measuring Your Job ....................................................................................................................................... 111 Decimal Cognetics ..........................................................................................................................................112 BVS = CVS x 10 ...............................................................................................................................................112 Tenpower.........................................................................................................................................................113 DAY 21 OF 37........................................................................................................................114 Practice, Repetition, Rehearsal......................................................................................................................114 What is Tenpower? ......................................................................................................................................... 115 Put-on a Zero! ................................................................................................................................................. 115 Where to use Tenpower?................................................................................................................................116 Why use Tenpower? .......................................................................................................................................116 Quantum Leaps and Orders of Magnitude ................................................................................................... 117 Tenpower and Googols................................................................................................................................... 117 How large is a googol? .................................................................................................................................... 117 DAY 22 OF 37 .......................................................................................................................119 Managing Your Attention...............................................................................................................................119 Attention Disorders ....................................................................................................................................... 122 The CVSTOBVS Switch ................................................................................................................................. 122 Switching TO.................................................................................................................................................. 122 Programming the Software ........................................................................................................................... 123 CVSTOBVS one hundred times per day....................................................................................................... 123 (CVSTOBVS) x 100pd.................................................................................................................................... 123 Better is Clever ............................................................................................................................................... 124 To Look Is To See........................................................................................................................................... 125 Seek and You Shall Find................................................................................................................................ 126 DAY 23 OF 37 ...................................................................................................................... 127 QRH Styleware................................................................................................................................................127 What is Styleware?..........................................................................................................................................127 Style A Strategy for Behaviour.......................................................................................................................127 Your Personal Style........................................................................................................................................ 128 Changing Your Style ...................................................................................................................................... 128 Your Virtual Board of Directors.................................................................................................................... 129
xii Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Appointing Your Directors............................................................................................................................ 129 Q is for Quality ............................................................................................................................................... 130 Quality is Adding Value................................................................................................................................. 130 The Habit of Quality ...................................................................................................................................... 130 DAY 24 OF 37 .......................................................................................................................131 Self X10............................................................................................................................................................131 DAY 25 OF 37 ...................................................................................................................... 133 DAY 26 OF 37 ...................................................................................................................... 136 PTV and RMC................................................................................................................................................. 136 DAY 27 OF 37....................................................................................................................... 138 Mutual recognition ........................................................................................................................................ 139 R1 - Self Recognition ..................................................................................................................................... 140 R2 - Other Recognition ................................................................................................................................. 140 R3 - System Recognition ................................................................................................................................141 Papal Recognition.......................................................................................................................................... 142 Princely Recognition ..................................................................................................................................... 142 Recognition for Self ....................................................................................................................................... 143 Recognition for Others .................................................................................................................................. 143 Recognition for the System........................................................................................................................... 144 On Balance ..................................................................................................................................................... 144 Secret Revolution........................................................................................................................................... 144 DAY 28 OF 37 ...................................................................................................................... 145 Stars and Conformists ................................................................................................................................... 145 Humour is Clever........................................................................................................................................... 145 Surprise is Human......................................................................................................................................... 146 Humour is Serious......................................................................................................................................... 146 The Humour of Change ..................................................................................................................................147 That was then ... this is now!..........................................................................................................................147 The Scientist's Dogs....................................................................................................................................... 148 Productivity is Fun......................................................................................................................................... 148 Cognetics Style ............................................................................................................................................... 149 DAY 29 OF 37 ...................................................................................................................... 150 PRR Personal Trainer.................................................................................................................................... 150 The Stirrup ...................................................................................................................................................... 151 Training and Service....................................................................................................................................... 151 The New Age of Chivalry ................................................................................................................................ 151 The Ultimate Strategy is PRR!...................................................................................................................... 152 Jungle Warfare............................................................................................................................................... 152 Opposite Way ................................................................................................................................................. 152 Royal Australian Air Force............................................................................................................................ 153 Knowing Versus Doing.................................................................................................................................. 153 DAY 30 Of 37 ....................................................................................................................... 155 Results as Consequences................................................................................................................................155 Results as Scores.............................................................................................................................................155 How To Get Results ....................................................................................................................................... 156 Process, Not Result........................................................................................................................................ 156 Process Equals Results ...................................................................................................................................157
xiii Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Managing For Results ....................................................................................................................................157 The Secret ........................................................................................................................................................157 Results = Training Hours = Results............................................................................................................. 158 The Secret ....................................................................................................................................................... 158 SOT Training Survey ..................................................................................................................................... 159 DAY 31 OF 37.......................................................................................................................160 The Rehearsal................................................................................................................................................. 160 The AFF .......................................................................................................................................................... 160 The Dilemma...................................................................................................................................................161 The Decision....................................................................................................................................................161 The Rehearsals ................................................................................................................................................161 The Plane ........................................................................................................................................................ 162 The Omission ................................................................................................................................................. 162 The Exit........................................................................................................................................................... 162 The Fall ........................................................................................................................................................... 163 The Grin.......................................................................................................................................................... 163 DAY 32 0F 37....................................................................................................................... 165 Intellectual Capital Development (ICD) ...................................................................................................... 165 The Boardroom Factor .................................................................................................................................. 165 Business Maps................................................................................................................................................ 166 Medieval Measurement................................................................................................................................. 166 Knowledge-Based Companies .......................................................................................................................167 Intellectual Capital (IC)................................................................................................................................. 168 ICD and Investing in People ......................................................................................................................... 168 ICD and Reward............................................................................................................................................. 169 Rewarding and Results.................................................................................................................................. 170 Reward Power ................................................................................................................................................ 170 Tall Poppies .................................................................................................................................................... 170 DAY 33 OF 37 ...................................................................................................................... 173 What is the idea of 'Australia'? ......................................................................................................................173 Who created Australia? ..................................................................................................................................173 The Third Convention ....................................................................................................................................174 The Clever Constitution .................................................................................................................................175 What is the idea of 'Freedom of Religion' .....................................................................................................175 'For we are young and free' ............................................................................................................................176 The Clever Country .........................................................................................................................................177 DAY 34 OF 37 ...................................................................................................................... 181 Interpretation................................................................................................................................................. 183 DAY 35 OF 37 ...................................................................................................................... 184 DAY 36 OF 37 ...................................................................................................................... 186 DAY 37 OF 37....................................................................................................................... 189
xiv Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
N EMO N A SC ITU R SA PIEN S A R TI F EX. No - o ne i s e ve r b o rn a s ki lle d thi nke r! Welcome to the School of Thinking. T he Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g ( SOT ) i s a v i rtu al s c ho o l w ho s e mi s si o n is to en ri c h the li v es o f p eo p le by help i n g them to bec o me s marter an d mo re effec ti v e thi n k ers . It ac c o mp li s hes thi s go al thro u gh a s eri es o f 3 7 emai led les s o ns d esi gn ed to help y o u bec o me a s k i lled thi n k er thro u gh d ai ly p rac ti c e i n Sp eed T hi nk in g. T hi s i s y o u r in tro d u c to ry less o n . It w ill exp lai n the trai n i n g metho d o f SOT, tell y o u s o methi n g abo u t u s , an d o u tli n e y o u r d ai ly les s o n s c hed u le. The School of Thinking Explained SOT i s bas ed o n a s i mp le y et fu n d amen tal p remi s e: T he wa y yo u thi nk a b o u t yo u r c a re e r wi ll d e te rmi ne tha t c a re e r. F ro m thi s s i mp le p remi s e, i t fo llo w s that y o u r c u rren t c ar eer res u lts :
are a d i rec t c o n s equ en c e o f the w ay y o u hav e been thi n k i n g abo u t y o u r c areer
c an be mu c h better than th ey are i f y o u c han ge the w ay y o u thi n k
How do I go about changing the way I think? Y o u d o s o by up grad i n g y o u r c u rren t thi n k in g s k i lls o r ' brai n s o ftw are' . T he mo s t p o w erfu l w ay to d o thi s i s by d ai ly tra i n in g i n Sp eed T hi n ki n g. A ro u n d 2 0 -mi n u tes a d ay . T hi s i s w here SOT c o mes i n . The Daily Thinking Lesson E ac h d ay , fo r the n ext 3 6 d ay s , y ou hav e rec ei v ed an SOT T hin k in g Les so n in thi s bo o k .
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SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
E ac h les s on exp lai ns , i n si mp le terms , the p ro c es s o f u p grad i n g y ou r thi n ki n g s ki lls o r brai n s o ftw are . Y o u c an s tart ap p ly i n g the les s o n s s trai ght aw ay to i n c r eas e y o u r bu s i n es s p ro fi ts , i mp ro v e y ou r s c ho o l mark s o r bett er y o u r s p o rts p erfo rm a n c e. About the School of Thinking T he Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g ( SOT ) is a n o n - p ro fi t, i n d ep en d en t s c ho o l bas ed in Melb o u rn e, A u s trali a an d o n the i n tern et. Dai ly trai n i n g i s p ro v i d ed to members v i a emai l. T he Sc ho o l o f T hi nki ng ha s ta u g ht ' thi nki ng ' to m o re p e o p le a ro u nd the world tha n a ny o the r s c ho o l i n hi s to ry. Mi c hael H ew i tt- Glees o n an d E d w ard d e B o n o c o- fo u n d ed the Sc ho o l o f T hin k i n g in New Y o rk o n 17th No v emb e r, 1 979. I n early 198 0 th ey w ere j o i n ed by tw o fo u n d i n g B o ard Members , Dr E ri c B i en s to ck i n New Y o rk an d A lex No ble i n Cali fo rn i a. SOT is now in its 25th year.
It w as the SOT w hi c h p u t ' thi n k i n g' on the c u rri c u lu m i n U S sc ho o ls .
It w as the SOT tha t help ed d ev elo p th e i d ea o f ' s i x thi n ki n g c aps ' w hic h E d w ard d e B o n o has d es c ri bed as ' the m o s t i m p o rta nt c ha ng e i n hu m a n thi nki ng fo r the p a s t 2 3 0 0 ye a rs ' .
It w as the S OT that es tabli s hed the i d ea o f ' thi n k i n g in s tru c to rs ' fo r d i s s emi n ati n g thi nk i n g s ki lls aro u n d the w o rld .
It w as SOT tha t es tabli s hed the i d ea o f ' d ai ly trai n i n g' by emai l.
It was SOT that established the CVS to BVS brain software which was later taken up and used by Jack Welch throughout General Electric.’ Finding a better way every day' became a GE slogan which was put up in every GE office and factory around the world.
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SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
J u s t i magi n e that y ou o wn ed the best mu s i c s ys tem that y o u co u ld get y ou r han d s o n . Imagi n e that y o u p ai d $3 0 ,0 00 fo r an amp li fi er an d an o ther $15 ,0 0 0 fo r a D VD p lay er p lu s $40 ,0 0 0 fo r the bes t s p eak ers y o u c ou ld fi nd , an d s o o n . Y ou co u ld n o w bo as t that y o u o wn ed the bes t mu s ic hard w are s y s tem in y ou r s treet, ma y be ev en the bes t i n y o u r to w n . No w , i magi n e y o u o n ly had o n e s o li tary Pats y Cli n e CD to p lay o n y o u r ultra- hi fi hard w are . T here' s n o thi n g w ro n g w i th Pats y bu t a d i et o f I F a ll T o Pi e c es an d Y o u r Che a ti n' H e a rt may b e s o mew hat l i mi ti n g w hen i t c o mes to lo n g ter m mu s i c en tertai n men t. T hes e s ame li mi tati o n s fac e u s w hen w e bo as t p o s s es s io n o f a n ec k to p c o mp u ter - a brai n - y et o n ly hav e o n e p i ec e o f thi nk i n g s o ftw are, lo g i c . In y o u r n ec k to p c o mp u ter, lo gi c i s u s efu l en o u gh fo r label li n g an d mai l- s o rti n g an d d eali n g w i th the p as t b u t i t' s n o t n ear ly en o u gh to help y o u c o p e w i th the c hallen ges o f the fu tu r e. W e d o n eed s o me mo re s o ftw are fo r o u r brai n to help u s s u rv i v e i n rap id ly c han gi n g en v i ro n men ts and i n c reas in gly c o mpeti ti v e an d s hri n k in g glo bal m ark ets . W e als o n eed mo re brai n s o ftw are bec au s e w e' re n o t hap p y bei n g s tuc k w i th w hat we hav e at p res en t. Brainpower and Intelligence B rai n p o w er i s ho w y o u u s e to o ls , li k e s o ftw are, to en han c e y o u r i n telli gen c e. T hes e to o ls are hi gher- o rd er c o gn i ti v e to o ls that help u s thi n k abo u t w hat w e s hou ld thi n k abo u t. So meti mes thi s ' thi n k i n g abo u t thi n k i n g' is c alled by c o gn i ti v e sc i en ti s ts , m e ta - c og ni ti o n. T here a re tw o mai n ty p es o f i n telli ge n c es : Data In telli g en c e an d Game In t elli gen c e. Data In tel li gen c e i s the ro le that i n fo rmati o n p lay s i n thi nk i n g. Game Intelli gen c e i s the ro le o f s trategi es , c lev e r mo v es , c lev er i d eas , p lo y s an d tri c ks that are th e
3 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN p ro d u c t o f thi n k in g abo u t an d exp lo ri n g the i n fo rmati o n . Data In tel li gen c e i s o n ly n ec es s ary fo r the re lati v ely d u mb, u n thi n k i n g reac ti o n to s i tu ati o ns - W ha t d o I d o ne xt? Ga me In tel li gen c e go es a s tep fu rthe r w here th e i n d iv i du al as k s hi ms elf, W ha t d o I thi nk a b o u t ne xt? befo re as k i n g W hat d o I d o ne xt? B rai n s o ftw are i s a min d to o l w hi c h permi ts the brai n u s er to go a s tep ev en fu rther by allo w i n g hi m o r her to as k , H o w d o I thi nk b e tte r a b o u t wha t I s ho u ld thi nk a b o u t ne xt? T o o ls are i mp o rtan t fo r i n telli gen c e. T o o ls , li k e a lap to p , are n o t j us t the res u lt o f i n telli gen c e bu t they ac tu ally E NDOW i n telli gen c e o n the us er. W hen y o u gi v e s o meo n e a lap to p yo u in c reas e o r en han c e her c han c e at arri v i n g at mo re i n telli gen t mo v es . A nthro p o lo g i s ts ha v e lo ng re c o g ni sed tha t the a d v e nt o f to o l u s e a c c o mp a ni e d a m a j o r i nc rea se i n i nte lli g e nc e , o bs erv es Dan i el Den n ett, Di rec to r o f the C en ter fo r Co gn i ti v e Stu d i es at Tu fts U ni v ers i ty an d au tho r o f Co ns c i o us n es s Exp lai n ed . Co mmen ti n g o n the v alu e o f mi n d - to o ls i n d ev elo p in g the u s er' s i n telli gen c e he go es o n to s ay , T o o l u s e is a two - wa y si g n o f i nte lli g e nc e . No t o nly d o e s i t re q u i re i nte lli g e nc e to re c o g ni se a nd m ai nta i n a to o l, b u t to o l u s e CO NF E RS i nte lli g e nc e o n tho s e who a re lu c ky e no ug h to be g i ve n the to o l. T he b e tte r de s ig ned the to o l the m o re p o te nti a l i nte lli g e nc e i t c o nfe rs o n the u s e r. Cognitive Science Si n c e the 1970 s b ro u g ht th e exp lo s i o n o f the In fo rmati o n Rev o lu ti o n an d t he ri s e o f p ers o n al c o mp u ters w e' v e bec o me ev en mo re i n teres ted i n the br ai n an d ho w i t w o rk s . W ha t i s i nte lli g e nc e ? an d H o w c a n we i m p ro v e i t? are qu es ti on s bein g as k ed i n a w ho le n ew fi eld o f s c i enc e d ev o ted to thes e thi n gs c alled - c o g ni ti v e s ci e nc e . Co gn i ti v e s c i en c e i s c o n c ern ed wi th the p ro c es s es o f s e ns i ng ( s eein g, heari n g, s melli n g) ; s t o r i ng i nf o rm a t io n ( memo ry ) an d re c a ll; reas o n in g, p lan n i n g an d i n telli gen t ac ti o n . It als o i n c lu d es areas li k e A I ( A rti fi c i al In telli ge n c e) an d ro bo ti c s . In o ther w o rd s - thi nki ng - bo th i n an i mals an d mac hi n es .
4 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Li k e all hu man t rai ts - hei gh t, s tre n gth, s exu ali ty an d lo o k s etc - i n tel li gen c e i s d i s tri bu ted u n equ ally . So me p eo p le hav e mo re i n telli gen c e than y o u d o an d s o me hav e les s than y o u d o an d , o f c o u rs e, the s ame ap p li es to me. Brain software for better thinking In the c o mi n g les s o n s y o u wi ll ac qu ire all 4 n ew c o d es o f s o ftw are fo r y o u r brai n that y o u c an i mmed i ately u s e to get better p ers o n al res u lts at s c ho o l, at ho me an d at w o rk - an d als o at s p o rts . T he SOT brai n s o ftw are c o d e i s : SD N T C VSTOB VS QR H PR R T hi s 4- p art s u i te o f brai n s o ftw are i n c lu d es :
T he SD N T Sea rc h E n gi n e: Start- Do - N o ti c e- T hi nk
T he
C VSTO B VS
Co gn eti c s
Op erati n g
Sy s tem:
Cu rren t
Vi ew
of
Si tu ati o n - T O- B etter Vi ew o f Si tu ati o n .
T he QR H Sty lew are: Qu ali ty - Rec o gn i ti o n - H u mou r
T he PR R Pers o n al T r ai n er: Prac ti c e- Rep eti ti o n - Rehears al.
So, let's begin ... H ere i s a s i mp le au d i t fo r y o u to ra te y o u r o w n brai n p o w er. It w as d es i gn ed by Dr E ri c B i ens to c k w ho i s Vi c e- Pri n ci p al o f SOT i n New Y o rk . E ri c bas ed thi s c hec k li s t o n the SOT ' s Le a rn- T o - T hi nk Co u rs e b o o k a nd Ins tru c to rs Ma nu a l ( Cap ra/New 198 2 ) . H o w d o y o u rate y o u r o w n brai n p ow er? INST RU CT IO NS: A n s w er eac h o f the fo llo w i n g qu es ti o ns , s c o ri n g ei ther 3 , 2 , 1, o r 0 p o i n ts fo r eac h an s w er d ep en di n g o n y ou r o bj ec ti v e es ti mate o f ho w o ften y o u ac tu ally d o w hat i s s tated . U s e y o u r bes t gu es s o f the fo llo w i n g c ri te ri a fo r s c o ri n g: 3 - 90 % 2 - 70 % 1 - 40 % 0 - 10 %
OF OF OF OF
THE THE THE THE
T IME T IME T IME T IME
( n early alw ay s) ( mo s tly ) ( o ften ) ( hard ly ev er)
5 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN H o w D o Y o u R a t e Y ou r B rai np o we r My j u d gemen ts o f i d eas are bas ed o n the v alu e o f the i d ea rathe r than o n my emo ti o n s at the ti me. I j u d ge i d eas n o t j us t as " go o d" or " bad " bu t als o as " i n teres ti n g" i f they c an lead o n to better i d eas . I c o n s i d er all fac to rs i n a s i tu ati o n befo re c ho o s i n g, d ec i d in g o r p lan n in g. I c o n s id er all fac to rs fi rs t, befo re p i c k in g o u t the o n es that mat ter mo s t . W hen I c re ate a ru le I s ee to i t that i t i s c lea rly u n d ers to o d an d p o ss i ble to o bey . I try to s ee the p u rp o s e o f ru les I ha v e to o bey , ev en i f I d o n ' t li k e the ru les . I lo o k at c o n s equ en c es o f my d eci s i ons o r ac ti o n s n o t o n ly as they affec t me bu t als o as they affe c t o ther p eo p le. I lo o k at a w i d e ran ge o f p o ss i ble c o n s equ en c es befo re d ec i d in g w hi c h c on s equ enc es to bo ther abo u t. On the w ay to a fi n al o bj ec ti v e I es tabli s h a c hai n o f s maller o bj ec ti v es eac h o n e fo llo w i n g o n fro m the p rev i o u s o n e. T he o bj ec ti v es I s et are n ear en o u gh, r eal en o u gh an d p o s si ble en o u gh fo r me to real ly try t o reac h them . In p lan n in g, I k n o w exac tly w hat I w a n t to ac hi ev e. I k eep my p lan s as si mp le an d di rec t as p o s si ble.
I k n o w exac tly w hy I hav e c ho s en s o methi n g as a p ri o ri ty . I try to get as man y di fferen t i d eas as p o s si ble fi rs t, befo re s ta rti n g to p i c k o u t the p ri o ri ti es . I w i ll go o n lo o k in g fo r altern ati v e s u n ti l I fi n d o n e I really li k e . W hi le mo s t p eop le lo o k fo r altern ati v es w hen they are n o t
6 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
s ati s fi ed ; I lo o k fo r them d eli bera t ely ev en w hen I am s ati s fi ed . I am ab le to tel l my s elf the re al reas o n behi n d a d ec is i o n I mak e. B efo re mak i n g a d ec i s i o n , I c o n s i d er the f ac to rs , lo o k at the c o n s equ enc es , get c lear abo u t th e o bj ec ti v es , as s es s the p ri o ri ti es , an d s earc h fo r p o s s i ble altern ati v es .
I am able to s ee the o ther p ers o n 's po i n t- o f- vi ew w hether I ag ree w i th i t o r n o t . I am able to s p ell o u t th e d i fferen c es an d s i mi lari ti es betw een d i fferen t v i ew p o i n ts .
TOTA L SC OR E.
Interpretation T hi s i s NOT a s ci en ti fic tes t. It' s j u s t an au d i t o r c hec k li s t to help y o u take s to c k o f y o u r thi n k in g, that' s all! A trai n ed thi n k er c an d i rec t hi s o r her thi n k in g an d us e i t i n a d eli berate m an n er to p ro d u c e an effec t. T o a t rai n ed an d s k i lled thi n k er, thi n k i n g i s a to o l that c an b e u s ed a t w i ll an d the u s e o f thi s to o l i s p rac t i c al. T hi s abi li ty to u s e ' thi n k i n g as a s k i ll' i s the s o rt o f thi n k i n g abi li ty that i s re qu i red to get thi n gs DO NE . If y o u r to ta l s c o re i n thi s tes t w as betw een 51 an d 60 p o i n ts , y o u alread y p o s s ess s up eri o r b rai n p o w er. If y o u s c o red b etw een 3 1 an d 50 p o in ts , y o u hav e better t han av era ge brai n p o w er. If y o u s c o red b etw een 0 an d 3 0 , y o u p o s s ess n o ad di ti o n al brai n p o w er o ther th an the n atu ra l thi n k i n g abi li ty that mo s t p eo p le hav e. R e c o rd you r sc o re . ( No te: K eep a r ec o rd o f thi s s c o re to c o mp are res u lts at the en d o f y o u r ST C trai n i n g) .
7 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
NOTE: Reading these lessons I hav e d ev elo p ed thi s ' brai n trai ni ng' o v er a p eri o d o f 2 0 y ears an d wi th man y hu n d red s o f tho us an ds o f i n terac ti o ns w i th brai nu s ers all aro u n d the w o rld . I hav e fo u n d that tho s e w ho are s eri o u s ly in teres ted i n acc elerati n g thei r brai n p o w er w i ll be w ell rep ai d b y the c arefu l read i n g o f thes e les s o ns and by tak i n g the ti me eac h d ay to c arefu lly thi n k abo u t y o u r o w n thi n k i n g. F o r tho s e w ho are w i lli n g to e xp lo re t he i d eas an d app ly the s trategi es p re s en ted i n thi s trai n i n g the rew ard s hav e been s ho w n to be u n u su ally hi gh. T he o p p o rtu n i ty to tak e a gen u i n e qu an tu m leap i n o n e' s i n tellec tu al as s ets , w hi c h i s o ffered b y thi s t rai n i n g, i s a u n i qu e o n e. B e s u re to n o t mi s s o u t. C rea te t he s p ac e i n y o u r d ay to gi v e y o u rs elf ev ery opp o rtu n i ty to mak e the mo s t o f i t fo r y o u r o w n s elf an d y o u r c areer. What if you had a virus in your brain? W hat i f i t w as a c o gn i ti v e v i ru s , a k i n d o f c o gn i ti v e A IDS? W hat w o u ld i t d o to y o u ? H o w w o u ld i t affec t y o u r thi n k in g? H o w d i d y o u get i n fec ted w i th the v iru s ? W hat c o u ld y o u d o to cu re i t? E v ery tec hn o lo gy has i ts hack ers - tho s e en thu s i as ts w ho en jo y exp lo ri n g the i n ti mate d etai ls o f the s ys tem, c rac k i n g the c o d es an d s tretc hi n g an d t es ti n g the c ap abi li ti es o f s ys tems . T here hav e been rad i o hac k ers and c o mp u ter hac k ers an d y o u ' v e n o d o u b t read abo u t the tele p ho n e hac k ers w ho hav e ri p p ed- o ff the p ho n e c o mp an i es fo r mi lli o n s o f d o llars i n free lo n g- d i s tan c e c alls . W e' v e s een n u c lear hac k ers w ho ha v e d es i gn ed DIY n u c lear w eap o n s fo r s c i en c e p ro j ec ts an d w e hav e c y bers p ac e hac kers w ho ro am t he n etw o rk s fo r fu n an d p ro fi t. No d o u bt i t w on ' t b e lo n g b efo re w e read o f gen eti c hac k ers w ho amus e thems elv es by p lay i n g aro u n d i n o u r gen e p o o l.
8 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN H ac k ers , d ri v en b y s tro n g c u ri o s i ty , o ften j u s t s tart o ff by s eek i n g amu s emen t an d s ho w i n g o ff thei r s k i ll bu t s o meti mes thei r an ti c s lead to c hao s , frau d an d ev en ... d i s as ter! In rec en t y ears , s o me c o mp u ter hac k ers s tarted o u t m an i p u lati n g thei r s y s tems fo r fu n by d es i gni n g vi ru s es that rep li c ate thems elv es i n to o ther s ys tems . F ew hac k ers , ho w ev er, a re c o mp eten t en o u gh o r e v en w i lli n g to fu lly c o mp rehen d the o n go i n g c o n s equ en c es o f thei r an ti c s . Man y o f thei r v i ru s es to o k o ff o u t o f c o n tro l an d by n o w hav e i n fec ted m i lli o n s o f p ers o n al c o mp u ters . T hes e v i ru s es are real! T hey c au s e real d o w n ti me, re al lo s s o f c ap i tal, real d ama ge to equ i p men t, real d es tru c ti o n o f d atabas es and , s ometi mes , real lo s s o f li fe. Do n ald Latham o f Co mp u ter Sc i en c es Co rp o rati o n an d a fo rmer W hi te H o u s e A s si s tan t Sec retary o f Defen c e, s ay s , T he d a nge rs o f v i rus es a re j us t u nbe li e v a b le a nd the thre a t i s m o re se ri o u s tha n m o s t p e o p le thi nk. Dai ly c y bertran s ac ti o n s that c an be i nfec ted by c o mp u ter v i ru s es in c lu d e:
W all Str eet d ec i s i o n s i n v o lv in g the tr an s fer o f c ap i tal i n the bi lli o n s
c red i t- c ard
tran s ac ti o ns
betw een
mi lli o n s
of
trad ers
an d
thei r
c u s to mers
ai rli n e res erv ati o n s affec ti n g tho u s an d s o f trav elle rs
mai n ten an c e an d c o mman d d ec is i o ns i n v o lvi n g hun d red s o f U S mis s i les an d o thers .
T he mi n d bo ggles a t the hav o c tha t c a n be c au s ed i f thes e v i ru s es s p read u nc hec k ed . Y et, the re i s a v i ru s , a b rai n v i ru s , w hi c h alread y exi s ts i n the brai n s o f man y hu man s fro m p reac hers to p res i d en ts , that m ak es thes e c o mp u ter v i ru s es lo o k w i mp s by c o mp ari s on . T hi s brai n v i ru s , o r m e m e , i s real. I t' s s ed u c tiv e an d i t' s v ery p o w erfu l. It' s als o hi ghly d es tru c ti v e. J u s t las t c en tu ry a lo n e mo re than 2 6 mi l li o n hu man s w ere k i lled i n the w o rld w ars , rev o lu ti o n ary w ar s , c o n fli c ts , p o gro ms , p ers ec u ti o n s , gen o c i d es an d rac i al c lean s in gs . It c an be arg u ed that man y o r mo s t o f thes e ev en ts w ere
9 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN i n i ti ated by p eo p le i n fec ted w i th PT V an d mo ti v ated to ap p ly thei r ' T ru th' to o thers . In the brai n o f a p res id en t o r a terr o ri s t i t c o u ld u n leas h a mi s si le that s tarts the u n thi n k ab le n u c lear mad n es s that th reaten s the v ery e xi s ten c e o f hu man i ty . In t he brai n o f a CE O i t c an threat en the s u r v i v al o f the bu s i n es s . And, in YOUR brain??? T hi s brai n v i ru s i s the Pla to T ru th Vi ru s ( PT V) an d c han c es are almo s t c er tai n that y o u , d ear br ai n u s er, ar e al read y i n fec ted . In Par t On e o f thi s tr ai n i n g y o u w i ll c o me to u n d ers tan d the v i ru s an d ho w i t affec ts y o u r li fe an d i n Par t T w o y o u w i ll fi n d o u t exac tly w hat y o u c an d o to c o n tain i t. Ideaviruses, Memes and Memeplexes In my rec en t bo o k - - T he X 10 Me m e p le x: Mu lti p ly Y o u r B u s i ne s s B y T e n! Pren ti c eH all, 2 0 0 0 - - I lo o k c lo s ely at the c o n c ep t o f ' i n fo rmati o n brai n v i ru s es' li k e PT V. T he o the r s c i en ti fi c n ame fo r thes e i d ea v i ru s es i s ' memes ' as c o i n ed by Oxfo rd bi o lo gi s t, Ri c hard D aw k i n s , i n hi s bo o k T he Se lfi s h Ge ne . Y o u c an re ad hi s arti c le o n the ro le o f reli gi o u s b rai n v i ru s es i n the Sep tember 11, 2 0 0 1 attac k o n the W o rld T rad e Cen tre . Plato the TruthFreak W hen i t c o mes to ' thi n k in g' , Plato w as the u lti mate hac k er. A t that ti me , p lay i n g aro u n d w i th thi n ki n g sy s tems w as as mu c h the rage amo n gs t an eli te g ro u p o f men i n Greec e, as p lay i n g aro u n d w i th s o f tw are s y s tems i s the ra ge amo n gs t th e hac k ers o f to d ay . So c ra tes , Pla to an d A ri s to tle w er e the mo s t famo u s ' thi n k i n g hac k ers ' o f thei r d ay . T hes e hac k ers o f 2 50 0 y ears ago d es i gn ed fu n d amen tal thi n k i n g tec hn o lo gi es , s y s tems and vi ru s es that hav e d o mi n ated W es tern thin k in g ri ght u p to the 2 0 th c en tu ry , an d w ho k n o w s fo r ho w mu c h lo n ger? T o d ay ' s hac k ers hav e han d les li k e Ac i d F re a k an d Cyb e rSa m . Plato ' s hand le w o u ld w ell hav e b een T ru thF re a k s i n c e i t w as he w ho i n v en ted his ' tru th' c o nc ep t - the s tran ge n o ti o n that the re i s s u c h a thi n g as ' abs o lu te tru th' . Y et thi s bi zarre s u g ges ti o n has s o s i d e- trac k ed W es tern p hi lo s op hers that ev en to d ay man y great mi n d s i n W es tern c o lleges an d u n i v ers i ti es hav e s ti ll n o t es c ap ed
10 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN fro m Pla to ' s ' tru th' i d ea an d thei r thi n k in g remai n s i n fec ted w i th thi s d an gero u s v i ru s . It w o u ld b e a d i ffi c u lt ( b u t w o rthw h i le) p ro j ec t to c alc u late the c o s t to hu man i ty an d the s taggeri n g d es tru c ti o n c au s ed by PT V - Plato ' s ' tru th' v i ru s . It' s u n li k ely that Plato had an y i d ea o f the e xtr em e c o n s equ en c es o f hi s i n v en ti on an y mo re th an s o me o f to d ay ' s hac k ers w i ll hav e o f thei rs . H e w as j u s t hack in g aro u n d wi th thi n k i n g. STC - The Problem and The Solution. T hi s trai n in g - ST C ( Sp eed T hi n k ers Co u rs e) - i s p res en ted to y ou at the rate o f a les s o n a d ay fo r 7 w eek s . I t i s d i v i d ed i n to tw o mai n p arts : T he P ro blem ( w eek s 1 & 2 ) an d T he So lu ti o n ( w eeks 3 to 7) . T he So lu ti o n c o ns is ts o f the s u i te o f 4 brai n s o ftw are p ac k ages - SDNT CVST OB VS QRH PRR - w hi c h y o u w i ll get i n w eek s 3 thro u gh 7. T he Pro b lem i s p res en ted i n thes e fi r s t tw o w eek s - i t i s the d eep c o gn i ti v e p attern w hi c h w e c all PT V o r the Plato T ru th Vi ru s .. In thes e fi rs t ten les s o n s w e' ll tak e a c arefu l lo o k a t the Plato T ru th Vi ru s : W hat i s PT V? H o w d o es i t w o rk ? W hat d o es i t d o ? W hat i s the u p si d e an d d o w n s id e o f the v i ru s ? H o w d i d the v i ru s bec o me s o v i ru len t? W ho s p read i t a ro u n d ? H o w d i d y o u bec o me i n fec ted ? W hat i s i t d o in g to y o u r brai n ? Is there a c u re?
11 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Y o u ' re go i n g to fi n d that i n thes e fi rs t tw o w eek s w e' l l be d eali n g head - o n w i th the bi gges t o bs tac le that m ay p rev en t y o u bei n g a s p eed thin k er. It' s als o y o u r bi gges t c o g ni ti v e i nhi b i to r. It' s s to p pi n g yo u fro m rap i d ly d ev elo p i n g y o u r intellec tu al c ap i tal. It' s c alled PT V o r the Pl ato T ru th Vi r u s . Cognitive Dissonance: From Flat Earth to Round Earth In c o gn i ti v e s ci en c e, the term c o g ni ti v e d i ss o na nc e is o ften u s ed . Co gn i ti v e d i s s on an c e is i n teres ti n g b ec au s e i t refe rs to w hat hap p en s i n y ou r br ai n w hen i n fo rmati o n i s p res en ted to i t w hi c h do es n ' t s eem to fi t. In memeti c thi n k i n g thi s is c alled m em e ti c d i ss o na nc e . F o r examp le, j u s t s u pp o s e the c u rren t s tate o f i n fo rmati o n i n y o u r brai n ( the balan c e o f memes ) w as s u c h that y o u beli ev ed the ea rth w as fla t. J u s t s up p o s e y o u r b rai n w as a hap p y c o - o p erati v e o f fla t e a rth memes . T hi s , o f c o u rs e, s eems n aiv e to us n o w bu t n o t lo n g ago mo s t s mart peo p le s aw thi n gs thi s w ay . No w , s up p os e so meo n e c alled F red c o mes alo n g and s ay s , No , the e a rth i s ro u nd! an d tri es to exp lai n to y o u w hy y o u s ho u ld c han ge y ou r v i ew . Y o u w o u ld begi n to exp eri en c e c o gn i ti v e di s s on an c e. If, tho u gh y o u tho u ght the ea rth w as flat, y o u w ere n o t s u p ers ti ti o u s ly c o mmi tted to that v i ew y o u mi ght o n ly exp eri en c e a mi ld c as e o f c o gn i ti v e d i ss o n anc e. T hen , as y o u fo llo w ed the ev i d en c e F red p res e n ted , y o u mi ght fi n d y o u r v i ew ev o lv i n g fro m fla t e a rth to ro u nd e a rth. If, o n the o the r han d , y o u n o t o n ly beli ev ed the ear th w as f lat bu t y o u als o PT Vbeli ev ed y o u r fla t e a rth v i ew w as a b s o lu te ly ri g ht, then y o u mi ght hav e a d o s e o f
12 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN s tro n g c o gn i ti v e d i ss o n anc e, s o s tro n g that i t mi gh t be eas i er to bu rn F red at th e s tak e than to c han ge y o u r v i ew fro m f la t e a rth to ro u nd e a rth. The Father of Modern Science T hi s k in d o f thi n g i s n o t j us t a s i lly sto ry bu t ac tu ally d o es hap p en . On e o f the mo s t n o to ri o u s examp les w as that o f the F ather o f Mo d e rn Sc i en c e, the bri l li an t 17t h c en tu ry mathemati c i an , Gali lei Gali l e o . Gali leo had c o n s tru c ted hi s teles c o p e to s ho w ho w th e ea rth rev o lv ed abo u t the s u n an d n o t the s u n aro u n d the earth. Si nc e Co p ern i cu s adv an c ed thi s hy p o thes i s i t had c au s ed great c o n tro v ers y . Ga li leo n o w had p ro o f. W hen he d emo ns trated thi s , man y hi ghly i n telli gen t p eo p le ev en refu s ed to lo o k thro u gh t he te les c o p e, s o fri ghten ed w ere they o f w ha t they mi gh t s ee. So me p eo p le had s u c h a s tro n g d o s e o f c o gn i ti v e di s s on an c e that they fo rc ed Gali leo to hi s kn ees an d mad e hi m w i thd raw hi s ev i d en c e an d rec an t hi s d is c o v ery . In 163 3 , Ga li leo , n o w 70 y ears o ld , s i c k and c o mp letely bli n d , w as fo rc ed by the p o p e to mak e the ard u o u s j o u rn ey to Ro me to s tan d tri al fo r ' heres y ' . U rban VIII , tak i n g ti me o ff fro m c an n i b ali s in g the Co lo s s eu m to bu i ld his B arberi ni p alac e, ac c u s ed Gali leo o f c au s i n g " the great es t s c an d al i n Chri s tend o m" fo r c o n trad i c ti n g the Sc ri p tu res . Gali leo t ho u ght o f hi ms elf as a d ev o t ed Catho li c . H e ar gu ed that the bi ble w as n o t a s c i en ti fi c text an d that w e s hou ld n ot exp ec t i ts ' sc i en ti fic s tatemen ts ' to be tak en li teral ly . H e ar gu ed that i t p res en ts n o c hallen ge to fai th th at bo th n atu r e an d the bi ble are d i v i n e texts an d c an n o t c on trad i c t o n e an o ther. On 2 1 J u n e, af ter a lo n g tri al , he w as fo u n d gu i lty o f heres y , by th e In qu i s i ti o n . No t o n ly that, he w as b u lli ed and ac tu ally fo rc ed i n to c o v eri n g up his ev i d en c e. T he p o p e d emand ed that he b e to rtu red i f he d id n o t o bey : T he s a id Ga li le o i s i n the j u d ge m e nt o f the H o ly O ffi c e v e he m e ntly s u s p e c te d o f he re s y, na m e ly, o f ha v i ng b e li e ve d a nd he ld the do c tri ne whi c h i s fa ls e a nd c o ntra ry to the Sa c re d a nd Di v i ne Sc ri p tu re s tha t the su n i s the c e ntre o f the wo rld a nd d o es no t mo v e fro m e a s t to we s t, a nd i s no t the c e ntre o f the wo rld .
13 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN W eary an d bro k en , the o ld man k n el t befo re the p o p e an d mad e hi s c o n fes s i o n: I, Ga li le o , s o n o f the la te Vi nc e nzo Ga li le a , F lo re nti ne , a g e d s e ve nty ye a rs .. . m u s t a lto g e the r ab a nd o n the fa lse o p i ni on tha t the s u n is the c e ntre o f the wo rld a nd i m m o b i le . H i s tri al w as a grav e an d s o lemn mi les to n e i n the hi s to ry o f the Chu rc h o n ly s u rp as s ed , in p o i gn an c y , b y the tri al o f J es u s befo re Pi lat e. Gali leo w as a bri lli an t mathem ati c i an an d a p i o n eer o f s ci en c e w hi c h tries n o t to rely o n s u p ers ti ti o n . H e ad v o c ated th e i d ea tha t " T he B o o k o f Na tu re" i s w ri tten i n mathemati c al c ha rac te rs , a v i ew w hi c h i s en o u gh to mak e hi m a fo u n d i n g father o f the s c i en ti fi c metho d . T he u n i v ers e w hi c h Gali leo o bs erv ed at the en d o f hi s teles c o p e to tally d w arfed th e o n e that p eo p le w er e s eei n g w i th thei r o rd i n ary v i s i o n . H e tri ed to s ho w th at i t w as i mp o rtan t to c o n s i d er the v alu e o f n ew o bs erv able p hen o men a as a w ay o f es c ap in g fro m w eak t ru ths an d mo v i n g to bette r o n es . T he 17th c en tu ry , s u p ers ti ti o u s , ec c les i as ti c al, Ro man brai n u s ers exp eri en c ed s uc h c o gn i ti v e d is s on an c e fro m Gali leo ' s d i s c ov eri es that, to thei r ev e rlas ti n g s hame , they c ho s e to abu s e an d b u lly an o ld man rathe r than to c han ge thei r o w n mi n d . T he c o gn i ti v e d is s on an c e en d u red s o s tro n gly that i t w as o n ly i n 1993 ( after a 12 y ear Po n ti fi c al Co mmi s s i o n! ) that, i n a belated bu rs t o f Ch ri s ti an c hari ty , th e Vati c an brai n u s ers fin ally fo rg a ve Gali leo fo r le tti n g the s u n o u t o f the c lo s et. B etter l ate th an n ev er, I s u p p o s e. Dosage of Dissonance It may be that s o me o f the materi al i n this trai n in g gi v es y o u a c ertai n amo u n t o f c o gn i ti v e d is s on an c e. It i s d i ffic u lt to d es i gn the i d eal d o s age o f d i ss o n an c e. W hat i s fin e fo r s o me read ers an d is j us t en o u gh to help them to o p en up thei r mi n d wi ll, o n the o ther han d , be to o s tro n g fo r o thers an d c au s e them to c lo s e d o w n . F o r examp le, e arli e r d raf ts o f thi s trai n i n g w ere mo re p ro v o c ati v e i n to n e an d p ro bably to o mu c h s o . So I s ou ght the o p i ni o ns o f a fai rly w i d e ran ge o f brai n u s ers - d i fferen t ages , d i ffe ren t c u ltu res , d i fferen t p ro f es s i o n s , di fferen t bac k gro u n d s .
14 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
A fter r ec ei v i n g the gen ero u s an d v alu able feed bac k o f hu n d red s o f read e rs ( es p ec i ally that o f my father w ho w as the fai res t man I ev er me t) I c o mp letely rew ro te t he tr ai n i n g an d tri ed to fi nd a better balan c e betw een the i n fo r mati o n I hav e left i n an d the i n fo rmati o n I hav e left o u t . T han k s to them i t' s a bett er trai n i n g c o u rs e b u t the fau lts an d mi s tak es y ou may fi n d are s ti ll mi n e. A t the en d o f the d ay , d ear brai n u s er, my o w n go al fo r thi s trai n i n g has alw ay s been to gen er ate en o u gh c o gn i ti v e d i s s on an c e to mak e i t i n teres ti n g read i n g b u t n o t s o mu c h as to c lo s e y o u r mi nd .
15 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Plato ' s o ri gi n al i d ea w as that ther e IS s u c h a thi n g as a bs o lu te tru th. Plato ' s ' tru th' i d ea ( li k e all hi s i d eas ) w as a p ro d u c t o f hi s i magi n ati on . H e w as the y o u n ger fri en d o f So c rat es w ho m he ad mi red gr eatly an d w ho w as als o hi s men to r. It w as So c rat es w ho i n v en ted the i n terro gato ry s ty le o f argu men t i n v o lv in g s tri n gs o f qu es ti o ns s eekin g ei ther a Y E S o r NO res p o n s e. It' s an o ld d i n os au r k n o w n as the So c rati c Meth o d bu t i t s ti ll s u rv i v es i n o u r legal s y s tem an d c o u ld be s een o n T V s ho ws li k e LA Law an d the O. J . Si mp s o n tri al. B o th So c rates an d Plato b ec ame tw o o f the gre ates t thi n k i n g hac k ers i n W es tern hi s to ry . T o me , o n e o f th e mo s t fas c i n ati n g o f P lato ' s w o rk s i s Sy mp o s i um bec au s e i t' s an i ns i ghtfu l ac c o u n t o f ho w i t all be gan at a ty p i c al d i n n er-p arty bac k i n A then s , aro u n d 40 0 B C, w i th Plato , S o c rates an d a few fri en d s . Sym p o s i u m is w i tty , en tertai n i n g an d s ho w s ho w thei r d i s c us s i on s and banter, lac ed w i th mu c h w in e an d b aw dy go s si p , p ro d u c ed a s mall c o llec ti o n o f thi nki n g p lo y s , c o n c ep ts , s o ftw are an d v i ru s es that, amazi n gly , hav e d o mi n ated W es tern thi n k i n g ri ght u p to the 2 1s t c en tu ry . Mo s t d es tru c ti v e o f all th es e i n v en ti on s has been the Pla t o Tru t h Vi ru s . In the W es tern w o rld , Pl ato i s rec o gn i s ed as the o n e w ho p u t thin k in g o n the map . Plato fi gu r ed that the mo re o n e tho u ght abo u t matters an d the mo re o n e tri ed to d i s c ov er an d u n d ers tan d thei r tru e es s en c e o r fo rm, the mo re i n s i ghts o n e c o u ld exp eri en c e. B u t he als o d ec i d ed ( and thi s i s the k i ller) that thi n k i n g w as NOT an o p en - end ed p ro c es s . Plato fi gu red there mu s t be a fi n i te en d to a thi n k er' s relen tles s s earc h fo r mean i n g, an u lti mate d es ti n ati on to a thin k er' s effo rts , s o he c alled that d es ti n ati o n o b j ec ti v e ' tru th' . U h- o h! B i g mis tak e! !
16 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
T o d ay , 2 ,50 0 y ears la ter , mu c h o f W es tern s o c i ety s ti ll behav es as tho u gh the re ac tu ally
such
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as
abs o lu te
tru th.
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c o n s equ en c es , man y W es tern u ni v ers i ti es an d c o lleges are fu ll o f d i s c u ss io n s abo u t ' tru th' , ri ght' , ' w ro n g' , ' go o d ' , ' ev i l' , ' ho n es ty ' , ' j us ti c e' and s o o n . T hi s all s pi lls o u t i n to s o c i ety s o that B i g Go v ern men t, B i g Reli gi o n , B i g B u s in es s , B i g B ro ther an d o ther g ro u p s in v o k e thes e ' abs o lu te tru ths ' as the bas i s fo r thei r p o li c i es an d the j u s ti fic ati o n fo r thei r ac ti o n s - s o o ften w i th ho rri fi c c o n s equ en c es . T he tro u b le w as that o n c e Plato had i n v en ted hi s tru th c o nc ep t, i t exi s ted . Su bs equ en tly , w hen o ther p hi lo s o p hers o r theo lo gi an s c ame alo n g Plato ' s in v en ti on i n fec ted thei r i d eas li k e a v i ru s - an d s o w e n ame the v i ru s afte r hi m, t he Pla t o Tru t h Vi r u s o r PTV. Grad u ally th e ac ti v i ty o f thi n k i n g c ame to be s u bv ert ed by the i n s i d i o us tru th v i ru s . So me thi n k ers i n ev i tab ly c lai med to hav e fo u n d ... T he T ru th. PT V, the t ru th v i ru s , b egan to i n fec t the thi n k er' s s et o f i n tellec tu al c lai ms an d s o w e s ee a n u mber o f p hi lo s o p hi es an d d o c tri n es an d mo v emen ts that c lai med to hav e d i s c ov ered a b s o lu te tru th an d gav e n o ti c e o f fi li n g t hei r c l ai ms : Sto p lo o k i n g! ... W e hav e the tru th! ... W e are ri ght, y o u are w ro n g! ... W e are go o d , y o u are ev i l! ... B eli ev e i n the tru th o r be d amn ed! ... T he tru th i s o n ou r s id e! ... W e k n ow w hat' s ri ght! Do w hat w e tel l y o u , o r e ls e! ... Cru s h the i n fi d el! ... K i ll th e u n beli ev er! My-Teacher-is-Right-and-Your-Teacher-is-Wrong T he p ro b lem fo r the o bs e rv er i s the n u mber o f c o n fli c ti n g c lai ms o f o w n i n g a b s o lu te tru th an d u ni q u e ri g htne s s . T he s e d u c ti v en es s o f PT V i s als o w hat ma k es i t s o d es tru c ti v e an d d ead ly: ev ery o n e w ants to be the o n e w ho has T he T ru th. T herefo re, ev ery o n e i n fec ted w i th the v i ru s c laims to be u n i qu ely ri ght an d that' s where the c arn age begi n s . F ro m ti me to ti me teac he rs li k e B u dd ha, J es u s an d Con fu c iu s hav e emerged i n the d i fferen t c u ltu res o f the w o rld . Mo s t p eo p le are relati v ely free o f PT V an d s o man y hav e ben efi ted fro m t hei r te ac hers ' mes s ages o f go o d w i ll. H o w ev er, the re a re tho s e w ho s eek p o w er o v er o th ers .
17 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Sad ly , thes e g reat teac he rs are o f ten u p s taged by greed y PT V- i n fec ted fr an c hi s ees w ho c lai m to hav e exc lu s i v e ri ghts o n thei r teac he r' s i n tellec tu al p ro p erty . W ho c an blame the o ri gi n al teac he rs fo r t he s i c k n es s o f thei r fo llo w ers ? So o ften , i n the n ame o f p eac e an d go o d w i ll, i n fec ted fo l lo w ers fi g ht w i th a s i c k rage an d bu rn i n g hatred . T he b rai n v i ru s s o d i s to rts the o ri gi n al mes s age that i t w o u ld be u n rec o gn i s ab le to the o ri gi n al mes s en ger. Peo p le hav e b ec o me mo re i n teres ted i n the ' tru th s tatu s ' o f the mes s age than the mes s age i ts elf. Pe rhap s i t i s mo re i mp o rtan t to be an ' ef fec ti v e fo llo w e r' t han to be a ' ri ght fo llo w er' . Truth 'R' Us H ere i s s mall s amp le o f PT V- i n fec ted c lai ms w hi c h hav e lo n g s i nc e u ps taged tho s e c lai ms mad e by the o ri gi n al teac her: Christian Science: ... i s u ne rri ng a nd Di v i ne ... o u t s i d e o f Chri s ti a n Sc i e nce a ll is va g u e a nd hyp o the ti c a l, the o p p o s i te o f T ru th. Seventh-Day Adventists: the Ge ne ra l Co nfe re nc e o f Se v e nth-Da y A d v e nti s ts is the hi g he s t a u thori ty tha t Go d ha s u p o n e a rth. Jehovah's Witnesses: ... a lo ne a re Go d 's tru e pe o p le , a nd a ll o the rs wi tho u t e xc ep ti o n a re fo llo we rs o f the De v i l ... A t A rm a g ed d o n a ll o f ea rth' s i nha b i ta nts e xc e p t Je ho v a h's W i tne s s es wi ll b e wi p e d o u t o f e xi s te nce . Mormons: T he re i s no sa lv a ti o n o u ts i de the Chu rc h o f J e s us Chri s t o f La tte r- Da y Sa i nts ... e v e ryb od y, u nle s s the y re p e nt a nd wo rk ri g hte o u s ne s s , wi ll b e d a m n e d e xc e pt Mo rm o ns . Christadelphians: No ne b u t Chri s ta d e lp hi a ns c a n be s av e d . Islam: Mo ha m m e d is the m es se ng e r o f Go d ... the la s t, a nd fi na l e xp o ne nt o f Go d ' s m i nd , the s e a l o f the p ro p he ts . The Divine Light Mission:
18 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN T he Gu ru Ma ra ha j Ji a lo ne ha s the key to the kno w le d g e o f the s o u rce o f Go d . The Unification Church: O nIy the Lo rd o f the Se c o nd A d vent, the Re v e re nd Su n Myu ng Mo o n, wi ll b e p o we rfu l e no u g h to c o m p le te the res to ra ti o n o f m a n to Go d . (Krishna Consciousness: Di re c t lo v e fo r the Lo rd K ri s hna , i n the fo rm o f c ha nti ng , s i ng i ng a nd d a nc i ng , i s the b e s t wa y to ri d the s ou l o f i g no ra nc e . Church of Scientology: It i s o nly thro u g h the e xe rc i s e o f the p ri nc i p le s o f Di a ne ti c s tha t the re is re a l ho p e fo r ha p p i ne s s i n thi s li fe ti m e a nd the e v e ntu a l- fre e i ng o f the s o u l fro m d eath. The Children of God: No p o we r i n the wo rld c a n s ta nd a g ai ns t the p o we r o f Da v i d . ( T hi s refers to Dav i d B erg, the s ec t' s lead er) . Catholic Church: No o ne c a n b e s a v e d wi tho u t tha t fa i th whi c h the H o ly, Ca tho li c , A p o s to li c , Ro m a n Chu rc h ho ld s , b e li e ve s a nd te ac he s ... the O ne T ru e Chu rc h e s tab li s he d o n e a rth b y J e s us Chri s t ... to who m a lo ne i t b e lo ng s to j u d g e the m ea ni ng a nd i nte rp re ta ti o n o f the H o ly Sc ri p tu re s . T hes e extrav a gan t c lai ms w o u ld be r ej ec ted by mo s t exp eri en c ed ad u lts alo n g w i th s i mi lar c lai ms mad e by d o o r- to - d o o r s ales men an d o thers . T he p ro b lem i s that th ey are o ften p ro gram med i n to the brai n s o f v ery y ou n g c hi ld ren befo re thei r mi n d s are s u ffi c i en tly i mmu n e to rej ec t them. It may b e tha t the s c ale o f thi s k i n d o f c o g ni ti v e a b us e mak es o ther fo rms o f c hi ld abu s e p ale i n to i ns i gn i fic an c e by c o mp ari s o n o f n u mbers . In s p i te o f thes e c o rp o rate c lai ms an d the c o n s equ en c es they hav e c au s ed to mi lli o n s , mo s t memb ers o f thes e gro u p s bec o me les s i n fec ted w i th PT V as they gro w o ld er. Mo s t o f the fai th fu l are p eo p le o f gen u i n e p eac e w ho qui etly go abo u t thei r bu s i n es s . T hey try to li v e b y thei r c re ed s w i tho u t bo theri n g o the rs at a ll . T he s i len t maj o ri ty are n o t the v i llai n s , s o o ften they are th e v i c ti ms , to o . If ther e w ere ev er s u c h a thi n g as a bs o lu te tru th, by i ts o w n d efi ni ti o n , there c o u ld
19 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN o n ly be o n e a bs o lu te tru th. So , w hi c h tru th i s the ' tru e' t ru th? A s a p hi lo s o p hi c al p i ec e o f games man s hi p , thi s c o v etin g o f the label o f a b s o lu te tru th i s n o t li mi ted to reli gi o u s d o c tri n es , bu t s p i lls o v er i n to p o li ti c al, bu s i n es s , s o c i o lo gi c al, an d ev en ec on o mi c theo ri es , altho u gh the la tte r hav e fa lle n o n hard ti mes lately . A t fi rs t, ad d i n g PT V s eemed to mak e a s et o f i n tellec tu al c lai ms o r d o c tri n es s u p eri o r to tho s e th at w e re n o t abs o l u te, bu t ti me has s ho w n the o p p o s i te to be t he c as e. W e k n o w n o w that o n c e the thin k i n g effo rt s w i tc hes to d efen c e an d s u pp o rt, ( as i t mu s t i f a d o c tri n e i s fro zen as a bs o lu te tru th) fu rther gro w th an d c reati v e d ev elo p men t are d i sc o u raged . T he tr u th begi n s to los e i ts c red i bi li ty as i t begi n s to lo s e i ts relev an c e an d i ts effec ti v en ess . PT V i n ev i tably s erv es to u n d ermi ne the d o c tri n e i t w as o ri gi n ally mean t to rei n fo rc e. T w o p eo p le c an , o f c o u rs e, hav e tw o d i fferen t p o i n ts o f v i ew . No thi n g o d d abo u t that. B u t, i f eac h v i ew p o i n t i s i n fec ted w i th PT V , i f eac h beli ev es hi s v i ew p o i n t is u ni q u e ly ri g ht, PT V c an k eep them fi ghti n g an d bu lly i n g eac h o ther fo r s o me ti me. Rep lac e tw o p eo p le w i th tw o fami li es , tw o c o mmu n i ti es , tw o gro u p s , tw o reli gi o n s o r tw o n ati o n s an d thi s p ern ic i o us tru th v i ru s c an be p ass ed on to eac h su c c es si v e gen erati o n an d the fi ghti n g an d p ers e c u ti o n c an c o n tin u e fo r hu n d red s o f years . It may be tha t P lato ' s tru th v i ru s h as d o n e mo re d amage to W es te rn c i v i li s ati on than an y hu man thi n ki n g d ev i c e ev er i n v en ted . It has been es ti mated tha t j u s t las t c en tu ry alo n e mo re than 2 6 mi lli o n W es tern ers hav e been k i lled by PT V. T hi s d o es n o t i n c lud e s i mi lar v i ru s es that may in fec t n o n - W es tern s o c i eti es . Myths, Theories and Hypotheses It d o es s eems to be a g en u i n e, legi ti mate an d u n i v ers al n eed o f the hu ma n mi n d to c reate my ths , s to ri es , theo ri es an d hy p o thes es to exp lai n an d mak e c oheren t an u n exp lai n able w o rld .
20 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Examples:
W hen fri ghten ed by a thu n d ers to rm s o me thi n k ers exp lain ed i t as a bu rs t o f Zeu s ' an ger. O the rs late r s ai d i t' s an elec tro s tati c p hen o men o n .
A n i lln ess c an be s een by so me as a v o o d o o s p ell o r by o thers as a v i ral i n fec ti o n .
In an attemp t to p erfo rm thei r fu n c ti o n o f mak i n g s en s e o u t o f c hao s , my ths an d s c i en ti fi c theo ri es w o rk on the s ame p ri n ci p le. T he v i ew that w e hu mans bu i ld o f o u r w o rld i s alw ay s a p ro d u c t o f o u r i magi n ati o n . Y o u r v i ew o f a s i tu ati o n i s a c o gn i ti ve p hen o men on . In a s i tu ati on , y o u r exp eri en c e o f the s i tu ati o n i s an elec tro - c hemi cal ev en t w hi c h tak es p lac e i n y o u r brai n . T he p hras e ' y o u r e xp e rie nc e o f the s i tua ti o n' i s i mp o rtan t bec au s e i t p oi nts to the u n i q u en es s o f y o u r u nd ers tan d in g o f the s i tu ati o n . Others i n the s i tu ati on w i ll als o hav e thei r o w n u n i q u e exp eri en c e o f it. W hi c h i s ri ght? F o r examp le , I lo v e mo v i es . I am a regu la r mo v i e- go er . I fi n d mo v i es to be gre at v alu e. In mo v i es , tho u s an d s o f talen ted p eo p le s p en d tho u s an d s o f ho u rs an d mi lli o n s o f d o llars to c reate a p ro d u c t that I c an en j o y fo r $ 15 . W here el s e d o y o u get s u c h en o rmo u s lev erag e o f v alu e? W hen I tell y o u abo u t a rec en t mo v i e I hav e s een , am I telli n g y o u abo u t th e mo v i e, o r, am I tel li n g y o u abo u t my exp erien c e o f the mo v i e? W hen a mo v i e c ri ti c w ri tes abo u t a mo v i e, i s s he w ri ti n g abo u t the mo v i e, o r , i s s he w ri ti n g abo u t her u nd e rs ta nd i ng o f the mo v i e? No te the d i s tin c ti o n . T here i s a d i s ti n c ti on an d i t i s a c ru c i al o n e. PT V i s a p ro bl em bec au s e i t c an d i s to rt the ho s t brai n ' s abi li ty to mak e thi s d i s tin c ti o n . T he v i ru s- i mp ai red brai n may be u n ab le to d i s ti n gu is h b etw een i ts p aro c hi al exp eri en c e an d that o f o the r br ai n s . T he PT V- i n fec ted brai n thi n k s i ts experi en c e i s u ni q ue ly ri g ht. Bores and Bullies T he s i c k b rai n c an c au s e p eo p le to bec o me bo res o r bu lli es , I' m n o t s u re w hi c h i s w o rs e.
21 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN T he b o ri n g brai n u s er i s o n e w hos e behav i o u r i s w eary in g to o thers bec au s e he o r s he c an n o t s to p thei r ted i ou s , en thu s i as ti c talk abo u t thei r o w n i n teres ts an d exp eri en c e, n o t b ec au s e o thers are i n teres ted bu t bec au s e PT V mak es the m as s u me o thers are i n teres ted . Man y c o mp an ies trai n thei r s ales p eop le to bec o me bo res w ho an n o y thei r p ro s p ec ts an d p rev en t them fro m ev e r bec o mi n g c u s to mers . It w o u ld be i n teres ti n g to meas u re the p ro fi ts lo s t to s hareho ld ers w ho hav e n o i d ea w hat they ar e lo s i n g d u e to man agem en t' s arc hai c , PT V- i n fec ted s ales d o c tri n es . F o r examp le, o n e la rg e, mu lti - lev el s o ap c o mp an y has s o bo red the mark etp lac e w i th i ts PT V- ri d d led trai n in g p ro p agan d a an d Nu rembu rg- s ty le s ales ra lli es , that i t' s no w to o as hamed to men ti o n i t' s o w n n ame to n ew p ro s p ec ts . Its s ales agen ts are s o embar ras s ed they w o n ' t ev en ad mi t w hat bran d they s ell. It p ro ba bly c o mes as n o s u rp ri s e that les s than 2 % o f thei r s ales agen ts ev er m ak e a p ro fi t. Can y o u i magin e a c o mp any ac hi evin g a s tate o f affai rs w he re they are ac tu ally fri ghten ed o f thei r o w n n ame! W ell, thi s c o mp an y s o c on tami n ated the mark etp lac e i n A meri c a w i th i ts s p o o ky tri c k s , that i t' s #1 c o mp eti to r s u ed i t fo r d amag es F OU R T IME S an d w o n eac h ti me. PT V c an w rec k a bus i n es s lik e thi s . It c an c au s e brai nu s ers to au to mati c ally as su me that o ther b rai n u s ers are ali gn ed to thei r u n i qu e i n teres ts w hen they are so u n li k ely to be. I t c an as s u me o thers w an t " to s hare" w hen they d o n o t. Or, PT V c an c au s e a brai n u s er to n eed , w an t, o r d eman d o thers to share thei r ' u n i qu ely ri ght' exp eri en c e o f a s i tu ati o n . T he i n fec ted brai n c an c aus e behav i o u r that ev en e mp lo y s p res s u re, c o erc i o n o r fo rc e to f ri ghten o r bu lly o ther b rai n u s ers to to e the li n e. So mu c h ti me, effo rt, p eac e an d p ro du c ti v i ty has been w as ted by n aggi n g bo res an d ti res o me bu lli es . Y es , the hu man b rai n i s an exp lan ati o n - man u fac tu ri n g mec han is m bu t that' s n o t the s ame thi n g as e xp lai n i n g. Do n o ti c e t he d i fferen c e. B y c reati n g exp lan ati o n s to fi ll i n the gap s w hen n eed ed , the br ai n help s to k eep s u s men tally s table. T hi s w i ll alw ay s be a u s efu l p ro p erty o f the hu man brai n .
22 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
T hi n k in g, bei n g a thi n k er, hav i n g a healthy c u ri o s i ty i s a no rmal p art o f the fu n c ti o ni n g o f a healthy hu man brai n . W hat i s n o t healthy o r n o rmal bu t i s a v ery d an gero u s
c o g ni ti v e
d i se a se
is
the c o n d i ti on
o f the T ru e B eli ev e r.
In
pop
p s yc ho lo gy terms , thi n k ers ar e OK bu t T ru e B eli ev ers a re NOT OK . T he s y mp to m o f the T ru e B eli ev er i s t he c o llo qu i al an d v ery c ri p p led v i ew p o i n t that s ay s : " I hav e the tru th" ... " My p o lic y i s the tru e p o lic y " ... " My d o c tri n e i s go o d an d y o u r d o c tri n e i s ev i l" , o r, p erhap s , " W asn ' t I luc k y to be bo rn in to that T ru e Reli gi o n an d n o w w hat are w e go i n g t o d o abo u t y o u , u n beli ev er? " It i s d i ffi c u lt to i magi n e a mo re d an ge ro u s men tal c o n d i ti on . So me beli ev e that reli gi o u s extremi s m i s a g reate r d i s eas e than p o li ti c al e xtremi s m. Co mmen ti n g o n the d amage b ei n g d o n e by reli gi o u s extremi s ts to the A u s trali an Labo u r Pa rty , B en Chi fley , the mu c h- res p ec ted fo rmer P ri me Mi n i s ter o f A u s trali a, o n c e s ai d , " T he re li g i ou s fa na ti c i s far wo rs e tha n the p o li ti c a l fa na ti c ." In the P ref ac e o f hi s b o o k , T he T ru e B e li e ve rs , ( Methu en 198 6) P eter B o w l er w arn s : H e re the y c o me , the T rue Be li e ve rs , wi d e -e ye d a nd e a rne s t; he re the y co m e , the d e v o te es ,
the
fa na ti c s ,
the
e v a nge li s ts ,
the
p i lg ri m s ,
the
wo rs hi ppe rs ,
the
c o nte m p la ti v e s - c lu tc hi ng the i r hym ns a nd i nv o c a ti o ns , o b se rv i ng the i r ho ly c o m m a nd m e nts a nd ta bo o s , p e rfo rmi ng the i r s a c ri fic e s b u t, a b o ve a ll, be li e v i ng . B e li e v i ng i n Go d , o r i n s e v e ra l g od s, o r e v e n a g o d d es s o r two . B e li e ving i n the s o u l, i n d e m o ns , i n e te rna l fo rg i v e nes s , i n e te rna l p u ni s hm e nt, i n li fe a ft e r d ea th, i n a s s o rte d va ri e ti es o f he a ve n a nd he ll, i n t he p o we r o f fa i th to he a l, to m o v e m o u nta i ns ... T he y a re a nd a lwa ys ha v e b ee n, the i de a li s ts o f hu m a nki nd . Se e ki ng so m e thi ng b e yo nd
the
m a te ria l,
s o m e thi ng
i nta ng i b le ,
s o m e thi ng
to
e xp la i n
the
u ne xp la i na b le , s o me thi ng to a ss u ag e the i r fe a r o f the u nc o ntro lla b le , s o me thi ng to c o m p e ns a te the m fo r the u na c ce p ta ble , s o m e thi ng to o ffe r the m a ki nd o f d i g ni ty a nd p o we r i n the m i d s t o f i nd i g ni ty a nd i m p o te nc e . Le t u s no t m oc k the T ru e Be li e v e r fo r the i r i de a li s m . Bu t wa tc h ou t fo r them - the y c a n b e d a ng e ro u s . Co m b a ti ve p e o p le, the y a re , b y na tu re ; c ru s a d e rs ra the r tha n c o m p ro m i se rs . B e ca u se the y a re ri g ht, o the rs a re wro ng . T he s i nfu l m u s t b e
23 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN p u ni s he d , a nd who m o re s i nfu l th a n the u nb e li e v e r? T he m o re i nto le ra nt a nd wa rli ke a m o ng the m s e e k to p u ni s h t he u nb e li e v e r i n thi s li fe , wi th ho ly wa rs a nd i nq u i s i ti o ns ; the m o re b e ne vo le nt a nd to le ra nt le a v e i t to the i r Go d to p u ni s h the u nb e li e v e r wi th e te rna l to rm e nts a fte r d e a th. F ro m ti m e to ti m e hi s to ry has thrown u p a se c t tha t is ge ntle a nd m o de ra te a nd p e a ce lo v i ng , li ke the Q u a ke rs o r the B a ha ' i ; i nv a ria b ly the se se c ts a re sing le d o u t fo r the m o s t ru thle s s p e rse c u ti o n a t the ha nd s o f the T ru e B e lie v e rs . W he n two re li g i o ns a re s o s i m i la r a s to be a lm o s t i de nti c a l i n e v e ry si g ni fi c a nt re s p ec t
the n
ta ke
c o v e r,
be ca u se
the
c o nfli c t
b e twe e n
the m
wi ll
be
tru ly
m u rd e ro us . B u dd hi s ts a nd Pres b yte ria ns ge t a lo ng fa m ou s ly, b u t i f yo u a re se lli ng i ns u ra nc e yo u wo u ld b e i ll- ad v i se d to s e t u p s ho p i n Pa le s ti ne o r Be lfa s t. F o r exa mp le, the n u mber o f E u ro p ea n s w ho d i ed o r w ere k i lled as a res u lt o f the Cru s ad es i s p u t at ap p ro xi mately fo u r mi lli o n . T he v i c ti ms o f the In qu is i ti o n , in Sp ai n alo n e, i n c lud ed :
3 0 ,0 0 0 - bu rn ed at the s tak e 17,0 0 0 bu rn ed i n effi gy 2 90 ,0 0 0 p un i s hed by to rtu re, p ri s o n o r fi n an c i al ru i n . Of all thes e v i c ti ms , mo s t w ere w o me n , ' hereti c s ' an d J ew s .
Today? T hat' s all v ery s ad , o f c o u rs e, bu t tho s e med i ev al d ays are go n e n o w , aren ' t they ? T o d ay w e li v e i n the A ge o f A q u ari us , the n ew mi llen n i u m, i sn ' t all that t r u th v i ru s s tu ff rath er o ld hat an d ev en s li ghtl y alarmi s t to u s c o o l, lai d - bac k , d u d es ? ' F rai d n o t! ... F o r examp le, rec en t w o rld ' s head li n es w ere fi lled w i th s to ri es abo u t a gro u p i n J ap an w ho s e id eas are v ery mu c h i nfec ted w i th the tru th v i ru s . T i m e magazi n e' s c o v er s to ry ( A p ri l 3 , 19 95) i s abo u t a g ro u p that p o i s o n ed 3 ,00 0 T o k yo s u bw ay c o mmu ters w i th n erv e gas . T i m e rep o rts , I n wha t c o u ld o nly ha v e b e e n a c a re fu lly c o o rd i na te d , p a i ns ta ki ng ly
24 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN p la nne d a tro c i ty, a n a p p a re ntly d i lu te d fo rm o f ne rv e g a s c a lle d s a ri n, a we a p o n o f m a s s ki lli ng o ri g i na lly c o nc o c te d b y the Na zi s , was p lac e d s i m u lta ne o u s ly i n fi v e s u b wa y ca rs a t m o rni ng ru s h ho u r, ki lli ng 10 v i c ti m s a nd s i c ke ni ng t ho u s a nds m o re . ... ( la te r a t the s u s p ec t g ro up ' s c o m p ou nd ) Po li c e m a n i n p ro te c ti v e s u i ts wi th c a na ri e s e me rg ed wi th to n a fte r to n o f c he m ic a ls- - s od i u m c ya ni de, s o d i u m flu o ri d e , p ho s p ho ru s tri c hlo ri de , i s op ro p yl a lc o ho l, a c e to ni tri le ... e no u g h to ki ll 4.2 m i lli o n p e o p le . Later , i t w as rep o rted th at p o li c e fo u n d c on tai n ers o f a bi o lo gi c al to xi n c alled bo tu li n u m, o n e o f the w o rld ' s d ead li es t. T he y fo u nd e no u g h to wi p e o u t the who le p la ne t! Pres u mab ly thi s w ou ld be j usti fi able, all i n the n ame o f tru th. A s a res u lt o f thi s atro c i ty " the J ap an es e hav e lo s t thei r tru s t i n s o c i ety ," s ays s oc i o lo gi st K en i c hi T o mi n aga o f K ei o U n i v ers i ty . " It w i ll n ev er be the s ame ." A n d the n ame o f thi s p o s t- mod ern gro u p o f the 1990 ' s ? A u m Shin ri k y o w hic h mean s - Supreme Truth! PT V i s n o t j us t a medi ev al c u ri o si ty . T o d ay , PT V i s s ti ll v ery mu c h ali v e an d may be li v i n g i t u p in y ou r brai n ! Li s ten!
Experiment Si t qu i etly n o w fo r abo u t 3 to 5 minu tes an d n o ti c e the ac ti vi ty go i n g on in y o u r brai n . T ry to n o ti c e the tho u gh t p att ern s , the d i s s o n anc e, the d ef en c es that PT V i s w o rk i n g to p res erv e i ts s u rv i v al. W hat y o u hav e n o ti c ed abo u t yo u r thin k i n g p attern s an d w hat, i f any thi n g, y o u hav e n o ti c ed ab o u t PT V' s ac ti v i ti es i n y o u r brai n ?
25 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
So , I fi n ally get to c o me o u t o f the clo s et. A ltho u gh I’v e n ev er, ev e r d en ied i t, I’v e alw ay s been a li ttl e re ti c en t to p ro c la i m the fac t that – I a m a b ri g ht! W hat abo u t y o u ? Do y o u w an t to c o me o u t o f that d ark o ld c lo s et w i th me? A re y o u a bri ght? T he c o n v en i en c e o f the in tern et mak es i t p o ss i ble fo r y o u to c o me o u t onli n e ri ght n o w at http://www.the-brights.net … … W hat exac tly i s a b ri ght? A b ri ght i s d efi n ed as a p ers o n who se wo rld v i e w i s na tu ra li s ti c ( fre e o f s u p e rna tu ra l a nd m ys ti c a l e le m e nts ) . B ri ghts are ev e ry w here . T hey li v e i n y o u r s treet. T hey d o bu s i n es s w i th y o u . T hey s i t n ext to y o u o n trams , at the fo o ty an d at the p u b. B ri ghts co me i n ev ery s i ze, s hap e an d co lo u r. T hey are p aren ts , p artn ers , lo v ers , au n ts an d c o u s in s . Y o u r ten - y ear- o ld mi ght be a bri ght . Y o u r n ext d ate may be a bri gh t. Y o u r fami ly d o c to r may be a bri g ht. Y o u r H ead o f State may be a bri ght ( H i s E xc ellen c y Bi ll H ay d en ad mi tted he w as an athei s t) . T here a re ev en b ri ghts i n fo xho l es an d , as a y o u n g d i gge r, I s e rv ed w i th th em i n the 60 s i n Vi et Nam. B ri ghts are n o t beli ev e rs i n go d s an d go d d es s es , an gels , fai ri es , s p i ri ts , c ro s s i n g o v er,
gho s ts ,
voodoo,
s n ak e- han dli n g,
as tro lo gy ,
f ai th- heali n g,
i n d u lgen c es ,
c ry s tals , li mbo , hell o r p u rgato ry . B ri ghts may s ay they are a Gemi n i an d go to o c c as i on al reli gi o u s ev en ts to be p o li te o r to ap p eas e thei r fri en d s an d fa mi li es o r j u s t to en j oy s o me en du ri n g c u ltu ral feas t bu t they real ly d o n o t beli ev e i n the Res u rrec ti o n , the A s s u mp ti o n , the Pi lgri mage , o r the Sabb ath. Y o u r o w n fami ly ’s bri ghts m ay go alo n g w i th H allo w een , Chan n u k ah an d t he H aj o u t o f res p ec t o r ev en o u t o f fear bu t they really d o n ’t beli ev e. E v en y o u r San ta may be a b ri ght . I k n o w , bec au s e I am. I’v e been San ta at the lo c a l p re- s c ho o l f o r o v er a d ec ad e. I try v ery hard to b e a c on v i nc in g San ta an d to meet all the s eas o n al exp ec tati o n s o f the w i d e- ey ed k i d s an d thei r d o ti n g p aren ts bu t I’m real ly j u s t a fri en d ly o ld frau d i n a b ad b eard .
26 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN W hi le n o tw o b ri ghts are ali k e an d they all d i ffe r o n man y thi n gs an d i n ev ery p o s si ble w ay they d o s hare a w o rld v i ew free o f s u p ern atu rali s m. T hei r e thi c s are bas ed o n thei r u n d ers tan d i n g o f a n a tu rali s ti c w o rld v i ew . B ri g hts may be: A thei s ts , A gn o s ti cs , F reethi n k ers , H u man i s ts , No n - Reli gi o u s , No n - Prac ti c i n g, Obj ecti v i s ts o r Sk ep ti c s . So me bri gh ts are famo u s . F reu d w a s a famo u s bri gh t. T h e A u s tri an p io n eer o f p s yc ho an aly s is s ai d: " In the lo n g ru n , n o thi n g c an w i ths tan d reas o n an d exp eri en c e, an d the c o n trad i c ti o n reli gi o n o ffers to bo th i s p alp able … T he w ho le thi n g i s s o p aten tly i n fan ti le, s o fo r ei gn to reali ty , tha t to an y o n e w i th a f ri en d ly atti tu d e to hu man i ty i t i s p ai n fu l to thi nk that the grea t maj o ri ty o f mo rta ls w i ll n ev er be able to ri s e abo v e thi s v i ew o f li fe."
W hen Mark T w ai n , the A meri c an hu mo ri s t, w as
o n c e ask ed w hether he feared d eath he s ai d that he d i d n o t, in v i ew o f the fac t that he had been d ead fo r b i lli o n s an d bi lli o n s o f y ears befo re he w as bo rn , and had no t s u ffered the s li gh tes t i n c o n v en i en c e fro m i t. K atheri n e H ep bu rn , w hen as k ed i n an i n terv i ew , rep li ed , " I' m an athei s t, a n d that' s i t. I beli ev e ther e' s n o thi ng w e c an k n o w exc ep t that w e s ho u ld be ki n d to eac h o ther an d d o w hat w e c an fo r eac h o ther." Qu en ti n Cri s p , the E n gli s h ac to r an d gay ri ghts c amp ai gn er rec alled : " W hen I to ld the p eo p le o f No rthe rn Ire lan d that I w as an athei s t, a w o man in the au d i en c e s to o d u p an d s ai d , ' Y es , b u t is i t the Go d o f the Catho li c s o r the Go d o f th e P ro te s tan ts i n w ho m y o u d o n' t beli ev e? ’” B eatle and s on gw ri ter, J o hn Len n o n , may have been a bri ght w hen he w ro te: Im a g i ne the re ' s no he a ve n, It' s e a s y i f yo u try, No he ll b e lo w u s , A b o v e u s o nly s ky, Im a g i ne a ll the p e o p le li v i ng fo r to d a y Im a g i ne the re ' s no c o u ntri e s It i s n' t ha rd to d o No thi ng to ki ll o r d i e fo r No re li g i o n to o
Other c el ebri ty bri gh ts are t he A u s trali an p hi lo s o p her Peter Si n ger, the Ic elan d s i n ger B j ö rk , the c o s mo lo gi s t Carl Sagan , the femi n i s t Vi rgi n i a W oo lf, the Chi n es e
27 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN lead er
Mao
Zed o n g ,
the
ac ti v i s t
an d
sc i en tis t
No am
Cho ms k y ,
the
No bel
mi c ro bi o lo gi s t F ran c i s Cri c k , the i n ven to r T ho mas E d i s o n , the magi c i an s Pen n an d T eller , the p o et Lo rd B y ro n , the Cu b an d i c tato r F i d el Cas t ro , the B ri ti s h mark eti n g gen i u s Si r Ri c hard B ran s on , the fi lmmak er W o o d y A llen , the s ci - fi w riter Is aac A s i mo v , an d the ac to r w ho rec en tly d i ed Marlo n B ran d o . Co u ld ev en a go d b e a bri g ht? In o u r relati v ely s ho rt hu man hi s to ry there hav e been man y lead ers w ho hav e c lai med to be d i v i n e an d n o d o u bt man y mo re w ho hav e ac ted as tho u gh they w ere . Lama, hav e ev er had
On ly a f ew li k e J es u s , Caes ar an d K u n du n , the Dalai
thei r c lai m
o f d i vi n i ty
w id ely
ac kn o w led ged
by
thei r
c o n s ti tu en c i es . I’v e had s ev eral mee ti n gs w i th T en zi n Gy ats o , the Da lai Lama o f T i bet an d I d o ho ld hi m in hi gh regard . In New Y o rk i n 198 1 I o n c e as k ed hi m, rathe r tac tles s ly , i f he c o u ld d es i gn a n ew reli gi o n . T he meeti n g w as reco rd ed an d here i s o u r exc han ge: Y o u r H o li n es s ,
i f y o u w ere as k ed to d es i gn a n ew reli gi o n ,
w hat w o u ld be
s o me o f the fea tu res that y o u w o u ld wan t to i n c lu d e in thi s n ew reli gi o n ? (La u g hi ng ) I c a nno t a ns we r t ha t! Lo o k at i t as a d es i gn p ro j ec t. The r e is no ne e d t o as k m e s u c h qu e s t io ns , Mi c h ae l. (la u g hi ng ) ( Lau ghi n g)
Y es .
It i s a tri c k !
I t' s a tri c k qu es ti o n , Y o u r H o li n es s , bu t y o u
hav e my p ermi s s i on to an s w er i t. Oh, a t ri ck ! (la u g hi ng ) The n I will a ns we r … H mm m . Mo re s im p le r, m o re ef fe c t i ve re lig i o n. I t hi nk t hat I a lre a dy, yo u s e e , ha ve m a de a n e f f o rt t o p rom o t e the "U ni ve rs a l R e lig i o n" - t ha t is , t h e p ra c t is e o f C O MPA SSION . Ir re s p e c t i ve o f whe t he r yo u a r e a be lieve r o r a no n- be li e ve r, if yo u a re a h uman be in g yo u do ne e d k i ndne s s. K i ndne s s … c om p a ss i o n … t hi s i s m y u ni ve rs a l re li g i o n. Si m ple r. Wi t ho u t a ny p hi lo so p hy.
Y o u k no w t hro u g h yo u r o wn e xp e rie nc e
28 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN ho w m u c h i s t he va lu e o f yo u r p are nt s ' k i ndne s s . Whe n yo u r m o t h e r s ho we d a ki ndly a t t i t u de t o wa rd yo u , yo u a p p re ci a t e i t ve ry mu c h . Wi t ho u t yo u r p a re nt s ' c o mp a ss i on, yo u wo u ld no t s u rvi ve , yo u c ou ld no t li ve . Y o u s ee , he re t he re is no ne e d t o p ro ve ! N o ne e d fo r lo g ic ! N o ne e d fo r r e lig i o n! N o ne e d fo r t em p le ! So no w, t ha t i s t he re a l r e lig i on.
I a m t ryi ng a s ha rd as I can t o
p ro p a g a te t ha t … t o t e a c h t hi s s im p le r a p p ro ac h.
C o m p a s si o n, m o re
c o m p as s i o n! Of c o u rs e, n o t all b ri ghts k n o w they are n o w c alled ‘b ri ghts ’ , s i n c e thi s termi n o lo gy has o n ly rec en tly been i n tro d u c ed . Las t y ear, Oxfo rd Pro fes s o r Ri c hard Daw k i ns w ro te i n T he Gu a rd i a n ( J u n e 2 1 2 0 0 3 ): “ B ri g ht i s the w o rd , th e n ew n o u n fo r a the i s t. I am a bri ght. Y o u a re a b ri g ht. She i s a bri gh t. W e a re th e bri gh t s . Is n ' t i t abo u t ti me y o u c ame o u t as a bri ght? Is he a bri ght? I c an ' t i magi n e fall i n g fo r a w o man w ho w as n o t a b ri ght . Nu mer o u s i n tellec tu als an d o ther famo u s p eo p le are bri ghts . B ri ghts c o n s ti tu te 60 % o f A meri c an s c i en tis ts , an d a s tu n n i n g 93 % o f tho s e s c i en tis ts go o d en o u gh to b e elec te d to the e li te Na ti o n al A c ad emy o f Sc i en c es ( equ i v alen t to F ello w s o f the Ro y al So c i ety ) are bri ghts . Lo o k o n the br i ght s i d e: tho u gh at p res en t th ey c an ' t ad mi t i t an d get elec ted , the U S Co n g res s mu s t be fu ll o f c lo s et bri ghts .” Ori gi n ally p u bli s hed i n the Ne w Y o r k T i m e s as an ar ti c le c all ed T he B ri g ht Stu f f ( J u ly 12 , 2 0 03 Dan i el C. Den n ett, the d i s ti n gu is hed p ro fes s o r o f p hi lo s op hy at T u fts U n i v ers i ty and mo s t rec en t au tho r o f F re e d o m E v o lve s had thi s to s ay : “ I rec en tly to o k p art i n a c o n feren c e i n Seattle t hat bro u ght to gethe r lead i n g s c i en tists , arti s ts an d au tho rs to talk c and i d ly an d info rmal ly abo u t thei r li v es to a gro up o f v ery s mart hi gh s c ho o l s tu d en ts . T o w ard the en d o f my allo tted 15 mi n u tes , I tri ed a li ttle exp e ri men t. I c am e o u t as a bri ght. No w , my i d en ti ty w o u ld c ome as n o s u rp ri s e to an y bo dy wi th the s li ghtes t k n o w led ge o f my w o rk . Nev erth eles s , the res u lt w as elec tri fy i n g. Man y s tud en ts c ame up to me afterw ard s to than k me, w i th c o n si d erable p as s i o n , fo r " li berati n g" them. I had n ' t reali zed ho w lo n ely an d i n s ecu re thes e tho u ghtfu l te en agers f elt. T hey ' d n ev er heard a res p ec ted ad u lt s ay ,
29 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN i n an en ti rely matter o f fac t w ay , that he d i d n' t beli ev e i n Go d . I had c almly bro k en a tabo o an d s ho w n ho w easy i t w as . In ad d i ti o n , man y o f the late r s p eak ers , i n c lu di n g s ev eral No b e l lau reates , w e re i n s p i red to s ay that th ey , to o , w e r e bri ghts . In eac h c as e the rema rk d rew ap p lau s e. E v en mo re gr ati fy i n g w ere the c o m men ts o f ad u lts an d s tu d en ts ali k e w ho s o u ght me o u t aft erw a rd to tel l me th at, w hi le they thems elv es w ere n o t bri ghts , they s u p p o rted bri ght ri gh ts . A n d that i s w hat w e w an t mo s t o f all: to b e tr eated w i th the s ame res p ec t ac c o rd ed to B ap ti s ts and H i nd us an d Catho li c s , n o mo re an d n o les s .” No t ev e ry o n e i s hap p y ab o u t B ri ght r i ghts . A s y o u w o u ld exp ec t, ther e has been the u s u al han d - w rin gi n g by tho s e fearfu l c ri ti c s w ho s ay the w o rd ‘bri ght’ has been hi j ac k ed . B u t lan gu age i s o rg an i c , i t ev o lv es , i t’s n o rma l. Co ke , a p o llu ti n g fu el bec o mes a p o p u lar d ri n k . Vi rg i n bec o mes a rec o rd l abel . A g a y i s n o w a ho mo s exu al. A n d n o w a b ri g ht i s an athei s t. Get o v er i t! Th e re a re a ls o t ho s e who m i sc hie vo u s ly p re t e nd t o c o nf us e t he no u n wi t h t he a djec t i ve i n o rde r t o c la i m t ha t s om e k i nd of a t he is t i c a rrog a nc e is a f o o t . The a dje c t i ve br igh t , m e ans e ve r yt hi ng f rom s u nny, da zzl i ng a nd ra di a nt t o c le ve r, g i f t e d a nd c he e rf u l a nd i s qu i t e a di s t i nc t c o nno t a t i o n. It ’s no t ro c k e t s ci e nc e to di ff e re nt i a t e be t we e n a no u n a nd a n a dje c t i ve a nd a ny s c ho o l k i d c a n do i t s o t he r e ’s no ne e d t o g o to t he t ro u ble o f g e t t i ng t he m c o nf u se d.
B ri ghts are NOT c lai mi n g to b e c lev erer than beli ev ers they are j u s t s tand in g u p fo r thei r ri g hts . A bri ght ( the n o u n ) i s the n ew w o rd fo r a n athei s t. B ri ghts s p ec i fi c ally u s e the n ou n NOT the adj ec ti v e. A re there d i m an d d u ll bri ghts ? Certai n ly . A re there bri g ht an d c lev er beli ev ers ? Of c o u rs e there are. On e c an s i mp ly n o te the d i s tin c ti o n betw een the n o un an d the ad j ec ti v e. W i ll w e s o o n b e s eei n g B ri ght P ri d e marc hes ? W i ll Me lbo u rn e s o o n hav e i ts B ri ght Mard i Gras to ri v al Sy d n ey ’s Gay an d Les bi an c iv i l ri ghts ev en t? May be, may be n o t. B u t, i f y o u are a b ri ght an d y ou are c o ns i d eri n g this is su e y o u c an v is i t the s i tes li s ted belo w . So , c o me o n o u t o f the c lo s et – i t may j u s t be a bri ght i d ea w ho s e ti me has c o me!
30 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Y o u c an v is i t thes e B ri ght s i tes : http://www.the-brights.net/ http://www.visi.com/~markg/atheists.html http://ase.tufts.edu/cogstud/~ddennett.htm http://www.world-of-dawkins.com/index.shtml http://www.schoolofthinking.org/ http://www.randi.org/ http://www.skeptic.com/ http://www.secularhumanism.org/ahal/nhm.html http://www.teachingaboutreligion.org/ http://www.dangerousgames.com/~ironwolf/philosophy/bright-idea.html
31 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
On read i n g thes e les s o n s ab o u t PT V I am o ften as k ed by trai n ees : B u t, a re n' t the s e le s s o ns T he T ru th? I u s u ally an s w er s o methi n g li k e: No . T he s e les s o ns a re no t T he T ru th. Research T he d i fferen t v i ew s o ffered i n thes e l es s o ns may n o t be the o n es pu s hed by man y o f the mai n s tream au tho ri ti es bu t they are res ea rc hed an d p res en ted i n go o d fai th. T he fac ts s tated c an eas i ly be c hec k ed o u t w i th y o u r o w n res earc h an d I e n c o u rage y o u to d o s o . Go o gle mak es i t mu c h eas i er fo r y o u to d o thi s . Mistakes and Faults W here SOT tr ai n ees hav e fo u n d fau lt s o r w her e mi s tak es hav e b een bro u g ht to o u r atten ti o n they hav e b een rec ti fi ed an d there are, n o d o u bt, man y mo re flaw s i n thes e i mp erfec t les s o n s . Provocation and Tactlessness A ltho u gh thes e les s o n s may b e p res ented s o mew hat tac tles s ly they hav e v alu e i n the p ro v o c ati o n they gi v e to tho s e w ho are w i lli n g to exp lo re th em. Si n c e w e are exp lo ri n g the s u b j ec ts o f ' tru th' an d ' thin k in g' w e c an n o t av oi d exp lo ri n g the hi s to ry o f r eli gi o n an d s c i en c e. Di s cu s s in g reli gi o n w i tho u t d efe ren c e s o meti mes s eems tac tles s and is to o mu c h fo r s o me p eo p le bu t i s refres hi n g fo r o thers . T he i n d iv i du al thi n k er mu s t mak e u p hi s /her o w n mi n d o n this . Not 'The Truth' T hey are c ertai n ly n o t T he T ru th to be beli ev ed i n . T hat w o u ld be exac tly the o p p o si te o f the p u rp os e fo r thes e les s o ns . T hei r v alu e li es i n the thi n kin g y o u d o abo u t them an d the ef fo rt y o u tak e to fo rm y o u r o w n o p i ni o n s .
32 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Always remember, if you don't do your own thinking, someone else will do it for you. W ho e v e r u nd e rta kes to s e t hi ms e lf u p a s a j u dg e o f T ru th i s s hi p wre c ke d b y the la u g hte r o f the Go d s . - Albert Einstein, thinker and scientist A nyti m e s o me o ne sa y s s o me thi ng with g re a t c o nfi d e nc e , c he c k to s ee whe the r o r no t i t' s tru e ! - Noam Chomsky, cognitive scientist and activist No w let' s c o n ti n u e o u r exp lo rati o n o f Pla to ' s T ru th Vi ru s o r meme . If Pl at o w as the hac k er w ho i n v en ted the tru th v i ru s, A ri s to tle w as the fi rs t to p ac k age i t i n to a p o w erfu l c o gn i ti v e o p erati n g s y s tem or thi n k i n g s o ftw are p ac k age. A ri s to tle s tart ed as a s tu d en t i n Pl ato ' s ac ad emy an d remai n ed there f o r tw en ty y ears u n ti l Plato , hi s men to r, d i ed . B y the ti me Plato d i ed A ri s to tle w as tho ro u ghly i n fec ted w i th hi s men to r' s tru th v i ru s an d di d mu c h to es tabli s h ' the searc h fo r c ertai n ty ' as the bas i s o f all i n tellec tu al en d eav o u rs . A ri s to tle bec ame a p as s i o n ate an d o bs es s iv e tru th f reak . Pla to o n ly w en t as far as s ay i n g that tru th w as w hat lay at th e lo n g en d o f a thi n k er' s s earc h, an u lti mate d es ti n ati o n . No t en o u gh fo r A ri ... No s i r! A ri s to tle s ai d " I w an t tru th! I w an t i t here! I w an t i t n o w ! " A ri s to tle w en t o n to i n si s t that the o rd i n ary fu zzy j u mble o f o u r d ai ly reali ty w as j u s t n o t ti d y en o u gh. So , to b ri n g o rd er to the w o r ld he i mp o s ed a k i nd o f tru th temp late o v er ev ery thi n g. Mail sorting and Labelling A ri s to tle' s med i u m w as lan gu age. H e as s u med that the c ertai n ty o f w o rd s co u ld gi v e c ertai n ty to the i n effable flo w o f e xp eri en c e. T he u n ti d y c hao s o f reali ty o ffen d ed A ri s to tle' s o rd ered , PT V- i n fec ted mi n d s o he d eci d ed to break ev ery thi ng u p in to p i geo n ho les an d c atego ri es - k in d o f li k e mai l s o rti n g an d labeli n g. T hi s go es here, that go es the re , s ti c k thi s label o n thi s and that label o n that! Let' s j u s t ti dy ev ery thi n g u p . Y es s i r. A p lac e fo r ev ery thi n g an d ev ery thi n g i n i t' s p lac e w as A ri s to tle' s mo tto .
33 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
In hi s c lass i fy in g ferv o u r A ri s to tle mad e u p pi geo n ho les an d s o rted o u r d ai ly reali ty i n to them. H e t ri ed to i n v en t s lo ts fo r ev ery thi n g. F o r examp le , he s et abo u t s o rti n g ' go v ern men t'
i n to
c atego ri es
li k e :
' c o ns ti tu ti o n al' ,
' ty ran n i c al' ,
' mo n arc hy ' ,
' ari s to c rac y ' , ' o li garc hy ' , ' d emo c rac y ' . H e then go t bu s y break i n g ev e ry thi n g u p i n to s u bj ec ts li k e: p o li tic s , ethi c s , rheto ri c ( s p eec h- maki n g) , metap hy s ic s , p hys ic s , bi o lo gy , meteo ro lo gy . F i n ally , he i n v en ted hi s v ery o w n thi nk i n g s o ftw are c alled lo gi c . Aristotle's Silly Syllogism A ri s to tle' s thi n k in g s o ftw are w as al r ead y i n fec ted w i th the Pla to T ru th V i ru s fro m d ay o n e. F o r lo gi c , A ri s to tle i n v en ted hi s s i lly sy llo gi s m. I s ay i t' s s i lly bec au s e i t lac k s w i sd o m an d s en s e. T he s y llo gi s m s tarts w i th the s o - c alled ' tru th' as i ts p remi s e. T hen o n e s i mp ly matc hes u p i tems that c o me alo n g an d o u t po p s y o u r c on c lu si o n . Si mp le really . .. an d v ery s i lly . F o r examp le: TR U TH : A ll s w ans are w hi te. ITEM: T hi s i s a s w an . LOGIC A L EXTEN SION : T h ere fo re i t i s w hi te. Or, TR U TH : Sales p eo p le tell li es . ITEM: A my i s a s ales p ers o n . LOGIC A L C O N C LU SIO N : T he refo re A my i s lyi n g. Or, TR U TH : Ou r c hu rc h i s the ri ght c hu r c h. ITEM: Y o u ar e n o t a membe r. LOGIC A L C O N C LU SIO N : T he refo re y o u are w ro n g. Or, TR U TH : T he eart h i s flat.
34 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN ITEM: T here fo re i t has an ed ge . LOGIC A L C O N C LU SIO N : T h ere fo r e y o u w i ll fall o ff th e ed ge i f y o u g o to o far fro m s ho re . Or, TR U TH : T he Pres i d en t i s the law . ITEM: T he Pr es i d en t d i d s o methi n g. LOGIC A L C O N C LU SIO N : T he refo re i t i s legal ( A ri s to tle' s Lo gi c s o ftw are c au s ed Ni xo n to beli ev e thi s w as s o ) . Or, TR U TH : A b o s s 's o pi n i on is bes t. ITEM: Y o u ar e n o t a b o s s . LOGIC A L C O N C LU SIO N : So w hen w e w an t y o u r o p i ni o n w e' ll gi v e i t to yo u . No Contradictions, Please! F o r A ri s to tle, j u s t thi n k i n g w as n ' t go o d en o u gh. No , y o u hav e to thi n k lo gi c ally . Lo gi c i s o bs es s ed w i th hu n ti n g d o wn c o n trad i c ti o ns . In lo gi c , a thi n g c an n o t be i n bo x A an d b o x NOT A at the s ame ti me. No , i t mu s t be s o rt ed an d c las s i fi ed i n to the ' c o rrec t' bo x. A ltho u gh rea l li fe i s fu ll o f c o n trad i c ti o n s an d p arad o xes (i s the glas s half fu ll o r half emp ty ? ) thi s w as j u s t no t go o d en o u gh fo r o u r man A ri s to tle. T hi n gs mu s t be c u t u p in to p i ec es li k e a j i g- s aw and then s o rted i n to thei r ' tru e' c atego ri es . Judging Right from Wrong Li fe, ac c o rd i n g to A ris to tle, i s a matter o f s o rti n g thi n gs o u t in to 'ri ght' an d ' w ro n g' . J u d gemen t i s the k ey ac ti v i ty . T hi s i s ri ght. T hat' s w ro n g. I' m ri g ht. Y o u ' re w ro n g. T hi s i s blac k . T hat i s w hi te. T hi s i s A meri c an . T hat' s u n -A meri c an . T hi s i s go o d . T hat i s b ad . T hi s i s the ri ght an s w er. T hat i s the w ro n g an s w er. Grey n es s ? F u zzin es s ? Un c ertai n ty ? Op en - end ed n ess ? Con trad i c ti o n ? Parad o x? W ell, w e c an n o t hav e that s o rt o f thi n g arou n d here. Y o u ' v e go t to s o rt thi n gs ou t! Clean u p y o u r ac t! Get thi n gs ri g ht! In A ri s to tle' s Ly c eu m, ev ery thi n g w as c o v ered by ru les , ru les , ru les . T he li v i n g arran ge men ts , the s tu d y co u rs es , the ti metables w ere all d o mi n ated b y ru les an d regu lati o n s .
35 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Ancient Software A ri s to tle c rav ed o rd er . H e lo v ed the o rd er tha t hi s c las s i fic ati o n s bro u ght to hi s i d eas an d tho u ghts . H e as s u med that the s ame o rd er t hat h e fo u n d he c o u l d i mp o s e o n w o rd s an d lan gu age c o u ld als o be i mp o s ed o n the real w o rld . Man y h av e mad e the s ame mi s tak e. A ri s to tle' s c o gn i ti v e o p erati n g s y s tem, lo gi c , has d o mi n ated W es tern ed u c ati o n fo r far to o lo n g. H o w c o me w e s ti ll thin k thi s w ay 2 500 y ears after o ld Ari j o i n ed So c rates an d P lato o n Mo u n t Oly mp u s ? H o w c o me thi s an c i en t s o ftw are has s u rv i v ed s o lo n g? W ho k ep t i t ali v e? W ho s p read i t aro u n d ? W ho p ro gr ammed i t i n to y o u r brai n ? W e w i ll d is c us s thi s n ext c hap ter. Let's Be Fair H av i n g s ai d all thi s , let' s n o w be fai r. Of c o u rs e, A ri s to tle mad e a grea t c o n tri bu ti o n that w as n eed ed at the ti me. My p o i nt i s ho w the u s e o f lo gi c has been s u bs equ en tly d i s to rted by p eo p le, i n s ti tu ti on s an d s o c i eti es . W hat I am d o i n g i n the les s o n s is a few thi n gs :
bei n g d eli berately p ro v o c ati v e
balan c i n g s o me o f the o bs es s i on w i th ' lo gi c ' by attac k i n g i ts ' my s ti qu e'
refe rri n g to the les s p rec i s e ' co mmo n u s age' o f lo gi c n o t the ' ac ad emic p rec i s i on ' o f lo gi c as A ri s to tle hi ms elf s et i t ou t. Often w hen the av erage p ers o n s ays ' s ales men tell li es ' they behav e as tho u gh th ey real ly s ai d ' A LL s ales men tell li es ' etc .
Beyond Critical Thinking It w as the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g w hi c h i n tro d u c ed the i d ea o f ' teac hin g thi nk i n g as a s k i ll' i n to the s c ho o ls i n the U S. B y 198 3 , SOT thi nk i n g les so n s had alread y reac hed o v er 50 mi lli o n p eop le. T hi s w as tho u gh SOT ' s Le a rn- to - T hi nk Pro j e c t w hi c h I s tarted w i th E d w ard d e B o n o i n 198 0 i n New Y o rk . E d w ard an d I c o - au tho red a bo o k , T he Le a rn- T o - T hi nk Co u rs e - b o o k ( Sec o n d E d i ti on . 198 2 . Cap r a New . San ta B arb ara) , i n w hi c h he w ro te th e fo llo w i n g:
36 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN W ha t wo u ld I e xp e c t fro m a m e m be r o f the Sc ho o l o f T hi n ki ng ? I w o u ld exp ec t a trai n ed p ers on to p os s es s a great d eal o f w i s d o m an d c o mmo n s en s e. T hi s aris es fro m an abi li ty to s ee an y si tu ati o n i n a bro ad p ers p ec ti v e. W i s d o m i s qu i te d i fferen t fro m the s o rt o f c lev ern es s that i s tau ght i n scho o l. Clev ern es s may be alri ght fo r d eali n g w i th p u zzles bu t w is d o m i s requ i red fo r d eali n g w i th li fe. W e tri ed to en c o u rage teac he rs to teac h thei r s tu d en ts to go bey o n d c ri ti c al thi n k i n g to latera l thi n k i n g. In SO T trai n i n g, the o n ly thi n g y o u a re as k ed to c ri ti c i s e is y o u r o wn thi n k in g.
37 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
In the las t few les s o n s w e lo o k ed at PT V - the P lato T ru th Vi ru s . W e s aw ho w the ' thi n k in g' hac k ers o f an c i en t A then s - So c rates , Pl ato an d A ri s to tle - fo o le d aro u n d w i th ' thi n ki n g' s o ftw are an d ho w they d ev elo p ed an d p ac k aged the co n c ep t o f ' abs o lu te tru th' . T hes e n ext few les s o n s w e' ll exp lo re ho w PT V w as p i c k ed u p and s p read thro u gho u t the W es tern w o rld , i n fec ti n g mi lli o n s o f mi n ds and k i llin g mi lli o n s o f hu man bei n gs an d s ti ll flo u ri s hi n g 2 50 0 y ears later. In trac k i n g the s p read o f a v i ru s , w e c an try to fi n d o u r w ay bac k to the i d en ti fi c ati on o f i ts Pati en t Zero . W h o w as the fi rs t p ati en t w ho real ly go t the v i ru s go i n g? W ho w as the o n e to s p read i t aro u n d en o u gh to let i t tak e ho ld ? W ell, w h en i t c ame to th e s p read i n g o f A ri s to tle' s Lo gi c So f tw are ( alr ead y i n fec ted w i th PT V) n o - o n e w as mo re s u c c es s fu l than a y o u n g Ita li an n o bleman c alled T ho mas A qu in as . Doctor Truth and The Truth B o rn , i n 12 2 5, i n to p o w erfu l n o bi li ty n ear Nap les , A qu i n as ou traged hi s fami ly w hen he d ec i d ed to bec o me a Do mi n i c an fri ar. W hen i t c o mes to tru t h f reak s , T ho mas w as o n e o f the g reates t ev e r. H e w as Do c t o r T ru th hi ms elf! T ho mas d i s c ov ered a n ew tran s lati o n o f A ri s to tle f ro m the Greek an d s o h e s et o u t to s y n thes i s e A ri s to teli an i d eas i n s uc h a w ay that i t w as u s efu l fo r d ef en d i n g T he T ru th. Of c o u rs e, as far as T he T ru th w as c on c ern ed , there w as n ev er an y d o u bt fo r o u r F ra T ho mas . No n eed to lo o k a ro u n d . No n eed to s earc h. H e al read y k n ew exac tly w here an d exac tly w hat T he T ru th w as . T he r e w as n o fu rthe r s earc h requ i red fo r T he T ru th as far as A q u i n as w as c on c ern ed . J us t a matter o f d ef en d i n g i t an d p reserv i n g i t fro m an y attemp t to c han ge i t.
38 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN T he T ru th, p ro c lai med T ho mas , w as t he teac hi n gs o f the Chu rc h. A n d w ho s e c hu rc h mi ght tha t be, T ho mas ? T he Mu s li m s ? T he B u d d his ts ? T he J ew s ? Pi c tu re T ho mas o p en in g the en v elo p e, " A n d the w i nn er i s ... T h e Catho li c Chu rc h" . T hat' s i t! No thi n g els e. Sto p lo o k i n g. H ere i t i s . T he lu c k y wi nn er! . W ell, n o w , the w i n ni n g T ru e Chu rc h als o hap p ens to be Y OU R c hu rc h, T ho mas o ld c hap. W hat a c o i n ci d enc e! W hat a s tro k e o f lu c k ! A s i t hap p en ed , T ho mas ' Chu rc h w as an i n fo rmati o n mo n op o ly . A ll E u ro p ean u n i v ers i ti es w ere ru n by the Chu rc h w i th head o ffi c e i n Ro me. Ro me li ter ally o w n ed all o f k n o w led ge an d w as b u s i ly exp o rti n g i ts c o rp o rate ed u c ati o n s y s tem. T h e p o w erfu l bu t flaw ed thi n ki n g s o ftw are, lo gi c , w as the c o gn i ti v e op erati n g s y s tem they u s ed , c o u rtes y o f A ri s to tle v i a Aqu i n as . T hi s ed u c ati on al en terp ri s e amo u n ted to p ro grammi n g b rai n s w i th w hat t he c hu rc h tau ght - v erb ati m - an d rep eati n g i t bac k agai n . Sc ho lars hi p w as red u c ed to mere d efen c e o f Vati c an teac hi n gs , w hi c h w ere k n o w n c o llec ti v ely as - T he T ru th. On ly Mi c ro s o ft' s exp o rt o f Bi ll Gates ' DOS has ev er ri v alled the Vati c an ' s exp o rt o f T ho mas A qu in as ' PT V. T o d ay , there a re a ro u n d 170 mi lli o n PC u s ers i n the w o rld an d w hen they tu rn o n thei r d es k to p o r lap to p c o mp u ter th e fi rs t thi n g 1 50 mi lli o n o f them s e e i s " MSDOS" . T hi s i s an amazi n g ac c o mp li s hmen t fo r B i ll Ga tes an d Mi c ro s o ft i n les s than 2 0 y ears . T hi s i s on ly beaten b y the fac t that a ll 170 mi lli o n PC u s ers ar e als o n ec k to p u s ers . A n d , all 170 mi lli o n are u s i n g a Vati c an - exp o rted lo gi c o p erati n g s ys tem to w o rk thei r n ec k to p s c o mpu ters s o they c an w o rk thei r PCs ! In the o ri gi n al T ho mi s t A ri s to tle n euro w are the lo gi c o p erati n g s ys tem w ork ed li k e thi s :
T RU T H : Vati c an teac hi n g i s T he T ru th. IT E M: u s i n g A ri s to tle' s lo gi c to matc h thi n gs u p , w e are mean t to as k : Do es IT E M
39 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN matc h T RU T H ? LOGICA L CONC LU SION: If Y E S, then i t is RIGH T an d i t is T RU TH . If NO, then i t is W RONG an d i t i s H E RE SY . E v en p eo p le w i th the mos t su p erfi c i al k n o w led ge o f hi s to ry k n o w w hat hap p en ed to hereti c s . Truth Machines I w as o n c e i n A ms terd am an d p ai d a v i s i t to the n o to ri o u s In qu i s i ti o n 's T o rtu re Mu s eu m. T hi s p o p u lar to u ri s t s p o t featu res a c o ll ec ti o n o f the ' t ru th mac h i n es ' , the extrao rd i n ary array o f m ac abre mac hi n es , rac k s , to n gs , an d s p i k es . T hes e an d o ther i mp lemen ts o f to rtu re w ere u s ed by the In qu i s i to rs to ' pu ri fy ' the hereti c s . On e c o u ld o n ly marv el u n eas i ly at the c o ld - blo o d ed in gen u i ty that w en t i n to the d es i gn o f thes e i n s tru men ts of tru th . T he In qu i s i to rs , i n v ari ab ly , w ere F ra T ho mas ' fello w Do mi n i c an s . T hey were qu i te w i lli n g to i n fli c t un sp eak able ho rr o rs o n tho u s and s up o n tho u s an ds o f fello w hu man bei n gs j us t fo r d i s agreei n g. T ho mi s t A ri s to tle d o c trin e c o u ld s how u p an y c o n trad i c ti o ns . It c o u ld s ho w that thei r p o in t- o f- v i ew d id no t exac tly matc h T he T ru th an d s o they w ere hereti c s . Cu t o u t thei r to n gu es ! Cran k u p the rac k ! Get me the bran d i n g i ro n! Off to th e s tak e! It s ti ll s en d s s hi v ers u p my sp in e. 'Angelic Doctor' Truth In the fo u rteen th c en tu ry , the ' An geli c Do c to r' w as c an o ni s ed fo r hi s great c o n tri b u ti o n to the d efen c e o f tru th an d Sai n t T ho mas A qu i n as bec ame a k i nd o f go d i n the c hu rc h. T here ev en is a famo u s p ain ti n g by Zu rbaran c alled ' T he A p o theo s is o f St T ho mas A q u i n as' whi c h s ho w s T ho mas , res p len d en t o n a c lo u d i n heav en i n tho s e fri ght en i n g Do mi n i c an In qu i s i to ri al ro bes , w i th p o p es an d s c ho lars at hi s feet . A n d b elo w o n ea rth , o th e r p o p es an d c ard i n als lo o k u p an d p ray to hi m i n ad mi rati o n . J o hn XX II s ai d that to d eny A qu in as w as tan tamo u n t to heres y . Later, i n 18 79, Po p e Leo X III p ro c lai med tha t T ho mi s t A ri s to teli an d o c tri n e s hou ld be ac c ep ted as ' the
40 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN o ffi c i al d o c tri n e o f the c hu rc h' . Exporting the Virus Si n c e A qui n as i mbed d ed A ris to tle' s lo gi c i n to the Vati c an ' s ed u c ati on s ys tem i t has bec o me the mai n thi n k in g s o ftw are o f W es tern c i v i li zati o n , w herev er i t has been exp o rted . Si n c e then , ' T he T ru th' has b een c arri ed to all p arts o f the w o rld w i th mi s s io n ary zeal. In fac t, W es te rn ed u c ati o n may be med i ev al E u ro p e' s mo s t s uc c ess fu l exp o rt. A u s trali a i s a go o d examp le . A ltho u gh A u s trali a i s geo g rap hi c ally i n So u th E as t A s i a, i t has c u ltu rally b een i n E u ro pe fo r the p as t 2 0 0 y ears . A t that ti me, alo n g w i th rabbi ts , the W es te rn ed u c ati o n sy s tem w as i mp o rted i n to A u s trali a. Si n c e W o rld W ar II , ho w ev e r, A u s t rali a has bec o me les s E u ro c en tri c an d mo re E u ro - A si an . Au s trali a i s n o w o n e of the w o rld ' s mo s t s u cc es s fu l mu lti- c u ltu ral s o c i eti es . A c c o rd in gly , ' u ni q u e ri ghtn es s ' has bec o me a les s u s efu l c o gni ti ve as s et to A u s trali an s than ' to leran c e an d p lu rali ty ' . T o d ay , A us s i e k i ds are les s in teres ted i n d efen di n g a med i ev al E u ro p ean tru th an d are mo r e i n teres ted i n d es i gn i n g n ew A u s si e tru ths that a re u s efu l an d re lev an t to li fe i n the T hi rd Mi llen n i u m.
41 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
A nyo ne who c o ns ci o u s ly a nd wa ntonly a tta c ks kno wn tru th , who a rm s hi m s e lf wi th fa ls e ho o d i n hi s s p e e c h, hi s wri ti ng s , o r hi s c o nd u c t i n o rd e r to a t tra c t a nd wi n o v e r le s s lea rne d m e n a nd to s ha p e the i ne xpe ri e nc ed a nd i m p res s i o na b le m i nd s o f the yo u ng to hi s o wn wa y o f thi n ki ng , ta ke s a d v a nta g e o f the i ne xp e ri e nc e a nd i nno c e nc e o f o the rs a nd e ng a g es i n a n a lto g e the r d e s p i ca b le b u s i ne ss . ~ Po p e J o hn X X III ( A d Pe tri Ca the d ra m ) I a m a wa re tha t whe n e v e n the b ri g hte s t m i nd i n o u r wo rld ha s b e e n tra i ne d u p fro m c hi ld ho o d i n a s u p e rs ti ti o n o f a ny ki nd , i t wi ll ne v e r b e p o ss i b le fo r tha t m i nd , i n i ts m a tu ri ty , to e xa m i ne s inc e re ly, d i s p as s i o na te ly, a nd co ns c ie nti o u s ly a ny e v i d e nc e o r a ny c i rcu m s ta nc e whi c h s ha ll s e e m to c as t a d o u b t u p o n the v a li d i ty o f tha t s u p e rs ti ti o n. ~ Mark T w ai n , A meri c an thi n k er an d hu mo ri s t.
W hen thi n k in g ab o u t thi n k in g, there are tw o c o n tras ti n g ap p ro ac hes w e c an bear i n mi n d : A u tho ri tari an an d So v erei gn . T he A u tho ri tari an ap p ro ac h is all abo u t s o meo n e els e d o i n g y o u r thi n ki ng fo r y o u . T hat' s w here T H E Y s ay : Do w hat y o u are to ld ! T ru s t u s . W e k n o w w hat i s bes t fo r y o u . W e are the c ho s en o n es . W e are ri ght an d y o u are w ro n g . Y o u w o u ld n ' t u n d ers tan d . Do n o t qu es ti o n o u r au th o ri ty . W hen w e w an t y o u r o p i n i o n w e'll gi v e i t to y o u . A n d s o on . T he So v erei gn ap p ro ac h i s al l abo u t y o u d o i n g y o u r o w n thi n k in g fo r y o u rs elf. T hat' s w here Y OU s ay : W hy ? W hy s ho u ld I d o as y o u s ay ? W here d o y o u get y o u r au tho ri ty ? W hy i s this s o ? W hy ? W hy? W hy ? W hat hav e y ou n o t to ld me? W hat bi ts hav e y o u lef t o u t? W ha t p ro o f d o y o u hav e to o ffe r? I' ll thi n k abo u t y o u r p ro p o s i ti on and I' ll let y o u k n o w w hat I hav e d ec i d ed . I rej ec t y o u r c lai m to au tho ri ty o v er my mi n d . I abho r y o u r attemp t to bu lly me. I as s ert my i n d i vi d u al s o v erei gn ty as a thi n k er. A n d s o on .
42 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN On Sovereign Thinkers, Religions, Belief Systems and PTV It i s i mp o rtan t to emp has i ze he re tha t i t i s the ri gh t o f a s o v erei gn thi n k er to thi n k w hat s /he li k es an d to beli ev e w hat s /he w i s hes as lo n g as they d o n o t p rev en t o ther s o v erei gn thi n k ers fro m d o i n g the s ame. A thi n k er res p ec ts the ri ght o f i n d i v id u als to beli ev e i n an y o f the w i d e vari ety o f hu man beli ef s y s tems . T hi s reli gi o -d i v ers i ty is a tes ti mo ny to the ri c hn es s and i magi n ati o n o f hu man thi n ki n g. In A u s trali a, fo r examp le , the re are 2 7 0 d is ti n c t reli gi o u s gro u p s . Man y p eo p le d eri v e ben efi ts fro m beli ev i n g i n U F Os , an gels , go d s an d go d d es s es , s u p reme bei n gs , tri n i ti es , earthly i nc arn ati o n s o r heav en ly rei n c arn ati on s , s tars , fo rtu n e- telle rs , d re ams , s c i en ti fi c di sc o v eri es , mi rac les , s n ak e- han d li n g and s o o n . On e res p ec ts thes e b eli ev ers i n the w ay Vo ltai re fo u n d he c o u ld res p ec t o thers w i tho u t hav i n g to a gre e w i th t hem. W hat a thi n k er d o es n o t res p ec t bu t fea rs , i s PT V. F o r examp le, o n e res p ec ts the s o v erei gn ri ght o f a Chri s ti an to beli ev e i n Jes u s o r a Mu s li m to b eli ev e i n A llah o r an A thei s t to beli ev e in n o thin g. On e d o es n ot res p ec t an au tho ri tari an Chri s ti an o r Mu s li m o r A thei s t i n fec ted w i th PT V w ho feels that thei r beli ef i s ' T he T ru th' and o thers s ho u ld be mad e to ' to e the lin e o r els e' ! A tru th may be ri ght en o u gh fo r the p ers o n w ho u s es i t bu t n o t ri ght en o u gh to fo rc e an o ther p ers o n to u s e i t. In the p as t few c hap ters w e' v e been lo o k i n g at s o me o f the c o ns equ en ces o f the au tho ri tari an ap p ro ac h to thi n k i n g p ro c eed i n g fro m the i d eas o f Pl ato , A ri s to tle an d A q u in as . B u t the ri c hn es s o f hu man thi n k i n g has p ro d u c ed o ther alte rn at i v es an d n o w w e c an exami n e the i d eas o f s o me w ho hav e gi v en thei r s u p p ort to the s o v erei gn ap p ro ac h to thi n k i n g. T here a re man y , o f c o u rs e , b u t le t' s meet o n e o f my p ers o n al he ro es . T hi s man , li k e T ho mas A qu i n as , w as als o a mo n k . H e w as o n ly a p eas an t German mo n k y et he d efi ed the gre ates t au tho ri tari an p o w er i n hi s to ry .
43 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
The Sovereign Thinker " It i s no t s a fe to ac t a g ai ns t y o u r o wn c o ns c i e nc e" . So s ai d Marti n Lu ther an d w i th tho s e w o rd s began t he w o r ld ' s bi gges t mo v emen t aw ay fro m au tho ri t ari an i s m to w ard s i n d i vi d u al s o v erei gn ty o f thin k i n g. Lu ther' s reb elli o n ag ai n s t the au tho ri ty o f the Po p e p ro v i d ed the t ri gge r th at s et o ff a
c hai n
of
ev en ts
w hic h
w en t
on
lo n g
after
he
d i ed .
His
c hallen ge
to
au tho ri tari an i s m led o n to the s p li ttin g o f the Chu rc h, the d es tru c ti o n o f the Po p e' s temp o ral p o w er , the b u rs ti n g o f the Chu rc h' s mo n o p o ly on T he T ru th an d a gr eate r freed o m o f p eo p le to q u es ti o n thin gs w i tho u t au to mati c ally bei n g treated as hereti c s . T ho s e o f u s w ho c heri s h p ers o n al freed o m o w e a lo t to Lu ther. W hat k i n d o f man w o u ld d efy a p o p e? Marti n Lu ther w as bo rn i n 148 3 i nto a p eas an t min in g fami ly in German y . A t fo u rteen he s ho w ed s u ffi c i en t p ro mis e to be p rep a red fo r u n i v ers i ty . B y then hi s father had ri s en to be man a ger o f a g r o u p o f s melti n g w o rk s an d c o u ld affo r d fo r hi s s o n Marti n to read Law . So Mar ti n w en t to Ge rman y ' s to p U n iv ers i ty o f E rfu rt an d gr ad u ated i n La w , s ec o n d i n hi s c las s . E v ery o n e k n ew that he had a p ro mi s i n g law c areer ahead o f hi m. B u t n o , Marti n c han ged his mi n d an d o n e d ay he s u dd en ly d ec id ed to j o in an A u gu s ti ni an mo n as tery an d c han ged hi s d i rec ti o n fro m Law to T heo lo gy . H e began to ab s o rb the p red es ti n ati o n id eas o f Sain t Au gu s ti n e that men are s i nn ers ( Ori gi n al Sin ) an d are therefo re p red es ti n ed to w hatev er Go d has i n s to re fo r them. Su c h a p o i n t- o f- vi ew red uc es the ro le the Chu rc h p lay s in med i ati n g a p ers o n ' s s alv ati o n . A t that ti me, Ro me c lai med that i t, an d i t alo n e, had the o n ly ti ck et to s alv ati o n . If y o u w an ted to get to H eav en then y o u bo u ght y o u r ti c k et f ro m i ts r ep res en tati v es o n the o n ly fli g hts s c hed u led to get the r e. " Y o u fly w i th u s . Y o u bu y o u r ti c k et o r y o u d o n ' t go to H eav en at all! T hat' s i t. T ak e i t o r leav e i t . Y o u ' re i n o r y o u ' re o u t" .
44 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
The Scheme T he Po p e, the Ro man Cu ri a an d c leri c s feather ed thei r n es ts ( amas si n g hu ge fo rtu n es ) by s elli n g to the T ru e B eli ev ers ti c k ets to H eav en i n the fo rm o f i n d u lgen c es . T hi s is ho w they p u lled i t o ff. In a ll th ei r H o ly A u tho ri ty , t he p o p es an d c lergy w o u ld d raw u p lo n g li s ts o f ac ti v i ti es relati n g to ev e ry d ay hu man behav i o u r an d p o si ti o n them as 's i ns '. So , ev e ry d ay w hen y o u c o mmi tted yo u r ' s i ns ' y o u attrac ted d ebi ts p o i n ts that p rev en ted y o u getti n g i n to H eav en . T hen , c lev er ly , Ro me d rew u p a c ata lo gu e o f i n d u lgen c es . In d u lgen c es w ere c red i t p o i n ts y o u c o u ld c o llec t to w i p e o u t the d ebi t p o i n ts y o u had in y o u r ac co u n t fro m y o u r d ai ly ' s in s ' . A nd , i f y o u c o llec te d en o u gh c red i t p o i n ts , w ell, the C hu rc h c o u ld get y o u i n to H eav en . Rec en tly , o n a ho li d ay i n B ali , I c am e ac ro s s thi s extr ac t w hi c h has a s i m i lar v i ew o n i n du lgen c es i n a v ery amu s in g bo o k by A n tho ny B o u rd ai n c alled K i tc he n Co nfi d e nti a l. H e w ri tes : " T he c ru s ad ers o f y o re, i t i s s ai d , u s ed to s to p o ff at the lo c al c hu rc h o r mo n as tery befo re head i n g o ff to w a r; w here they w ere a llo w ed to p u rc has e i n d u lgen c es . T hi s w as s o rt o f li k e a s ec u red p re- p ai d c red i t c ard fro m hea v en , I i magi n e, an d n ego ti ati o n s p ro bably w en t s o methi n g li k e thi s ... ' B les s me, father, fo r I am abo u t to s i n . I p lan on rap in g, p i llagi n g an d d i s emb o w elli n g my w ay ac ro s s So u thern E u ro p e an d No rth A f ri c a, t ak i n g the Lo rd ' s n ame i n v ain , c o mmi tti n g s o do my w i th all an d s u nd ry , lo o ti n g the ho ly p lac es o f Is lam, k i lli n g w o men an d c hi ld ren an d an i mals an d leav i n g them i n s mo k i n g heap s ... as w el l, o f c o u rs e, a s getti n g u p to the u s u al s o ld i erly hi j i n k s o f c as u al ey e- go u gi n gs , d i s memberm en t, bea r- bai ti n g an d ars o n . Gi v en thi s s i n fu l agen d a, p ad re, ho w mu c h i s thi s go n n a c o s t me? ' ' T hat' ll be a n ew ro o f fo r the v es t ry , my s o n , p erhap s a few c arp ets f ro m d o w n there . I u n d ers tan d they mak e lo v ely c arp et w here y o u ' ll be go i n ' ... an d shall w e s ay fi fteen p er c en t o ff the to p , as a ti the? ' ' Deal.' ' Go i n p eac e, my s o n .' "
45 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Collecting Heaven Points T hi s w as a bri lli an t s c heme! T hro u gh i n d u lgen c es , Ro me had in v en ted a k i n d o f H o ly Cu rren c y o f i ts o w n . T hes e w ere H eav en Po i n ts w hi c h members need ed to c o llec t to p as s thro u gh the Pea rly T u rn s ti le i n to the ' Members ' On ly ' enc lo s u re i n Parad i s e. J u s t li k e w i n n i n g F ly B u y po i n ts to get a w eek en d at C ro w n Cas i n o . T hi s bec ame the w o rld ' s fi rs t lo y alty mark eti n g o r frequ en t fly e r p ro gra m an d has s u bs equ en tly
b u i lt
T he
Vati c an
i n to
mo s t
p o w erfu l,
mu lti - n ati o n al,
p ri v ate
en terp ri s e i n hu man his to ry . A s a member, ho w d i d y o u c o llec t the c red i t p o i n ts ? W hy , y ou bo u ght them, o f c o u rs e. T he C atalo gu e o f In d u lgen c e s li s ted matc hi n g H eav en Po i n ts fo r ev en the w i c k ed es t c ri me. Mu rd er had i ts p ri c e- tag an d c o u ld be abs o lv ed fo r 2 0 c r o w n s . An as s as si n ati o n c o u ld b e abs o lv ed fo r 3 0 0 li v es . B u t mo s tly , i t w as j us t the hu mdru m ev ery d ay hu man ac ti vi ti es like go s s i p , s mo k i n g, mas tu rbati o n o r telli n g li e s w hi c h w ere p ro s c ri bed as si ns an d attrac t ed o n go i n g d ebi t p o in ts . Pay Your Money, Collect Your Points T he ' In d u lgen c e Sc heme' w i th i ts Catalo gu e o f In d u lgen c es mean t that me mbers had to mak e regu lar p u rc has es o f H eav en Po i n ts . T hes e c red i t p o in ts ( kn o w n as San c ti fy in g Grac e) w e re the c u r ren c y y o u n eed ed to s av e to bu y y o u r p erman en t c o n d o i n Parad i s e j u s t li k e y o u n eed to s av e y o u r A u ss i e d o llars i f y o u w an t to bu y a c o n d o in Su rfer' s Parad i s e. " Step ri ght u p fo lk s . P ay y o u r mo n ey . Co ll ec t y o u r p o i n ts . Step ri ght u p s i n n ers ! Get y o u r H eav en Po i n ts here. H o w man y d o y o u w an t? H o w mu c h mo n ey hav e y ou go t? Do n ' t p u s h, there' s p len ty fo r ev ery o n e" . A s a p ro d u c t, A mw ay ' s 's p eci al s o ap p o w d er' trai ls a v ery lo n g w ay behi n d the ' s an c ti fyi n g grac e' o f Vati c an In c .
46 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN "Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely" B ro ther Ma rti n w as alread y d i s s atisfi ed w i th the Chu rc h' s c lai m to bein g Go d ' s exc lu s i v e ' trav el agen t' an d s o o n his v is i t to Ro me he w as d eep ly d ep res s ed and rev o lted u p o n s eei n g the s p o i ls o f the i n d u lgen c e s c heme that had been c o llec ted fro m th e fai thfu l an d d i s p lay ed in the d ec ad en c e an d o p u lenc e o f the c o u r t o f Po p e Leo X . T o d ay w e are u s ed to mo d ern p o p es w ho li v e i n a mu c h mo re to le ran t an d mu lti c u ltu ral w o rld . A lo t has c han ged s inc e a fo u rteen th c en tu ry J o hn X X II s ai d that to d en y A qu in as w as tan tamo u n t to heres y . Co u ld y o u ev er i magi n e a tw en ti eth c en tu ry J o hn XX III s ay i n g s u c h a thin g? T he p ap ac y i s an extremely d i ffi c u lt j o b y et Pap al p res ti ge i s n o w at an all ti me hi gh. Mo s t mo d ern p o p es ap p ear to hav e been men o f go o d w i ll w ho s ee m to hav e tri ed v ery ha rd to ba lan c e the en o r m o u s bu rd en o f thei r o ffi c e w i th the e xi gen c i es o f a free s o c i ety . T hat they hav e d o n e s o wi th s uc h p o p u lar s uc ces s is an extrao rd i n ary examp le o f mo d ern l ea d ers hi p . F o r examp le:
J o hn XX III, s ai d " I am n o t in falli ble" an d c alled Vati c an II to d emo n s trate i t.
Pau l V I s ho w ed grea t c o mp as s i o n to c lergy o p p o s i n g c eli bac y releas i n g them fro m thei r v o w s .
J o hn Pau l I w an ted to c lean - u p the Vati c an ban k fo r w hi c h s o me, li k e i n v es ti gati v e j o u rn alis t, Dav i d Gallo p , s ay he w as mu rd ered .
J o hn Pau l II w as w o un d ed an d v ery n early ass as s in ated fo r help i n g Ro n ald Reagan to d efea t the ' ev i l' Ru s s i an E mp i re.
T o d ay ' s p o p es are p o p u lar s up ers tars w ho d raw hu ge c ro w d s w herev er they go . B u t thi s w as n o t alw ay s s o . In the p as t, w hy d i d s o many men , o n s ec u rin g the p ap ac y , bec o me c o rru p t? Man y hav e w ri tten ab o u t the extreme s o f p ap al c o rru p ti o n thro u gho u t hi s to ry . Lo rd A c to n w ro te o n the p ap ac y that ' p o w er c o rru p ts an d abs o lu te p o w er c o rru p ts abs o lu tely ' an d i t may exp lain the lo ng hi s to ry o f the p ap acy ' s li bi d o d o min an d i , i ts
47 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN i n s ati able lu s t fo r p o w er. Lu ther' s p o p e w as o n e o f the mo s t in famo u s . H e w as the y o u n ges t c ard in al ev er . Gi v en a Red H at fo r hi s thi rteen th b i rthd ay he bec ame p o p e w hen he w as 3 8 . It i s rec o rd ed that as the tri p le ti ara hi t h i s head , Po p e Leo X tu rn ed to his i llegi ti mate c o u s in , Gi u li o d e' Med i ci , an d exc lai med , " No w I c an real ly en j o y my s elf" . And he did! Leo to o k p ap al greed to n ew hei ghts that tri v i ali ze the w o rs t exc es s es o f the 198 0 ' s . In s tead o f gi v i n g ev ery thi n g up fo r Chri s t, Leo grabb ed ev ery thi n g he c o u ld , i n Chri s t' s n ame. H i s to ry rec o rd s the fo l lo w i n g:
Leo had 68 3 c o u rti ers o n hi s p ay ro ll, an o rc hes tra , a th eat re an d a men ageri e o f w i ld an i mals i n c lu di n g a W hi te E lep han t that w o u ld bo w to Leo thr ee ti mes .
Leo gav e B ac c han ali an ban qu ets o f 65 c o u rs es featu ri n g s u c h d eli c aci es as p eac o c k' to n gu es , n i ghti n gales fly i n g o u t o f p i es and n ak ed bo ys j u mp in g o u t o f p u d di n gs .
Defy i n g c an o n law , Leo p lan n ed hu n tin g tri p s fo r w eek s o n en d . H i s Ro man bro thels , w i th 7,0 0 0 regi s tered p ro s ti tu tes in a p o p u lati on o f 50 ,0 0 0 s ti ll d i d n ' t bri n g in en o u gh i n c o me fo r Po p e Leo .
H e w as a gamb le r an d bi g s p en d er bo rro w i n g v as t s u ms fro m ban k ers at 40 % i n teres t.
A ltho u gh s i mo n y - the buy i n g an d s elli n g o f s ac red thi n gs - w as a c ri me, Leo i n v en ted 2 ,150 p ap al o ffi c es an d p o s i ti on s and au c ti on ed them o ff. Card i n al' s Red H ats w en t fo r aro u n d 3 0 ,0 0 0 du c ats . A nd s o o n . The 'St Peters' Scam B u t i t w as Leo ' s u lti mate ac t o f o bs cen e greed an d blas p hemy that fi n ally pu s hed o u r hero Lu th er i n to ac ti o n . In 1 51 7 Po p e Leo X , i n c aho o ts w i th Pri n c e A lbert H o hen zo llern , p u lled a maj o r s c am o n the lo n g- s u fferi n g Ge rman p eo p le. Leo o ffe red to s el l A lbe rt th e See o f Mai n z an d the P ri mac y o f Ge rman y fo r 3 0 ,0 0 0 d u c ats . B u t, s i n c e A lb ert d i d n ' t hav e the mo n ey they c o n s p i red to rai s e th e c as h by s elli n g i n du lgen c es to the German p eo p le s ayi n g the mo n ey w as go in g i n to a bu i ld i n g fu nd fo r St Pe ter' s i n Ro me.
48 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Luther's Pamphlets Lu ther fo u gh t bac k w i th a n ew w eapo n . Lu c k w as on Lu ther' s s id e. Gu ten berg had o n ly rec en tly i n v en ted the p ri n ti n g p res s an d Lu ther n o t o n ly o ffi ci ally s u bmi tted hi s argu men ts i n Lati n to ec c les i as ti cal au tho ri ti es bu t a ls o w ro te t hem i n hi s n ati v e German to n gu e an d p u bli s hed hi s p amp hlets fo r gen er al d i s tri bu ti o n to the German p eo p le. T hi s gen eral d i s tri b u ti o n w as a maj o r n ew d ev elo p men t the i mp o rtan c e o f w hi c h c an n o t be o v er emp has i zed . In o n e o f hi s p amp hlets he d es c ri bed Leo ' s pap ac y as : ' mo re c o rru p t than an y B aby lo n o r So d o m ev er w as . .. It i s a d i s tres s i n g an d terri bl e thi n g to s ee the H ead o f Chri s ten d om, w ho bo as ts o f bei n g the Vi c ar o f Chri s t an d s u c c ess o r to St Peter, li v i n g in a w o rld ly p o mp that n o K in g o r E mp ero r can equ al; s o that i n hi m w ho c alls hi ms elf mo s t ho ly an d mos t s pi ri tu al there i s mo re w o rld li n es s than i n the w o rld i ts elf' . Di s tri bu ti o n o f Lu ther' s p amp hlets to the gen eral p u bli c bro k e the Chu rc h' s mo n o p o ly
o n i n fo rmati o n
an d
his argu men ts
d i rec tly
c hall en ged
th e Po p e' s
au tho ri ty . T he p eo p le an d the lo c al G erman p ri n c es had en o u gh! T hey s to o d behi n d Lu ther
an d
p ro tec ted
hi m
fro m
the
w rath
of
Po p e
Leo
w ho ,
of
c o u rs e,
exc o mmu n i c ated hi m. W hen Lu ther rec ei v ed hi s c o p y o f the Po p e' s B u ll o f E xc o mmu n ic ati o n , he s i mp ly b u rn t i t i n d efi anc e, s ay i n g, " T he d ie i s c as t. I d e s p i se the fu ry a nd fa v o u r o f Ro m e . I wi ll ha v e no re c o nc i lia ti o n wi th the p o p e fo r a ll e te rni ty." Sovereign Thinker H e w as d eep ly flaw ed as an an ti- Semi te an d d i d a great d eal o f ha rm to h i s J ew is h brethe ren . i n sp i te o f that, I s ti ll feel thes e w o rd s abo v e are en o u gh to mak e Marti n Lu ther o n e o f t he g reat es t s o v erei gn t hi n k ers i n his to ry an d his examp le o f d efi an c e c an be fo llo w ed . U s i n g the n ew tec hn o lo gy o f the p rinti n g p res s to s p read his id eas , Lu ther bec ame the fi rs t thi n k er ev e r to b ri n g hi s arg u men t to the gen e ral p u bli c . H i s exa mp le, s o o n fo llo w ed by o thers li k e Calv i n , began the u n rav elli n g o f the au tho ri ty o f Ro me that led to the Re fo rma ti o n .
49 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Inventor of the Media If Gu ten ber g w as the i n v en to r o f the p ri n tin g p res s , p erhap s Marti n Lu ther c an be c o n si d ered the i n v en to r o f the med ia, fre e s p eec h an d the ri ght fo r i n d iv i d u als to thi n k fo r thems elv es . Modern Martins T o my mi n d , there ar e man y mo d ern d ay " Marti n Lu the rs " w ho are w i lli n g to d e fy the p o p e. F o r examp le , the re are the hi ghly p u bli c is ed Mad o nn a' s and Sin ead ' s o f the w o rld . B u t there a re als o , li k e B ro ther Ma rti n , the c ler gy o f the c hu rc h. T here are the m an y n u n s an d p ri es ts li k e the A u s trali an p ri es t, F athe r Pau l Co l li n s , w ho has d efi ed the p o p e i n hi s exp os e o n mo d ern d ay ' Pap al Po w er' w hi c h i s the n ame o f hi s bo o k w herei n he s ay s , " Ju s t as the mo d el o f the abs o lu te mo n arc h o r d i c tato r p lac es the ru le r n o t o n ly abo v e the s t ate an d i ts law s bu t abo v e s o c i ety i ts elf, s o t he p ap ali s t in terp retati o n s o f p ri mac y an d in falli bi li ty [ mak e] the Po p e i n to s o me ty p e o f s o lo gu ru an d i n termed i ary betw ee n Go d an d the c hu rc h." F o r thes e an d o ther w o rd s , F ather C o lli n s has alread y s u ffered at the han d s o f the Vati c an ' s au tho ri tari an i n qu is i to rs an d hi s Au s trali an Co n s ti tu ti on al ri ghts may hav e been i llega lly c o n trav en ed . The Internet Perhap s the In te rn et i s the n ex t b i gges t le ap fo r s o v e rei gn thi n k ers s i n c e the p ri n ti n g p res s . Perhap s the w w w i s bec o mi n g the n ew med i u m that w i ll p ro v i d e a fres h ho p e fo r i n d i v i d u als w ho w i s h to thi n k fo r thems elv es an d w ho , li k e B ro the r Marti n , w i s h to d e fy the au tho ri ta ri an i s m that s ti ll e xi s ts i n man y of to d ay ' s i n s ti tu ti on s i n Bi g Go v ern men t, B i g R eli gi o n an d B i g B us in es s .
50 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
If we a ll wo rke d o n the a ss u m p ti o n tha t wha t i s ac c e p ted as tru e i s rea lly tru e , the re wo u ld b e li ttle ho p e o f a d va nc e. ~ Orvi lle Wri g ht I fo rm e rly tho u g ht t ha t whe n a te nd e nc y to p ro d u c e the two s e xe s i n e q u a l nu m b e rs wa s a d v a nta ge o us to the s p e c ie s , i t wo u ld fo llo w fro m na tu ra l s e le c ti o n, b u t I no w s e e the who le p ro b le m i s s o i ntri c a te tha t i t i s s a fe r to le a v e i ts s o lu ti o n to the fu tu re . ~ C ha r le s D a rwi n It i s a lm o s t u nb e lie v a b le ho w m u c h the a tm o s p he re c ha nge d as a c o ns eq u e nc e o f the p u b li c a ti o n, i n 18 5 9, o f T he O ri g i n o f Sp e c i e s . O u r who le o u tlo o k, o u r p i c tu re o f the u ni v e rs e , ha s c ha ng e d , a s ne v e r b e fo re . T he Da rwi ni a n re v o lu ti o n i s s ti ll p ro c e ed i ng . B u t no w we a re a ls o i n the m i d s t o f a c o u nte r- rev o lu ti o n, a s tro ng re a c ti o n a g ai ns t s c i e nce a nd a ga i ns t ra ti o na li ty. I fe e l tha t i t i s ne c e s s a ry to ta ke s i d es o n thi s i s s ue . My p o s i ti o n, v e ry b ri e fly , i s thi s . I am o n the si d e o f sc i e nc e a nd o f ra ti o na li ty, b u t I a m a g a i ns t tho s e e xag g e ra te d c la i m s fo r s c ie nc e tha t ha v e s o me ti m e s b ee n, ri g htly, d e no u nc e d a s ' sc i e nti s m ' . I a m o n the s i d e o f the s e a rc h fo r tru th, a nd o f i nte lle c tu a l d a ri ng i n the s e a rc h fo r t ru th; b u t I a m a g a i ns t i nte l le c tu a l a rro g a nc e , a nd e s p e ci a lly a g a i ns t the m i s c o nce i v e d c la i m tha t we ha v e the tru t h i n o u r p o c ke ts , o r tha t we c a n a p p ro ac h certa i nty. I t i s i m p o rta nt to re a li ze tha t s c ie nc e d o e s no t m a ke a ss e rti o ns a b o u t u ltim a te q ue s ti o ns ab o u t the ri dd le s o f e xi s te nc e , o r a b o u t Ma n' s ta s k i n thi s wo rld . ~ K a rl Po p p e r
T he T ru th d o es n o t exi s t i n s c i en c e. T here A RE tru ths i n s c i en c e bu t there i s n o s u c h thin g as on e AB SOLU T E tru th. T here are o n ly tru ths that ar e mo re l i k ely than o ther t ru ths . Sc i en c e i s un c ertai n . Y o u c an n o t p ro v e an y thi n g i n s c i en c e ( i n the abs o lu te s en s e) bec au s e s c i enc e i s b as ed o n evi d en c e. A n d , as ti me p as s es , there i s alw ay s mo re an d mo re ev i d en c e. In s c i en c e, at an y p arti c u lar ti me , t he balan c e o f ev i d en c e s u pp o rts o n e p o i n t o f v i ew o r ' tru th' as bei n g mo r e li k ely than an y o ther ' t ru th' . B u t, as hi s to ry has
51 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN s ho w n , n ew gen erati o n s o f s c i en ti s ts s o o n fi nd n ew ev id en c e, hav e n ew id eas and d es i gn n ew p arad i gms - n ew w ays o f lo o k i n g at the w o rld . T hi s p hen o men on i s s o w ell res p ec ted by s c i en tis ts that, as Darw i n s ai d i n the qu o te abo v e, they c an re ly o n i t hap p en in g. T hree g en erati o n s late r, Si r Ro n ald F i s her, th e gen eti c i s t an d father o f mo d ern s tati s ti c s , s o lv ed the p ro blem that Darw i n had d eli berately p ro c ras ti n ated . So , s c i en c e then u p d ates i ts elf by di sp lac i n g the p rev i o u s tru th w i th the n ew ' mo re li k ely ' tru th. T hi s i s the s c i en ti fi c p ro c es s - the s earc h fo r mo re li k ely t ru ths - tha t c o n ti nu es an d c on ti nu es o n in to the fu tu re. T hi s u n c ertai n ty o f s c i en c e ac co u n ts fo r a lo t o f i ts p ro g res s . Replacing Old Truths With New Truths A s men ti o n ed earli er, th e p rev ai li n g tru th befo r e Gali leo w as A ri s to tle' s vi ew that the E arth w as the c en tre o f the u n i v er s e. W i th hi s teles c o p e that he i n v en ted Gali leo w as able to p ro d u c e ev i d enc e that t he earth w as n o t the c en tre bu t w as i n o rbi t aro u n d the s u n . So , s c i en c e u p d ates i ts elf an d rep l ac es A ri s to tle' s tr u th w i th Gali leo ' s n ew ' s u n tru th' . A n o ther mo re r ec en t examp le i s th at o f c o s mo lo gi s t Geo r ge Smo o t . H e an d hi s COB E s atelli te team rec ei v ed w o rld w i d e rec o gn i ti o n fo r p ro v i d in g ev i d enc e o f the ' w ri n k les i n ti me' that n o w p ro v e the bi g ban g theo ry to be a fac t. So s ci enc e i s n o w u p d ati n g i ts elf. Co mp eti n g tru ths are n o w gi v i n g w ay to thi s n ew ' mo re li k ely tru th' bec aus e o f the w ei ght o f ev i d en c e p ro v id ed b y the COB E s atelli te. W e n o w s ee sc i en ti s ts li k e Dav i d Sp ergal , the p ro p o n en t o f a c o mp eti n g theo ry ( the tex tu res v ers i o n o f to p o lo gi c al d efec t theo ry ) d ec lari n g af ter the rele as e o f the COB E ev i d en c e " W e' re d ead." E v en n o ted p hy s ic is t Step hen H aw k in g w as w i lli n g to ad mi t the COB E d i s c ov ery " w as the mo s t i mp o rtan t o f the c en tu ry , p erhap s o f al l ti me" . T h at to d a y ' s en ti re u n i v ers e has gro w n o u t o f a p arti c le , s maller than a p ro to n , as the res u lt o f a bi g ban g 15 b i lli o n y ears a go , i s n o lo n g er a theo ry . I t' s a n ew s c i en ti fi c tru th. W atc h thi s s p ac e!
52 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Another Truth Discovered! It has o ften b een s ai d that E in s tei n ' s ac c o mp li s hmen t is the greates t feat o f thi n k i n g ev er p erfo rmed by a hu man brai n . It' s a ls o s ai d that ' tw o h ead s a re bet ter than o n e' . If that i s s o , then p erhap s the gre ates t fea t o f thi n k i n g ev er p erfo rmed by an y tw o hu man brai ns w as in 1953 w hen tw o y o u n g sc i en tis ts , F ran c i s Cri c k fro m E n glan d an d J ames W ats o n fro m A meri c a, to gethe r c rac k ed the c o d e o f c o d es an d fo r w hi c h they j o i n tly rec ei v ed the No bel P ri ze. Du ri n g the w ar , af ter a G erman bo mb blew u p hi s p hy s i cs labo rato ry , a y o u n g p hy s ic is t j o in ed the Ro y al Nav y . A fter the w ar , F ran c i s Cri c k , c han ged to bi o lo gy . H e w as aro u n d 3 0 . Cri c k w as an athei s t. H e w an ted to exp o s e the ' my s teri es ' o f the i llu s i o n o f v i tali s m. H e later s ai d , " My o wn m o ti v e s I ne v e r ha d a ny d ou b t a b ou t; I wa s v e ry c le a r i n m y m i nd . I c ho s e wha t we no w c a l l m o le c u la r b i o lo g y, tho u g h the te rm wa s n' t c o m m o n the n, c e rta i nly I d i d n' t kn o w i t - b u t I wo u ld ha v e sa i d the bo rd e rli ne b e twe e n the li v i ng a nd the no n li v i ng . T ha t wa s the p hra s e I ha d i n m y m ind ." H o rac e F ree lan d J u d s o n 's exc ellen t c o mp rehen s i v e hi s to ry , T he E i g hth Da y o f Cre a ti o n ( Pen gu i n , Lo n d o n . 1979) , q u o tes Cri c k i n hi s ap p li c ati on fo r hi s res earc h gran t as hav i n g w ri t ten : T he p arti c u lar fi eld w hi c h exc i tes my i n teres t i s the d i v is i o n betw een the li vi n g and the no n li v in g, as ty pi fi ed by , s ay , p ro tei n s, v i ru s es , bac teri a, an d the s tru c tu re o f c hro m o s o mes . T he ev en tu al go al, w hi c h i s s o mew hat remo te , i s the d es c ri p tio n o f thes e ac ti v i ti es i n terms o f thei r s tru c ture i e the s p ati al d i s tri bu ti o n o f thei r c o n s ti tu en t ato ms , i n s o far as thi s may p ro v e p o s si ble. T hi s mi ght be c alled the c hemi c al p hy s i c s o f bi o lo gy . H e w o n hi s gran t fo r res ea rc h a t Cambri d ge U n i v ers i ty ' s famo u s Cav en d i sh Labo rato ry . In 1 944 , a s ho rt b o o k c al led W ha t i s Li fe ? w as pu bli s hed by the famo u s p hy s ic is t, E rw i n Sc hro di n ger. In i t, Sc hro d i n ger, a fo u n d er o f qu an tu m mec han i c s , s p ec u lated o n the p hy s ic al b as i s o f the gen e, i ts a to mi c an d mo lec u lar s tru c tu re. A s a res u lt o f read i n g thi s b o o k , J a m es W ats o n o n c e w ro te, “I b e c a m e p o la ri s ed to wa rd s fi nd i ng o u t the s e c re t o f the g e ne .” J ames W ats o n w as a y o u n g In di an a U n i v ers i ty bi o lo gy p os tgrad u ate. H e w as als o a member o f a gro u p o f A meri c an res earc h s c i en tis ts w ho gathered eac h s ummer at
53 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Co ld Sp ri n g H arb o r o n Lo n g Is land , an ho u r o u t o f New Y o rk . As hi s w o rk p ro gres s ed , W ats o n bec ame c o n v i n c ed that i f he w an ted to fi n d the s t ru c t u re o f the gen e then he had to learn X - ray d i ffrac ti o n tec hn i qu es s o he s ai led to En glan d to s tu d y there. Crick and Watson In Oc to b er 195 1, Cri c k an d W ats o n met at Cambri d ge. C ri c k , 3 5, w as j us t a res earc h s tu d en t an d W ats on , 2 3 , j u s t a v is i to r. T hey i n s tan tly hi t i t o ff an d bec ame i n tellec tu al mo u n tai n - c li mbers , eac h help i n g the o ther u p an d u p . T hey c o u ld be s een ev ery w here i n an imated c o n v ers ati o n , hav i n g tea, i n ha llw ay s , i n lab o rato ri es , i n the lo c al p u b - s o ev en tu ally they w ere gi v en a ro o m to w o rk i n to gethe r s o as n o t to d i s tu rb the res t o f the res ea rc hers . Say s Cri c k , " W e m u s t hav e go t the rep u tati o n by that ti me o f rat her ta lk i n g to gethe r a lo t." W ats o n and Cri c k laun c hed tw o s ep arate attac k s , i n p arallel, o n the d i s c o very o f the s tru c tu re o f DNA . T he fi rs t en d ed in d is as ter. T he s ec o n d w as a s u c c ess bey o nd an y thi n g they had hop ed fo r. T he p ro j ec t requ i red an en o rmo us amo u n t o f i n tellec tu al effo rt an d res earc h , i n v olv i n g man y c ri tic al c o n tri bu ti o ns by a n u mber o f o ther res earc he rs . F i n ally , Cri c k an d W ats o n c rac k ed t he gen eti c c o d e. T hey p u bli s hed thei r i d eas i n the fi rs t o f th ree arti c les i n Na tu re , o n 2 5 A p ri l 19 53 . It w as a th ree- p age a rti c le en ti tled Mo lec u la r St ru c tu re o f N u c lei c A ci d s . T he arti c le i n c lu d ed the fi rs t p u bli s hed di agram o f the mo lec u lar s tru c tu re o f t hei r, n o w famo u s d o u ble heli x , ( w hi c h lo o k s a bi t li k e a lad d er y o u mi ght fi n d i n Es c her' s c lo s et) . What is life? T he u n i v ers al s y s tem o f all li fe o n th i s p lan et i s bas ed on a fu n d amen tal c o d e an d that c o d e w as bro k en by F ran c is Cri ck an d J ames W ats o n i n 1953 . Si n c e thes e men u n rav elled the mo lec u lar s tru c tu re o f the gen e o u r w o rld h as u n dergo n e a c o n ti nu i n g
an d
exp lo di n g
s eri es
of
rev o lu ti o n ary
i n s i ghts .
T hes e
s c i en ti fi c
d ev elo p men ts s ho w no s i gn o f s lo w ing d o w n an d n o thin g c an ev er be the s ame. Pri o r to 19 53 o n e c o u ld s ti ll, c red i bly , ho ld o n to the be li ef tha t li fe i ts elf w as u lti mately a my s teri o u s thi n g. On c e c o u ld s ti ll, as a thi n k er, s p ec u late a bo u t the
54 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN o ri gi n s an d ' mys teri es ' o f li fe. T o d o s o to d ay , i t may be ar gu ed , i s an ad mi s s i on o f i gn o ran c e, lazi n es s o r bo th. Digital Genes W e n o w k n ow that gen es are d i g i tal. T hey ar e lo n g s tri n gs o f p u r e d i gi tal i n fo rmati o n . Li k e CDs an d c o mp u ters , the c o d e o f li f e - al l li fe - i s mi ghty d i gi tal i n i ts i n tern al s tru c tu re. W he reas the b i n ary c o d e o f c o mp u ters has tw o s ymbo ls , i n li fe the c o d e i s q u atern ary w i th fo u r s y mbo ls . Otherw i s e they ' re d i gi tal ly th e s ame. W hat, then , i s the es s en ti al d i fferen ce betw een the mac hi n e c o d e o f a c o mp u ter an d that o f y o u r g en es ? T he an s w er i s : n on e! B u i ld in g o n Cri c k an d W ats o n , the famo u s Oxfo rd Da rw i n i s t, Ri c hard Daw k i n s , bes t- s elli n g au tho r o f " T he S elfi s h G en e" , has exp lai n ed that " li fe res u lts fro m t he n o n - ran d o m s u rv i v al o f ran d o mly v ary i n g rep li c ato rs " . A n d thes e rep li c ato rs , th es e gen es , a re d i gi tal . Ou r g en eti c c o d e i s s o d i gital to the c o re that y o u c o u ld en c o d e, w i th w o r d - fo r- w o rd ac c u rac y , the w ho le o f th e B i ble i n tho s e p arts o f the hu man g en o me that are at p res en t fi lled w i th j u n k DNA . In Ri v e r O u t o f E d e n, Daw k i n s i llu strates th e s tro n g d i gi tal n atu re o f g en es w i th c harac teri s ti c c lari ty an d w i t: " T he fo llo w i n g s c i enc e- fi c ti on p lo t is feas i ble, gi v en a tec hn o lo gy that d i ffers fro m to d ay ' s o n ly in bein g a li ttle s p eed ed u p . Pro fes s o r J i m Cri c k s o n has been k i d n ap p ed by an ev i l fo rei gn p o w er an d fo rc ed to w o rk i n i ts bi o lo gi c al- w arfar e lab s . T o s av e c iv i li s ati on i t i s v i tally i mpo rtan t that he s ho u ld c o mmuni c ate s o me to p - s ec ret i n fo rmati o n to the o u ts i d e w o rld , bu t all n o rma l c han n els o f c o mmu n ic ati o n are d en i ed hi m. E xc ep t o n e. " T he DNA c o d e c on si s ts o f s i xty - fo ur tri p let " c o d o n s ," en o u gh fo r a c o mp lete u p p er- an d lo w er- c as e E n gli s h alp habet p lu s ten n u merals , a s p ac e c harac ter an d a fu ll s to p o r p eri o d . Pro fes s o r Cri c k s o n tak es a vi ru len t i n flu en za vi ru s o ff the lab o rato ry s helf an d en gi n eers i n to i ts gen o me the c o mp lete text o f hi s mes s age to the o u ts i d e w o rld , i n p erf ec tly fo rmed E n gli s h s en ten c es . H e rep eats hi s mes s age o v er an d o v er agai n i n the en gi n eered gen o me, ad d i n g an eas i ly rec o gn i s able " flag" s equ en c e-- s ay , the fi rs t ten p ri me n u mbers . H e then in fec ts hi ms elf w i th the v i ru s an d s n eezes in a ro o m fu ll o f p eo p le. " A w av e o f flu s w eep s the w o rld , an d med i c al labs i n d is tan t lan d s s et to w o rk to s equ en c e i ts gen o me in an attempt to d es i gn a v ac c in e. It s o o n bec o mes ap p aren t that the re i s a s tran ge rep eated p attern i n the gen o me. A le rted by the p ri me n u mb ers - w hic h c an n o t hav e ari s en sp o n tan eo us ly - s o mebo dy tumbles to the i d ea o f emp lo y i n g c o d e- break i n g tec hn i qu es . F ro m there i t w o u ld be s ho rt w o rk to r ead the fu l l E n gli s h text o f Pro fes s o r Cri c k s o n ' s mess age,
55 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN s n eezed aro u n d the w o rld ."
The Human Genome Project In J u n e 2 0 0 0 at a W hi te H o u s e c er e mo n y Pres i d en t Cli n to n p ro c lai med , " T o d a y we ha v e lea rne d the la ngu a ge i n whi c h Go d c re a te d li fe " as he d ec lared the mu lti bi lli o n i n tern ati o n al rac e to map o u r gen eti c mak e- u p to hav e be en w o n . T he en ti re map o f the hu man gen o me s ho w s a s tri n g o f 3 bi lli o n letters - - 750 meg aby tes o f d i gi ti zed i n fo rmati o n -- that w o u ld fi t o n a s i n gle DVD. Dec o d i n g the hu man gen o me- - the text o f li fe- - i s an o ther great c o n s equ en ce o f Cri c k an d W ats o n 's w o rk . It has been c o mp ared w i th the i n v en ti o n o f the w heel an d lan d i n g o n the mo o n . So , i f li fe i s d i gi tal an d kn o w able the ' my s tery o f my s teri es ' has ev ap o rated . W hat effec t d o es that hav e o n us as s o v erei gn thi n k ers . In w hat w ay has the feat o f W ats o n an d Cri c k help ed to free u s fro m au tho ri tari an i s m? In w hat w a y has the w o rk o f thes e tw o s ci en ti s ts ad d ed a qu an tu m leap to o u r freed o m as s o v erei gn thi n k ers ? Knowledge and Power On e o f the themes o f thi s trai n i n g i s the c o n n ec ti on betw een k n o w led ge an d p o w er. K n o w led ge i s p o w er an d thi n k i n g i s the s o u rc e o f k n o w led ge. T hi n k i n g i s als o the s o u rc e o f p o w er. Li k e Lu ther' s u s e o f the med i a, t h e gen eti c rev e lati o n o f C ri c k an d W ats o n is an o ther hu ge v i c to ry fo r k n o w led ge o v er au tho ri ty . A thi n k er n o lo n ger n eed s a ' p ri es t o f the k n o w led ge' wi th s p eci al my s ti c al p o w ers to exp lai n ' the mean i n g o f li fe' . It i s n o w read i ly exp li c able an d eas i ly u n d ers tan d able by the in d i vi d u al w i tho u t an y n eed fo r an i n term ed i ary w ho re tai n s s p ec i al ' s up ern atu ral p o w ers ' fo r hi ms elf. T o the s o v erei gn thi n k er, thi s i s a hu ge d i v id en d o f p ers on al freed o m. No p o w erbas e li k es to s u r ren d er i ts p o w er. I t w o u ld be n ai v e to thi n k s o . H o w ev er the o ld s u p ern atu ral p o w erb as es , s ti l l o p erati n g i n to d ay ' s w o rld , hav e lo s t mo s t o f thei r temp o ral p o w er an d w hat li t tle remai n s i s rap i d ly d i si n tegrati n g at an as to n i s hin g rate o f ac c ele rati o n .
56 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
It s o me w ay s i t i s i ro n i c ho w the un certai n tru ths o f s c i en c e hav e s o o v ertak en the c ertai n ty o f T he T ru th. E v en the hi ghes t c lai ms o f oc c u lt c ertai n ty s eem thi n and p u eri le c o mp ared to the d emo n s trable ac hi ev emen ts o f s c i enc e. A Su p ern atu ral A s s u mp ti o n o r a Sc i enti fi c Demo n s trati o n Perhap s the u lti mate c lai m o f o c c u lt c ertai n ty w as i n 1950 . A ro u n d the s ame ti me that C ri c k an d W ats o n w ere head i n g fo r C ambri d ge , a my s ti c al me tho d o lo gy w as p ro d u c in g a fres h d i s c o v ery i n Ro me. T here has o n ly been on e in falli ble c lai m ev er mad e by a p o p e s i nc e Pi u s IX p ro c lai med the d o c tri n e o f p ap al i nfalli bi li ty i n 18 70 . An Itali an p ri es t, E u gen i o Pac elli as Pi u s X II, s u d d en ly , i n 1950 , as s erted hi s d o c tri n e o f T he A s su mp ti o n . Sp eak i n g ex c athed ra an d c lai mi n g i n falli bi li ty he d ec i d ed that Ma ry w as p hy s i c ally as s u med in to heav en . H e p ro fes s ed that n o t o n ly w as Mary ' s p hy si c al bo dy ac tu ally tak en i n to heav en bu t als o that thi s c lai m w as the s u p reme s tatemen t o f c ertai n ty that o n ly a Su p reme Po n ti ff c o u ld ma k e. Instant auto-excommunication option H e ev en ad d ed that hi s rec on d i te d i s c ov ery w as s o c ertai n a ' fac t' that i f an y Catho li c s ev er w i s hed to au to mati c ally exc o mmu ni c ate thems elv es fro m the c hu rc h, they o n ly had to w i lfu lly d ou bt hi s d ec larati o n an d they w ere o u t. F i n i to . In hi s an athema, h e s ai d : " If a nyo ne , whi c h Go d fo rb i d , s ho u ld d a re wi lfu lly to d e ny o r c a ll i n d o u b t tha t whi c h W e ha v e d e fi ne d , le t hi m kno w tha t he ha s fa lle n a wa y c o m p le te ly fro m the d i v i ne a nd Ca tho li c fa i th" Leav i n g as i d e the i mp erti n en c e o f th i s as s erti o n an d the to tal lac k o f an y ev i d en c e to s u p p o rt i t, Pi u s X II' s aero n au ti c al i n v en ti o n i s relati v ely tame c o mp a red w i th tho s e o f s c i en ti s ts i n the fi eld . B y c o n tras t, fo r e xamp le, a falli bl e, u n c ert ai n Sw i s s s c i en tis t, Dan i el B ern o u lli , d i sc o v ered the p ri n ci p le o f the aero fo i l that to d ay en ab les a p o p e to fly a ro u n d the w o r l d i n a 747, f as ter than a bu l let , alo n g w i th the en ti re Co lle ge o f Ca rd i n als ! T hro w i n a mo v i e, a reas o n able me al an d s o me F ren c h Champ agn e an d i t beats ri d i n g aro u n d o n a c lo ud an yd ay . A ls o , there a re n o th reats o f exc o mm u n i c ati on
57 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN i n v o lv ed in in tern ati o n al ai r trav e l, j u s t the o c c as i o n al lo s s o f baggage. The End of the Mystical Millennium Mo re an d mo r e b r ai n u s ers are tu rn i n g to s c i en c e fo r an s w ers to qu es ti o n s that w e re o n c e the exc lu s i v e d o mai n o f the s u p ern atu ral p o w erbas es . In A u s trali a, t he lat es t Go v ern men t c en s u s has c on fi rmed thi s ac c elerati n g rej ec ti o n o f r eli gi o n s , s ec ts an d c u lts . A s w e leav e the My s ti c al Mi llen n i um, the s u p erfi c i al, c hi ld i s h my tho lo gi es o f the tru th- merc han ts an d med i ev al magi c i an s are bei n g left behi n d . T he i n formati o n ri c h rev elati o n s o f s c i en c e are emp o w eri n g mo re t hi n k ers than ev er befo re to c ho o s e s o v erei gn ty o v er au tho ri ty . 1953 i s i mp o rtan t bec au s e i t w as the d efi n i tiv e en d o f the Mys ti c al Mi llen n iu m. It w as the las t o f the bi g ' my s teri es ' to be exp lai n ed . T ho u gh there may a lw ay s be man y in teres ti n g qu es ti o ns to be asked an d ans w ered , after Cri c k an d Wats o n , n o thi n k er n eed ev er d eleg ate her o r h i s au tho ri ty to a s u p ern atu ral m agi c i an , ev er agai n . I f s he o r he CH OO SE S to d o s o fo r s o me o t her reas o n , t hat i s thei r ri ght an d p ri v i lege. The Greatest Thinkers F ran c i s
Cri ck
and
J ames
W ats o n
are
tw o
of
hi s to ry 's
greates t
i ntellec tu al
s u p ers tars . Nev er hav e tw o thi n k er s exp lai n ed s o mu c h. T hei r d i s c o v ery o f the d i gi tal gen e has c lea red aw ay man y v ei ls o f my s tery . Man y o ther s c i en ti s ts hav e s in c e bui lt o n Cri c k an d W ats o n 's o ri gi n al id eas an d mo re w o rk w i ll be d o n e i n the fu tu re. B u t, as a c o n tri bu ti o n to the fr eed o m o f i n d iv i du al thi n k ers , Cri c k an d W atso n ' s ac hi ev emen t d w arfs tho s e o f the ' tru th hac k ers ' , A ri s to tle an d A q u i n as , an d p ro v i d es a maj o r blo w to PT V.
58 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
So far w e hav e lo o k ed at PT V , ho w i t aro s e an d ho w i t s p read v i a the med i ev al c hu rc h i n to the W es tern ed u c ati on sys tem. W e s aw ho w this tru th- d ri v en ed u c ati o n s y s tem w i th i ts emp has i s o n ' the s ear c h fo r c e rtai n ty ' w as exp o rt ed to A u s t rali a an d aro u n d the w o rld , an d , ho w y o u r o w n brai n may hav e bec o me i n fec ted . The Effects of PTV If thi s i s s o , ho w d o es PT V w o rk to i n hi bi t y o u r abi li ti es as a so v erei gn thi n k er. W ell, as a c o gn i ti v e d i s eas e, PT V i n y o u r brai n c an p ro d u c e a n u mber o f d e leteri o u s effec ts . Le t' s lo o k at j u s t fo u r man i fes tati o n s o f PT V:
B rai n Vai n ( o pi ni o n p rid e an d c on c ei t) Ri ghteo u s an d Si ghtles s ( c o ns equ en c e bli n d n ess ) Sp ac e Glu tto n ( o u tp u t- man i a) Lazy Cri ti c ( mi s tak e- p ho bi a) Brain Vain A brai n v ai n thi n k er i s o n e w ho is s ufferi n g f ro m o p i n i o n p ri d e. T hi s PT V- i n fec ted brai n u s er i s u n able to s ee a bett er w ay o f lo o k i n g at thi n gs . B ec au s e the brai n v ai n thi n k er i s s o p ro u d o f her o r hi s o wn o p i ni o n they fin d i t d i ffi cu lt to d o an y o ther k i n d o f thi nk i n g b u t to d efen d i t. T he mo re i n tel li gen t th e br ai n v ai n thi n k er, the mo re t hey may s u ffer fro m thi s k i nd o f c o gn i ti v e c o n c ei t. Very b ri ght thi n k ers w ho are PT V- i n fec ted may be on ly us i n g thei r brai n p o w er to d efen d thei r o p i n i on . T hey are u n able to es c ap e fro m thei r v i ew p o in t to lo o k fo r a mu c h b ette r o n e. Righteous and Sightless T he ri ghteo u s brai n i s bli n d to c on s equ en c es . PT V may hav e s o i n c ap ac i tated a T ru e B eli ev er that he i s u n able to s ee the r es u lts o f hi s ac ti o n s . In the beli ef t ha t they ar e " mo rally ri gh t" an y ac ti o n i s j us ti fi ed by the Ri gh teo u s an d Si ghtles s , rega rd les s o f w hat fo llo w s . T hi s i s a v ery d an gero u s c o n di ti o n an d s o o ften fatal.
59 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Mi lli o n s hav e ru s hed head lo n g i n to d eath bec au s e ' Go d i s o n ou r s i d e' . Mi lli o n s hav e been k i lled b ec au s e they a re ' i n fi d els ' , ' J ew s ' , ' Catho li c s ' o r ' Pro tes t an ts ' . " Iam- ri ght- an d - y o u - are- w ro n g" is the hallma rk o f the Ri g hteo u s an d Si ghtles s c o n d i ti o n . In 199 4, J o hn P au l I I u r ged al l Ro ma n Catho li c Card i n als to re flec t o n thi s as p ec t o f the Chu rc h' s hi s to ry . H e w ro te to t he m as k i n g them to s ei ze the u n i qu e be gi n n in g o f the n ew mi llen n i u m to rec o gn i s e the " d ark s i d e o f i ts hi s to ry " . H e as k ed: " H o w c an on e remai n s i len t abo u t the man y fo rms o f v i o len c e p erp etrat ed i n the n ame o f the fai th- - w ars o f re li gi o n , t ri bu n als o f the In qu i s i ti on an d o ther fo rms o f v i o lati o n s o f the ri ghts o f p ers o n s ." Space Glutton In a meeti n g, the s p ac e glu tto n alw a y s tak es u p c on si d erably mo re than hi s o r her fai r s hare o f ai r ti me. Sp ac e g lu tto n s may s u ffer f ro m o u tp u t man i a, the i n abi li ty to s hu t- u p . Gatheri n g i n p u t b y li s ten i n g to the o p i ni o ns o f o thers i s an i mp o rtan t c o gn i ti v e s k i ll w hi c h i s c ri pp led i n the s p ac e glu tto n . PT V may al lo w the thi n k er to w reak s u c h en thu si as m fo r her o w n i d eas that s he i s qu i te u n able to li s ten to o thers . In bu s i n es s , mu c h c reati v i ty and pro d u c ti v i ty is lo s t in meeti n gs d u e to tho s e s u fferi n g fro m thi s c o n d i ti o n . T hi s co n d i ti on i s d is as tro u s fo r tho s e i n s ales o r i n man agemen t. Lazy Critic Lazy c ri ti c s s u ffer fro m mi s tak e- p ho bi a, the mo rbi d fear o f ev er mak i n g a mi s tak e. T he PT V- i n fec ted b rai n has an av ers i o n to ev er bei n g w ro n g. It c o mes fro m o u r med i ev al habi t o f lo o k i n g at the w o rl d thro u gh the c o n c ep t o f " ri g ht" an d " w ro n g" ( n o t s hared as mu c h b y o ther c u ltu res li k e the J ap an es e) . W hen a s o v erei gn thi n k er i s abo u t to try s o methi n g n ew , he n ev er really k n o w s w hat w i ll hap p en . T here i s alw ay s ri s k and u n c ertai n ty . T hi s ri sk i s en ou gh to k eep the mi s tak e- p ho bi ac hi di n g i n i n erti a. A s an effec ti v e di s gu is e the mis tak e- p ho bi ac o ften as s u mes the ro le o f ' the c ri ti c ' .
60 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
T ak i n g p o t- s ho ts fro m the rela ti v e s afety o f hi s bu n k er o f relu c tan c e, the l azy c ri ti c s i mp ly w ai ts fo r an o ther thi n k er to m ak e a mi s tak e an d then the w hi n gei n g begi n s . T hes e are a few o f the c o gn i ti v e c o n d i ti o ns c au s ed by PT V, there are ma n y o thers . T he p u rp o s e o f the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g is to help brai n u s ers d eal w i th thes e c o n d i ti o n s by d esi gn i n g an d o fferi n g to o ls they c an u s e. Si n c e 1979, SOT has d ev elo p ed a n u mber o f to o ls an d s trat egi es , fo r examp le:
' thi n k in g c ap s ' , ' b rai n s o ftw are' an d ' memep lexes ' . The Brain Software T he SOT brai n s o ftw are i s p ro v i d ed in Part T w o o f thi s trai n i n g w hi c h begi n s n ext w eek an d i s fo r y o u to u s e at s c ho o l, at w o rk , at ho me an d at p lay . SOT B rai n So ftw are c o n s i s ts o f fo u r s o ftw are p ac k ages fo r y o u r brai n . T hes e s o ftw are p ac k ages c o n tai n 15 mi n d -to o ls . T hes e mi n d - to o ls c an be u s ed by the brai n u s er i n an ev er- w i d eni n g rep erto i re o f c o mbi n ati on s to p ro d uc e a v i rtu ally u n li mi ted nu mb er o f effec ts . T he n eu ro - s o ftw are i s exp res s ed i n a fo u r- p art c o d e: SDNT CVST OB V S QRH PRR . E ac h ac ro n y m s tan d s fo r a s p ec i fi c p iec e o f b rai n s o ftw are w hi c h w i ll be d ealt w i th i n the fo llo w i n g c hap ters . On c e i t i s p ro grammed i n to y o u r brai n , the n eu ro w are h elp s to n eu trali ze o r by - p as s PT V by gi v i n g y o u , the b rai n u s er, a s i mp le w ay to in c reas e y o u r aw aren es s o f the thi n k i n g s trategi es that a re av ai labl e to y o u i n any s i tu ati on that c o mes y ou r w ay .
61 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Let’s summarise what we’ve covered so far … The Truth T he i d ea that t here i s an o b j ec ti v e tr u th, w as i n v en ted by Plato . St ro n g d efen c e o f T he T ru th d i mi n i s hes the thi n k er' s abi li ty to es c ap e fro m hi s v i ew p o i n t to fi n d a mu c h b etter o n e. T hi s c o n d i ti o n i s c alled PT V, Pl ato T ru th Vi ru s . A ri s to tle i mbed d ed PT V i n hi s s y llo g i s m. T hi s w as p i ck ed u p by T ho mis t d o c tri n e an d bec ame the bas i s o f lo gi c . W es te rn ed u c ati o n has mad e a go d o u t o f l o gi c an d the ' s earc h fo r c e rtai n ty ' . T he W es tern ed u c ati o n s y s tem w as s et u p by the med i ev al Chu rc h a n d s p read thro u gho u t E u ro p e an d exp o rted to o ther p ar ts o f the w o r ld . E v en to d ay , c hi ld ren are s en t to s c ho o l, thei r y o u n g brai ns p ro grammed w i th the lo gi c o p erati n g s y s tem, an d then they ' re gi v en the i mp res s i on that all they h av e to d o i n li fe i s " to get th e ri ght an s w er" o r " tel l the tru th" . On ly Mi c ro s o ft' s glo bal exp o rt o f B i ll Gates ' DOS has ev er ri v alled the Vati c an ' s glo bal e xp o rt o f T ho m as A qu i n as ' PT V. PT V i s u bi qu i to u s . Man i fes tati o ns c an be an n o yi n g li k e i n Sp ac e Glu tto n s an d B o res o r fa tal li k e i n B u lli es an d Ri ghte o u s an d Si ghtles s thi n k ers . Ov er 2 6 mi lli o n hu man s hav e b een d es tro y ed las t c en tu ry d i rec tly d u e to PT V. Unfair Conclusion? It i s o n ly w i th the u n fai r ad v an tage o f hi n d s i ght that o n e i s able to lo o k b a c k o n the ev o lu ti o n o f o u r t hi n k i n g hab i ts an d c o n si d er the c o n s equ en c es that they may hav e p ro d u c ed . Di d Plato ev er rea li s e w hat mi ght hap p en as a c on s equ en c e o f the i deas that emerg ed fro m tho s e B ac c han ali an d i nn er p arti es he atten d ed o n tho s e ho t A then i an
62 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN s u mmer n i ghts ? Di d Sai n t T ho mas A qu in as ev er an ti c ip ate ho w ri go ro u s ly lat er p o p es w o u ld p ro s ec u te hi s i d eas and mak e them the c o re d o c tri n e o f the g rea tes t ed u c ati o n en terp ri s e i n hi s to ry ? T o be fai r , I d o n ' t s ee ho w t hey c o u ld . Pl ato an d T ho mas w e re n o t v i llai n s . I i magi n e they w ere j u s t d oi n g w hat i nteres ted them mo s t at th e ti me an d ho p i n g fo r a mo d es t amo u n t o f s u c c ess . Co u ld B i ll Gates ev er hav e k n o w n he w o u ld bec o me the ri c hes t bu si n ess man i n the w o rld w hen he fi rs t d ev elo p ed DOS? In hi s bo o k he s ay s he on c e remark ed to Pau l A llen that a mi lli o n d o llars w as a hu ge amo u n t o f mo n ey , an d he c o uld n ev er i magi n e hav i n g mo re than that . H mmm ; - )
63 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
T he p as t tw o w eek s w ere d ev o ted to exp lo ri n g T he Pro blem: PT V an d s ome o f i ts c o n s equ en c es . No w w e c o me to T he So lu ti o n : the n ew s o ftw are fo r y o u r br ai n . T he d es i gn mod el fo r the mi n d to o ls p res en ted in thi s trai n i n g i s w hat I hav e c alled c o gn eti c s . Y o u d o n' t hav e to w o rry abo u t the n ame bu t i f y ou d on ' t c o me u p w i th a fan c y n ame i n s c i en c e, n o bo dy tak es yo u s eri o u s ly . Co gn eti c s c o mes fro m c o gn i tiv e c y bern eti c s . Co gn i ti v e means to d o wi th ho w the brai n s ec retes thi n k i n g, ho w i t ' mi nd s' . Cy bern eti c s has to d o w i th ' feed bac k ' . Co gn eti c s b rai n s o ftw are, o r n eu ro w are, ar e hi ghe r o rd er e xec u ti v e p att ern s that y o u c an us e to d eli b erately :
1. tak e c o n tro l o f y o u r at ten ti o n , an d 2. man i p u late y o u r o w n p erc ep ti on . On c e p ro grammed i n to y o u r brai n , the brai n s o ftw are gi v es y ou , the brai n u s er, a s i mp le w ay to i n c reas e y o u r aw aren e s s o f the thi n k i n g s trate gi es that are av ai lable to y o u i n a si tu ati o n . F o r examp le, s u p p o s e y o u are d eali n g w i th a p ro blem s i tu ati o n and y o u are c u rren tly aw are o f o n ly 3 s trategi es y o u c an u s e - Strategy A , Strate gy B o r Strate gy C. F o r y o u then , y o u r i n telli gen t b ehav i o u r i s li mi ted to a c ho i c e from tho s e 3 s trategi es . B u t w hat i f y o u c o u ld d eli b era tely ma k e y o u rs elf aw a re o f 6 o r 9 o r 12 s t rat egi es y o u c o u ld u s e in that s i tu ati o n ? Obvi o u s ly y o u w ou ld be able to c ho o s e an even hi gher lev el o f i n telli g en t b ehav i o u r d u e to y o u r i n c reas ed o p ti on s . Problems and Opportunities B rai n p o w er o r c o gn eti c s i s thi s d eli berate u s e an d ap p li c ati o n o f thi n k in g s o ftw are. In c o gn eti c s , y o u c an c ho os e fro m a ran ge o f c o gn i ti v e s trategi es to s o lv e an y
64 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN p ro blem that c o n fro n ts y o u o r to exp l o re an y o p p o rtu n i ty y o u d esi re. A p ro blem i s a si tu ati o n w hi c h may requ i re a s o lu ti o n , a w ay o u t, an o p ti on , a c u re o r a n ew ap p ro ac h. A n o pp o rtu n i ty i s a s i tu ati on that may n eed to be exp lo red , a p lan tha t n e ed s to be w o rk ed o u t, an i d ea that n eed s to be d ev elo p ed , a p o s s i bi li ty that n eed s tes ti n g. Y o u r p ro b lems o r o p p o rtu n i ti es are o ften p ers o n al, bu s i n es s , fami ly , rec reati o n al, ac ad emi c , s c i en ti fi c , p hy si c al, o r p hi lo s o p hi c al. W hen w e as k bu s i n es s p eop le abo u t thei r p ro blem /o p p o rtu n i ty areas th ey n early alw ay s s ay : c areer o r p u rp o s e i n life, ti me an d s tres s , getti n g a be tte r balan c e betw een p ro fes s i o n al an d p ers o n al li fe, mo n ey i s su es , bri n gi n g mo re c reati v i ty and flexi b i li ty i n to thei r c o mp an y . H ere are s o me o f the s i tu ati o n s SOT members hav e w o rk ed o n d u ri n g thei r Sp eed T hi n k in g Clas s trai n i n g: OPPOR TU N ITIES: to bu y s o me lan d ; to get a better j o b; to i mp ro v e k n ow led ge o f So u th E as t As i a; to learn ac ti n g; to play the p i an o agai n ; to gro w thei r bus i n ess ; to go b ac k to s c ho o l, to r ai s e thei r i n c o me, to gi v e u p s mo k i n g, to i mp ro v e th ei r go lf . PR OB LEMS: to p ay mo rtg age; to c o p e w i th a d i ffi c u lt bo s s ; to s av e my marri a ge; to c ho o s e betw een ac ad emi c c o u rs es ; to o v erc o me f ear o f u s i n g the tele p ho n e i n s elli n g; to s p eak i n p u bli c; to mak e new fri en d s ; to lo s e w ei ght. Intelligent Behaviour Equals Strategies and Options If y o u w i s h to o rd er tak e o u t fo o d but y o u o n ly hav e a pi zza men u then y ou r c ho i c e i s li mi ted to p i zza. B u t i f y o u hav e men u s fro m 10 d i fferen t res tau ran ts s u c h as s u s hi , health fo o d , Sp an i s h, s eafo o d , T hai , T ex Mex, F ren c h an d Pi zza etc then y o u c an eat tw i c e as w ell. T he k ey is to k eep y o u rs elf aw are o f a bro ad er men u o f o p ti o n s . T he b rai n s o ftw are - SDNT CVST OB V S QRH PRR - ( i n tro d u c ed in the n ext c hap ter) w i ll k eep y o u aw are o f s trat egi c o p ti o n s y o u c an u s e i n si tu ati o n s that c o n fro n t y o u . T hi s trai n in g w i ll exp lai n thes e s trategi es an d y o u r in c reas ed s ki lls w i ll gi v e y o u a
65 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN s i mp le w ay to rai s e y o u r Game In t elli gen c e by at le as t 10 0 % an d mi n i mi s e the effec ts o f PT V. T he fo u r- p art b rai n s o ftw are p ac k age p ro v i d es y o u r brai n w i th 15 mi n d - to ols . T hes e mi n d - to o ls c an b e u s ed b y the brai n u s er i n an ev er- w i d en i n g rep erto i re o f c o mb i n ati on s to p ro d uc e a v i rtu all y u n li mi ted n u mber o f effec ts . J u s t as the c arp en ter c an u s e a d o zen o r s o to o ls to p erfo rm a w i d e ran ge o f effec ts , so c an the brai n u s er. T hi s i s the c o d e o f the SOT b rai n s o ftw are:
SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T
C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS
QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H
PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R
SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T SD N T
C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS C VSTOB VS
QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H QR H
PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R PR R
66 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
T here a re w ay o v e r 2 0 0 mi lli o n PC u s ers w o rld w i d e. T o d ay ' s PCs are mo re th an 2 gi gaby tes w here a by te i s j u s t a s i n gle s to rage u n i t o f i n fo rmati o n ( at ei gh t bi ts ) o r abo u t o n e p ri n ted c harac ter. 2 gi gs i s 2 mi lli o n k i lo by tes o r 2 bi lli o n by tes. So , 2 0 0 mi lli o n PCs mu lti p li ed b y 2 bi lli on by tes i s W o w! that' s a lo t o f p ers o n al c o mp u ter p o w er. H o w man y n ec k top us ers are there? T here are p res en tly o v er 6 bi lli o n n ec kto p u s ers o n p lan et earth. T hi s n u mber i s i ncreas i n g at the rate o f 3 n ec k to p u sers ev ery s ec o n d o r 1.7 mi lli o n ev ery w eek . In y o u r brai n a b y te is , s ay , the s tren gth o f a s y n aps e bu t y ou r n ec k to p has rather mo re than 2 bi lli o n by tes o r s yn ap ses . It i s a v as t n etw o rk o f abo u t 10 0 bi lli o n n eu ro n s ( q ui te p o ss i bly ev en ten ti mes as man y ) and eac h o n e o f y o u r n eu ro n s has u p to 50 ,0 0 0 c o nn ec tin g w i res ( d en d ri tes ) w i th s yn ap s es . 10 0 bi lli o n n eu ro n s mu lti p li ed by 50 ,0 0 0 sy n ap s es mu lti p li ed 6 bi lli o n n ec k to ps eq u als .. . w hew ! that' s a lo t o f brai n p o w er o n the p lan et. Pro fes s o r J ac o b Sc hw artz o f the Co u r an t In s ti tu te o f Mathemati c al Sc i en c es at New Y o rk U n i v ers i ty p u t s o me fi gu res to gether to gi v e s o me i d ea o f the c ap ac i ty o f y o u r brai n . H e s ay s that ro u gh q u an ti tati v e gu es s es lead u s to es ti mate that the lo n gterm memo ry av ai labl e to the b rai n i s abo u t 10 ,0 0 0 tri lli o n by tes an d that the c o mp u tin g rate n eed ed to emu la te t he en ti re b rai n o n a n eu ro n - by -n euro n bas i s may be as hi gh as 1 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 tri lli o n ari thmeti c o p erati o n s p er s ec o n d . Dr Sc hw artz go es o n to s ay that " i t i s i nte re s ti ng to c o m p a re the se e xc ee d i ng ly c oa rse es ti m a te s wi th c o rre s p o nd i ng fi g u re s fo r the la rg e s t s u p e rc o m p u te r s ys te ms li ke ly to b e d e v e lo pe d o v e r the ne xt d e c ad e . T he se wi ll p ro b a b ly no t a tta i n s p e e d s i n e xc es s o f 1 tri lli o n a ri thm e ti c o p e ra ti o ns p e r s e c o nd whi c h i s a b o u t o ne - m i lli o nth o f t he c o m p u ta ti o n ra te tha t we ha v e es ti ma te d fo r yo u r b ra i n" . Y o u and I, w i th o u r hu man b rai ns are s o p rep o s tero u s ly ov er en d o w ed w i th thi n ki n g
67 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN hard w are that i t' s almo s t i mp o s s i ble to c o mp rehen d . B u t let' s try . W hat i f y o u w ere the maj o r s hareho ld er o f the w o r ld ' s mo s t i n telli gen t en te rp ri s e, a n etw o rk o f ten bi lli o n c o mp u ters li n ked to gether as p arall el p ro c es s o rs , p ro d u c in g a v as t i n tellec tu al o u tp u t o f glo b a l mes s agi n g? W ell, y o u are! Units of Intellect T ak e a c lo s er lo o k . T he ato ms o f y o u r brai n a re c al led n erv e c e lls o r n eu ro n s . E ac h n eu ro n i s y o u r fu n d amen tal i n tellec tu al u n i t - an i n fo rmati o n - p ro c ess i n g s y s tem. T he bas i c p ro d u c t o f thes e u n i ts i s: mes s agi n g. Neu ro n s are p erf ec tly d es i gn ed mes s agi n g s y s tems . T hey hav e tw o en d s : a rec ei v i n g en d an d a tran s mi tti n g en d ( o r an i n pu t en d an d an o u tp u t en d ) . A t the rec ei v i n g en d eac h o f y o u r n eu ro n s has a c o nv en i en t tree- li k e s y s tem o f d en d ri tes - i np u t w i res - w hi c h c an rec ei v e i n fo rmati o n fro m o th er n eu ro n s . A n eu ro n may rec ei v e mes s ages i n fro m tho u s an d s o f o ther n eu ro n s an d may, i n tu rn , s en d i ts mes s ages o u t to tho u s an d s o f o ther n eu ro n s . Messages In and Messages Out Su p p o s e w e c all a mes s age i n , a MI . A n d , a mes s age o u t, a M O. So w e hav e MIs an d MOs . A n eu ro n rec ei v es MIs ( mes s ages in) fro m o ther n eu ro n s . It th en s en d s a MO, a bri ef elec t ri c al p u ls e las ti n g abo u t a tho u s an d th o f a s ec o nd alo n g i ts o u tp u t w i re, the axo n . A xo n s are li k e ' tele gr ap h w i res ' that tr an s mi t elec tri c al s i gn als al o n g thei r o w n len gth. A t the en d o f i ts w i re the axo n ' s elec tri c al s i gn al i s tran s fo rmed i n to a c hemi c al o u tp u t - a n eu ro tran s mi tter. A n eu ro tran s mi tter i s a p ac k age o f c h emi c al i n fo rmati o n w hi c h has an effe c t o n the n eu ro n that rec ei v es i t in mu c h the same w ay that a fax o r an emai l i s a p ac k age o f i n fo rmati o n w hi c h has an effec t o n yo u w hen y o u rec ei v e i t. T he w ay thi s c hemi c al p ac k age effec ts the n eu ro n rec ei v i n g i t i s by c au si n g a c han ge i n i ts elec tro c hemi c al ac ti v i ty .
68 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
To Send or Not To Send, That's the Decision J u s t as y o u may o r may n o t res p o n d to an emai l o r fa x y o u rec ei v e, y o u r n eu ro n behav es the s ame w ay . So meti mes a neu ro n res p o nd s to a MI. So meti mes i t d o es n' t. W hen a p arti c u lar c ell s en d s o u t i ts o w n MO s i gn al i t' s bec au s e i t has rec ei v ed en o u gh MIs fro m o ther c e lls to exc ee d a thres ho ld amo u n t. T hu s eac h o f y o u r n erv e c ells ac ts as a ti n y d ec is i o n u ni t. If the i n c o min g mes s agi n g i s abo v e a c ertai n lev el, i t res p o n ds wi th a MO. I f n o t, i t s tay s s i len t. If y o ur n eu ro n d o es res p on d to i ts i n c o mi n g mess ages w e s ay i t i s exci ted , i f i t s tay s s i len t w e s ay i t i s in hi bi ted . Y o u hav e mo re than a tri l li o n n euro n s - ti ny mo lec u lar c o mp u ters . Li k e o ther c o mp u ters they hav e a bro ad s elec ti o n o f MOs that th ey c an s en d o u t. E ach o f y o u r n eu ro n s ac ts as a un i t o f c o n tro l rec ei v i n g MIs an d s en di n g MOs w ithi n the d i s tri bu ted n etw o rk y o u c all y o u r brai n . E ac h o f thes e u ni ts i s p ro ces s i n g i ts i n p u ts /o u tp u ts at the s ame ti me as a re al l the o ther u n i ts , s o they ac hi ev e ' p arallel c o mp u tati o n ' . Y o u r brai n i s the u lti mate p ara llel p ro c es s o r! Its bi lli o n s o f p arallel p ro c es s i n g u n i ts are c o ns tan tly tak i n g i n i n fo rmati o n MIs . T hes e mes s ages are p ro c e s s ed and c han ged . T hen n ew in fo rmati o n MOs are s en t o u t all o v er the glo bal n etw o rk . Y o u r brai n i s the s up reme i n telli gen t en terp ri s e. A n d gu es s w hat, y o u are t he maj o r s hareho ld er .
69 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
BRAIN SOFTWARE: SDNT Search Engine
SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK
STA R T " T a ki ng a ne w s te p , u tte ri ng a ne w wo rd , i s wha t p e o p le fe a r m os t." ~ F yo do r Do s t oe vs k y What is starting? It c an b e v ery d i ffi c u lt to s tart thi n gs . On c e y o u get s tarted there i s mo me n tu m and feed bac k bu t getti n g s tarted c an be d iffi c u lt. Mo s t rac es are lo s t n o t at the fi n i s hi n g li n e bu t at the s ta rti n g b lo c k s . W hy ? B ec au s e mo s t p eo p le n ev er ev en en ter the rac e! T hey j us t n ev er get s tarted . W as n ' t i t Lao - T zu w ho p o in ted o u t that all j o u rn eys begi n w i th o n e s tep .
70 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN The Start of the Sale = Customer Attention W hat i s the s tart o f the s ale? T he s tart o f the s ale i s Cu s to mer A tten ti on . B efo re a c u s to mer c an s ay YE S o r NO thei r atten ti o n mus t be o n y o u r o ffer. F red H erman , au tho r o f K ISS: K eep It Si mp le Salesman u s ed to s ay , " F i rs t, y o u 'v e go t to get the c u s to mer' s atten ti o n " . Y et, mo s t o f the ti me the v as t maj ori ty o f c us to mers ' atten ti o n i s n o t fo c u s ed o n y o u r o ffer at a ll. W hen ev er, at an y p arti c u lar mo men t , th e c u s to mer' s att en ti o n i s n o t o n y o u r o ffer then the re c an be n o ho p e o f a s ale. The Check Move T o man age c u s to mer att en ti o n I d es ign ed a n ew u n i t o f meas u remen t. In my bo o k Ne wSe ll, w hi c h bec ame a b es t- s eller i n A u s trali a, I d es i gn ed a n ew u n i t o f meas u remen t w hi c h I c alled - the Chec k ! mo v e. A Chec k! mo v e ( tak en fro m the game o f c hes s ) i s s i mp ly a c us to mer c o n tac t o f an y k i nd an d is rep res en ted by the s y mbo l: C ! F o r y ears i t' s been a co mmo n beli ef in s elli n g that mo s t s ales w ere lo s t at the c lo s e. In o ther w o rd s , s ales p eo p le w ere mi s s in g s ales bec au s e they w ere n o t ' c lo s i n g' them. Ou r res earc h s ho w ed that thi s i s a gran d i llu s i o n . T he w ho le i s s u e o f ' c lo s i n g the s ale' i s a n o ns en s e and I hav e o ffered a rew a rd o f $ 10 0 ,0 0 0 to the fi rs t p ers o n w ho c an p ro v e the s ales p ers o n c lo s es the s ale. F A C T:
T he d ec is i on to b u y i s an elec tro - c hemi c al ev en t i n the brai n o f the c u s to mer an d the s ales p ers o n d o es NOT c o n tro l that ev en t.
F A C T: 99% o f s ales ar e n o t mi s s ed at the c lo s e at a ll bu t a t the s ta rt . F A C T: It' s the fai lu re to s tart the s ale - to c o n tac t a c us to mer by p hon e, by s n ai l mai l, by emai l, by fax o r i n p ers o n - that i s the s o u rc e o f mo s t lo s t bu s i n es s . F A C T: 99% o f C! mo v es hav e n ev er y et been mad e. No ti n g thei r C! mo v es ( c us to mer c o n tac ts ) help s s alesp eo p le k eep a meas u remen t o f ho w mu c h en ergy th ey are p u tti n g o u t i n to the ma rk etp lac e. F o c u s i n g o n thei r C! mo v es help s them:
1. to rai s e thei r en e rgy lev el an d av o i d w as ti n g ti me 71 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
2. to s to p thei r o b s es si o n w i th ' the c lo se' an d all the arc hai c man i pu lati o n tac ti c s that c u s to mers hate an d w hi c h hav e gi v en the s el li n g p ro fes s i o n s u c h a bad i mage. F o c u s in g o n the s tart - C! - rather than the ' c lo s e' , red u c es the rej ecti o n and d i s app o in tmen t s ales p eo p le feel w hi c h s o effec ts thei r en ergy lev els . C! al l o w s them to i n i ti ate man y mo re c u s to mer c o n tac ts . T hi s , o f c ou rs e, alw ay s lead s to better s ales res u lts bec au s e the o n ly mo v e that c an tu rn a p ro s p ec ti v e c u s to mer i n to a c li en t i s CH E CK ! w hi c h is en o u gh to ma k e i t the mo s t i mp o rtan t mo v e i n bu s i n es s . A s W o o d y A llen s ai d , “ 8 0 % o f s u cc es s is s ho w i n g u p .” N OTE: F o r tho s e w ho a re i n teres t ed i n my w o rk in the area o f ' s elli n g a n d a n ew k i n d o f s ales trai n i n g' p leas e s ee in fo rmati o n i n the PS s ec ti on belo w o r go to http : //w w w .n ew s ellc o ac hi n g.c o m MBO or MBS? H o w to s tart? Mo s t p lans are fu ll o f d etai ls o n how to get to the fi ni s hin g li n e bu t c o n tai n li ttle o r n o thi n g abo u t how to get to the s ta rti n g blo c k s . Y et n o thi n g hap p en s un ti l s o meo n e ST A RT S s o methi n g. F o r man y y ears i n bu s i n ess w e hav e had MB O o r Man a gemen t B y Ob j ec ti v es . Perhap s w e als o n eed MB S o r Man ag emen t B y Starti n g. Man y man agemen t gu ru s w ri te bo o ks abo u t " Go al- Setti n g" . May be they s ho u ld als o w ri te bo o k s ab o u t " Star t- Getti n g" s i n c e, mo s t o f the ti me, mo s t p eo p le n ev er get s tarted . T o Start i s the fu n d amen tal c re ati v e ac t. T o c han ge a s w i tc h fro m th e OF F p o s i ti on to the ON p o s i ti o n i s to s tart s o m ethi n g an d mean s s o methi n g has n o w been c reated . I t has b een s aid that the mo s t i mp o rtan t sk i ll i n w ri ti n g a boo k i s s i tti n g d o w n at the k ey b o ard - getti n g s tar te d .
Strategic Act Strate gy i s abo u t c o n tro l. If y o u are i n c o n tro l y o u are i n a s trategi c p o s i ti o n , i f y o u
72 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN are o u t o f c o n tro l, y o u aren ' t. Sta rt i n g i s a s trate gi c ac t b ec au s e w e c a n c o n tro l s tarti n g bu t w e c an n o t c o n tro l fi n i s hin g. On c e w e s tart, man y o ther fac to rs c o me i n to p lay : o ther p eo p les reac ti o n s , the w eather , c o n s eq u en c es an d the u n exp ec ted . T hes e may p rev en t u s fro m f i n is hi n g. B u t i f w e ar e go o d at s ta rti n g th en w e c an alw ay s s tart ag ai n , an d agai n , a n d agai n . It may b e tha t fi n i s hi n g is s i mp ly the rep eti ti v e ac t o f s tar ti n g, an d s tart i n g agai n , an d s tarti n g agai n , u n ti l w e d ec lare t hat w e hav e " fi n i s hed " . So me p eo p le are go o d at s tarti n g. Ot hers are go o d at the fo llo w - u p . So me are go o d at b o th. W hat are y o u b etter at? D o y o u s ee s tarti n g as a s k i ll? H ow c an y o u i mp ro v e y o u r s tarti n g abi li ty ? Is i t wo rth i t? W hat w o u ld be a better s k i ll to d ev elo p than s tarti n g? H o w d o y o u s tart to s tart? T o s tart o r n o t to s tart? T o fli p t he s w i tc h o r n o t to f li p the s w i tc h? T o s tart i s to be! I s ta rt th ere fo re I am . H e w ho hes i tates to s tart i s lo s t. St art b efo re y o u leap . etc . Where to start? A n y w here i s a go o d p lac e to s tart. Si r Y ehu d i Men u hi n s tarted p lay i n g the v i o li n at ho me w hen he w as fo u r . H o me i s a go o d p lac e to s ta rt. H e mad e hi s p r o fes s i o n al d ebu t, w hen he w as s ev en , i n San F ran c i sc o . San F ran c i sc o i s a go o d p lac e to s tart . In 1962 he s tarted a b o ard i n g s c hoo l fo r mu s i c ally talen ted c hi ld ren , at Sto k e d ' A b ern o n , n ear Lo n d o n . B o ard in g s cho o l i s a go o d p lac e to s tart . Si r Y eh u d i 's s o n J eremy mad e hi s d ebu t as a p i ani s t, i n Gs taad , in 1965. Da re I s ay i t - Gstaad i s a go o d p lac e to s tart! Is there a bes t p lac e to s tart? W hy ? Is there a w o rs t p lac e to s tart? W hy ? Why start things? W hen y o u s tart y o u b e gi n to o v erc o m e i n erti a. In erti a i s the en emy o f s ta r ti n g w i th i ts lac k o f feed bac k . On c e y o u es c ap e fro m th e s p ell o f i n er ti a y o u begi n to ge t feed bac k . F eed b ac k i s the fo o d o f d e c i s i on - maki n g an d the fo o d o f d es i gn. Y o u c an as s es s feed bac k an d reac t to y o u r as s es s men t. Do I li k e i t? Do I n o t li k e i t? Do I w an t mo re? Do I w an t les s ? W e are mu c h bette r at reac ti n g th an at p ro ac ti n g . B y c reati n g feed bac k i t gi v es u s s o methi n g to reac t to an d s o w e c an mak e a d ec i s i on and p ro c eed . A s i mple w ay to
73 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN c reate fe ed bac k i s to s tart s o methi n g ... an y thi n g. When to Start? T here i s real ly o n ly o n e ti me to s tart an d that ti me i s the mo men t c all ed .. . No w ! W e n eed to c rea te as man y No w ! mo men t s fo r s ta rti n g as p o s s i ble. J u s t s u p p o se a No w ! mo men t i s o n e s ec on d . In o ther w o rd s , let' s d efi n e the ti me i t tak es to s tart s o methi n g as o n e s ec on d . H ere are s o me examp les : H o w lo n g d o es i t tak e to p i c k up the telep ho n e? On e s ec o n d . H o w lo n g d o es i t tak e to p res s ' s end ' o n an emai l? On e s ec o nd . H o w lo n g d o es i t tak e to s tart to get u p an d go fo r a w alk . On e s ec o n d . H o w lo n g d o es i t tak e to s tart a Y aho o s earc h o n the n et. On e s ec o n d . H o w lo n g d o es i t tak e to s ay " No " ? One s ec o n d . H o w lo n g d o es i t tak e to s tart y o u r la p to p ? On e s ec on d . H o w lo n g d o es i t tak e to s tart to c o n t ac t a c u s to mer. On e s ec o n d . T here a re an u n li mi ted n u mber o f thi n gs y o u c an s tart to d o i n t he qu i te c o mfo rtable s p ac e o f o n e s ec o n d . H ow man y No w ! mo men ts are there i n a d ay ? I' ll s av e y o u the tro u b le o f th e maths . It' s 8 6,40 0 . U n fo rtu n ately w e w as te mo s t o f o u r No w ! mo men ts bec au s e w e s qu an d er mo s t o f o u r ti me i mmo bi li s ed by in erti a bec au s e o f o u r W es tern fear o f mak i n g " mi s tak es " . Mistake-phobia Mi s tak e- p ho bi a is the mo rbi d fear o f mak i n g a mi s tak e. It' s an av ers i o n to ev er bei n g w ro n g. It c o mes fro m o u r med iev al habi t o f lo o k i n g at the w o rld thro u gh the c o n c ep t o f " ri ght" an d "w ro n g" ( n o t shared by o ther c u ltu res li k e the J ap an es e) . Co mp ared
to
the
J ap an es e
our
mi s tak e- p ho bi a
c aus es
us
to
lo s e
c o u n tless
o p p o rtu n i ti es o n a d ai ly b as i s i n W es tern c o u n tri es li k e A u s trali a, B ri t ai n , F ran c e an d A meri c a an d may b e o n e o f the bi gges t s i n gle blo c k s to o u r i n c reas ed p ro d u c ti v i ty an d p o ten ti al ec o n o mi c su c c es s . Have a go! On e w ay to c u re mi s tak e- p ho bi a i s to ac c elerate o u r w i lli n gn es s to hav e a go , to get s tarted an d get bu s y . W hen y o u hav e a go , o n e o f tw o thi n gs hap p en s:
74 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
1. Y o u mak e a mi s tak e, o r 2. Y o u mak e an u n - mi s tak e. T o the b rai n u s er, bo th thes e ty p es o f feed bac k are u s efu l. If y o u a re n o t afr ai d o f mi s tak es , i f y o u are n o t a mi s tak e- p ho bi ac , then y o u s i mp ly as s es s the feed b ac k an d s tart agai n . I f i t w as a mi s tak e y ou try s o methin g d i fferen t. If i t w as an u n - mi s tak e then y o u c an k eep go i n g. T hes e are li k e lo o p s tha t c an be c alled :
1. IF ( mi s tak e) T H E N ( s tart agai n ) E LSE ( p ro c eed ) , o r 2. IF ( u n - mi s tak e) TH E N ( p ro c eed ) . B o th thes e o u tc o mes a re u s efu l res u l ts o f s tar ti n g, t hey j u s t hav e d i ffe ren t v alu es . In erti a may hav e n o v alu e at all . T hi s i s ho w w e hav e tau ght c o mp u ter s to be i n telli gen t. T hey k eep d o i n g so methi n g. A n y thin g. T hey k eep bus y go in g thro u gh the lo o p s an d learn in g. T hi s is ho w w e learn ed as c hi ld ren u n ti l w e w ere ta u ght to d r ead mak i n g a mi s tak e. If c o mp u ters w ere as afr ai d o f mak i n g mi s tak es as w e are then th ey w o u ld tak e as lo n g as u s to learn . B u t th ey d o n ' t. Co mp u ters are n o t afrai d o f mi s tak es an d are rap i d ly c atc hi n g up . T o d ay 's c ars hav e mo re c o mp u ti n g p o w er than the w hole w o rld had 40 y ears ago . T hey are bec o mi n g les s ' c o mp u ter- as s i s ted c ars ' and mo re li k e ' d ri v eable c o mp u ters ' Where w i ll c o mp u ters b e i n the n ext 40 y ears ? In the n ext 40 0 y ears ?
Lazy Critic Lazy c ri ti c s s u ffer fro m mi s tak e- p ho bi a. T he PT V- i n fec ted brai n w i ll tu rn the mo s t amazi n g c o gn i ti v e s o mers au lts to avo i d bein g ' w ro n g' . W hen a brai nu s er tri es to c reate s o methi n g, s /he n ev er real ly k n o w s w hat w i ll hap p en . T here i s alw ay s ri s k an d u n c ertai n ty . Ri sk i s en o u gh to k eep the mi s tak e- p ho bi ac hid i n g in i n erti a. B u t,
remembe r,
n o thi n g
hap p en s
u n ti l
s o meo n e
ST A RT S
s o methin g.
So ren
75 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN K i erk egaard s ai d , " T o d are is to lo s e o n e' s fo o ti n g mo men tari ly . T o n o t dare i s to lo s e o n es elf." Do y o u p refe r th e s t arte r o r the c ri ti c ? H o w d o y o u feel abo u t mi s tak es ? A re y o u c o mfo rtab l e w i th t hem? Or d o y o u fea r mi s tak es ? Can y o u tak e a ri s k ? Starting by Asking T o as k i s o n e w ay to s tart. M rs . R o bert Le e K i d d s tarted s o methi n g s i mp ly by w alk i n g in to the o ffi c e o f the San F ran c i sc o E xamin er o n May 2 , 1962 and p lac in g her ad v erti s emen t w hi c h as k ed fo r th e fo llo w i n g: " I d o n ' t w an t my hu s ban d to d i e i n the gas c hambe r fo r a c ri me he d i d n o t c o mmi t. I w i ll there fo re o f fer my s erv i c es fo r 1 0 y ears as a c o o k , mai d o r ho u s ek eeper to an y lead i n g atto rn ey w ho w i ll d efen d hi m an d bri n g abo u t hi s v in d ic ati o n ." H er hu s b an d had been tri ed an d c o nv i c ted o f the mu rd er o f a 71- y ear- o ld an ti qu es d ealer , A lb ert Clark e . M r. K i d d ' s blo o d y fi n gerp ri n ts had been fo u nd o n the mu rd er w eap o n , an o rn ate s w o rd . B u t M rs . K i d d had i ns i s ted her hu s ban d w as ho me w i th her o n the n i ght o f the c ri me. On e o f San F ran c i s c o' s mos t emi n ent atto rn ey ' s , Vi n c en t H alli n an res p on d ed and p ro v ed i n c o u rt that the s w o rd w as n o t the mu rd er w eap o n afte r a ll. Su bs equ en tly bo th hu s ban d an d w i fe w en t free . H al li n an grac i o u s ly refu s ed to tak e u p M rs . K i d d ' s o ffer o f 10 y ears s erv i c e. A s k an d rec ei v e! As k in g i s o n e w ay o f s tarti n g. Ask and Receive E v ery d ay , tho u s an ds o f p eo p le s tart s o methi n g by p u tti n g thei r ad i n the p ap er as k i n g fo r s o methi n g eg a jo b , a ho u se, a v o te, a s ale, a fri en d etc . B y as k in g, there are li te ral ly an u n li mi ted n u mber o f w ay s o f getti n g s tarted . W hen d i d y o u las t p u t an ad i n the p ap er? W hat hap p en ed ? W hat o the r w ay s c an y o u as k ? W hat d id y o u as k fo r y es terd ay ? W hat w i ll y o u as k fo r to d ay ? W hat w i ll y o u as k fo r to mo rro w ? Getting Started T he hard es t p ar t abo u t getti n g s ta rte d i s ... g etti n g s ta rted ! T hi s i s a c i rcu lar t rap that i s di ffi c u lt to get o u t o f an d i s the c au s e o f a lo t o f i n erti a. T he w ay I get s tarted i s to w ri te d o w n a li s t o f 10 thi n gs I c an d o to get s tarted , then I j u s t c ho o s e
76 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN the o n es I li k e. A s the German thi n k er, J o han n W o lfg an g v o n Go ethe, s ai d : " U nti l o ne i s c o m m i tte d , the re is hes i ta nc y, the c ha nc e to d ra w b ac k, a lwa ys i ne ffe c ti v e ne s s . Co nc e rni ng a ll a c ts o f i ni ti a ti v e a nd c re a ti o n, the re is o ne e le m e nta ry tru th the i g no ra nc e o f whi c h ki lls c o u ntle s s i d ea s a nd sp le nd i d p la ns : tha t the m o m e nt o ne d e fi ni tely c o m m i ts o nes e lf, the n p ro v i d e nc e m o v e s to o . A ll s o rts o f thi ng s o cc u r to he lp o ne tha t wo u ld ne v e r o the rwi se ha ve o c c u rred . A who le s trea m o f e ve nts i s s ue s fro m the de c is i o n, ra i s i ng in o ne ' s fa v o u r a ll m a nne r o f u nfo re s e e n i nc i d e nts , m e e ti ng s a nd m a te ri a l as s is ta nc e whi c h no m a n c o u ld ha v e d re a m e d wo u ld ha v e c o me hi s wa y. W ha te v e r yo u c a n d o o r d re a m yo u c a n, b e g i n i t. B o l d ne s s ha s ge ni u s , p o we r a nd m a g i c i n i t. B e g i n i t no w."
77 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
DO W hat i s d oi n g? No id ea i s o f any real v alu e u n ti l i t gets u s ed . If an id ea nev er gets u s ed , w hy ev en k no w abo u t i t? T here' s a hu ge gap betw een k n o w i n g an d d o i n g. I h av e c al led thi s g ap - T he Imp o s s i ble B arri er - an d w ri tten a t le n gth abo u t thi s i n New Sel l. T h e re as o n fo r thi s i s b ec au s e, s o o ften , k n o w in g s o methin g p rev en ts d o i n g i t. W e hav e s o methi n g rep eated to u s an d w e s ay " Y es , I alread y k n o w that! " an d we tu rn o u r att en ti o n aw ay . Y et i t i s the rep eti ti o n o f thi n gs w e alr ead y k n o w that g ets u s c lo s er to d o i n g i t. I t has b een s ai d that to o o ften th e k n o w ers are n o t the d o ers an d the d o ers are n o t the k n o w ers . On c e w e mo v e f ro m tho u ght i n to ac ti o n w e i mmed i ately c reat e fe ed bac k . Ou r ac ti o n s hav e c o n s equ en c es an d i t i s thes e c o n s equ enc es that en able u s to ev alu ate the effec ti v en es s o f o u r b ehav i o u r. T hi n k in g i s n o t an es c ap e fro m ac ti o n i t i s the s i mp ly the bas is fo r i t. W hen i n d o u bt, d o s o methi n g. A n y thi n g. The Quest - Seek and Ye Shall Find Y o u may alread y hav e n o tic ed that the rec u rri n g themes ru n n i n g tho u gh all thi s c o gn eti c s trai n in g abo u t hu man in fo rmati o n - han d lin g i s E SCA PE an d MOVE ME NT . T o the thi n k er, a c reati v e ap p ro ac h to li fe mean s a qu es ti o n in g ap p ro ac h. Qu es ti n g, w as the k i n d o f ad v en tu rou s mo d us o p eran di o f the k n i ght o f c hi v alry . W hether the " i mp o s s i ble d ream" , the c ru s ad e, o r the s earc h fo r th e H o ly Grai l, t he tru e k n i ght w en t o u t s eek i n g c hallen ges an d embrac i n g p ro blems . H e w as a k ni ght, a man o f ac ti o n , a d o er, d o i n g w hat k n i ghts d o . T o d ay ' s k ni ghts are n o d i ff eren t. W h ether a m an o r w o man , th e k n i ght o f to d ay has the s ame s p i ri t o f q u es ti n g o n ly the w eap o n s are d i fferen t. In c y beri a, the k ey bo ard i s mi ghti er than the s w o rd .
78 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN T o d ay ' s cy berk n i ghts , li k e thei r an c i en t bro thers , are the grea t qu es ter s o f the i n fo rmati o n age. T hey u s e s earc h en g i n es rather than s i ege en gi n es . T hey d o n ' t u s e c hai n mai l b u t they d o us e emai l. T hey s u rf c y beri a on thei r lap to p in s tead o f s ai li n g to Ou tremer o n thei r w ars hi ps . B u t, they ' re o u t there, an d thi s i s j u s t the begi n n i n g. Questions are the Answer " I wa s a ki d tha t was a lwa ys a s ki ng , ' W hy, why, why? ' I thi nk I' m e v e n wo rs e no w. It c o ns ta n tly c ha lle ng e s m e to fi nd o u t m o re , s o I i m p ro v e a nd c o nti nu e to i m p ro v e ." ~ Ian T ho rp e, A u s trali a ’s gre ates t Oly mp i c c hampi o n and s po rts thi n k er. T he s k i lled thi n k er, the thi n k er o f ac t i o n , i s a s ki lled qu es ti o n er. W ho ? W hat? W hen ? W here? H o w ? W hy ? W hy ? W hy ? T he o n ly s i lly qu es tio n i s the qu es ti o n y o u d o n ' t as k . B u t w hat i s a qu es ti o n ? A cc o rd i n g to Roc helle My ers , w ho ru n s the n o w - famo u s Stamfo rd U n i v ers i ty Grad u ate Sc ho o l o f Man agem en t c o u rs e, Cre a ti v i ty i n B u s i ne ss , qu es ti o ns are the fo llo w i n g:
a qu es ti o n is an o p eni n g to c reati o n
a qu es ti o n is an u ns ettled an d u n s ettli n g i s su e
a qu es ti o n is an i nv i tati o n to c reati v i ty
a qu es ti o n is a begi n n in g o f ad v en tu re
a qu es ti o n is a s ed u c tiv e fo rep lay
a q u es ti o n p o k es an d p ro ds that w hi c h has n o t y et been p o k ed an d p ro d d ed
a qu es ti o n is a p o i n t o f d ep artu re
a qu es ti o n w an ts a p lay mate
Questions Help You Do If y o u c an d ev elo p y o u r q u es ti o n i n g s k i lls y o u w i ll i mmed i ately begi n t o exp an d y o u r o p ti on s , y ou w i ll hav e mo re altern ati v es , y o u wi ll gen erate ext ra p o s si bi li ti es , y o u w i ll hav e mo re c ho i c es . A ll thes e thi n gs w i ll lead y o u i n to ac ti on , to D O thi n gs . Y o u r n ew qu es ti on i n g sk i lls w i ll en able y o u to bec o me les s o f a k n o w er and mo re o f a d o er. Y o u w i ll an n o y au tho ri ti es an d as to u nd y o u r fri en ds . T hi s alo n e, c an be a go o d en o u gh reas o n to as k mo re qu es ti o n s .
79 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Do it bad! My fri en d , L es li e B u c k lan d , w as Pr es i d en t o f Cari bi n er In c . i n New Y o rk , t he w o rld ' s larg es t p ro d u c er o f bu s i n es s meeti n gs . Les li e o ften u s ed to s ay , " If s o methi n g i s w o rth d oi n g i t' s w o rth d o i n g bad ly ." W hy ? Do es n' t thi s s eem a c o n trad i c ti o n fo r a man th at w as k n o w n i n tern ati o n ally fo r s etti n g the s ta n d ard s o f qu ali ty i n b us i n es s meeti n gs ? Cari bi n er c an go i n to a ho te l bal lro o m an y w here i n the w o rld , tu rn i t i n to a c i rc u s o r a thea tre i n 2 4 ho u rs , s tage , fo r o n e p erfo rman c e o n ly , th e bu s i n es s equ iv alen t o f a B ro ad w ay s ho w - o ri gin al mu s ic , dan c ers , ac to rs , fi rew o rk s etc - an d then s tri k e the s et leav i n g i t as they fo u n d i t 24 ho u rs later . T hey s tage mu lti - mi lli o n d o llar p ro d u c ti o ns all o v er the w o rld fo r c o mp an i es li k e IB M, Mc Do n ald ' s , an d Merc ed es B en z w here qu ali ty i s the abs o lu te key . Y et Les o ften s ay s " If s o methin g i s w o rth d o i n g i t' s w o rth d o in g bad ly " . W hy ? Bad Can Lead to Good T hi s i s the p arad o x o f ac ti o n , o f dec i s i on - mak in g, o f getti n g thi n gs d o n e. T he mi s tak e- p ho bi acs are s o af rai d o f a d o i n g s o methi n g bad ly they ge t n o thi n g d o n e at all! " Ou r d o u bts " , s ai d W i lli am Shak es p eare, " are t rai to rs an d mak e u s lo s e the go o d w e o ft mi ght w i n b y feari n g to a t temp t." Very o ften the re' s n o " ri ght w ay " to d o thi n gs . Les , an d o ther p eo p le o f a c ti o n , li k e trau ma s u rgeo n s o r as tro n au ts , k n o w that o n e has to get s tarted an d d o s omethi n g, get the p ro c es s mo v i n g. E v en i f y o u mak e a mis tak e o r d o i t bad ly , get go i n g. Y o u c an alw ay s c han ge thi n gs , mak e ad j u s tmen ts an d c o rrec ti o n s . Y o u c an mak e i t w o rk an d mak e i t w o rk w ell , bu t fi rs t y o u hav e to ge t i t u p an d ru n n ing. B ad c an alw ay s be c han ged to go o d . Si tti n g bac k an d w ai tin g fo r p erfec ti o n o ften mean s i n erti a an d fai lu re.
Using Questions F o r an exp eri men t ( th at i s , to t ry o u t an d s ee w hat h ap p en s ) try as k i n g qu es ti o n s
80 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN li k e thes e:
H o w d o es thi s co mp any mak e a p ro fi t? W hen y o u s wi m, ho w d o y o u breathe? W hy d o es thi s s ho p c lo s e at 6p m? Can I w o rk lo n ge r ho u rs ? W hy w as my req u es t refu s ed ? Can I hav e a mo n ey - bac k gu aran tee? W hy n o t? W hy s ho u ld n' t I b e w i th s o meo n e I en j o y ? W hat' s s o go o d ab o u t alw ay s bei n g bus y ? W hat are my s k i lls ? W hat i s y o u r au tho ri ty ? W hy ? W hat i s mi s si n g here? W hat els e? H o w are bo ard membe rs s elec ted ? W hat d etermi n es the n u mber o f d i rec to rs o n the bo ard ? H o w w as thi s d eci s io n mad e? W hy ? W hy i s this ru le n ec es s ary ? Can i t be i mp ro v ed ? A m I n eed ed here?
81 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
NOTICE A s men ti on ed b efo re, c o gn eti c s c o mes fro m the w o rd s ' c o gn i ti v e cy bern eti c s ' . Co gn i ti v e, o f c o u rs e, mean s to d o w i th ' thi n k in g' an d cy bern eti c s means to d o w i th ' feed bac k ' . In o the r w o rd s , c o gn eti c s i s thi n k in g bas ed o n feed bac k . T he re as o n y o u thi n k is s o that y o u c an n o ti c e the feed bac k c reated by y o u r thin k in g and ac ti o n . T hi s feed b ac k then bec o mes the s ti mu lu s fo r fu rthe r thi n k i n g. T hi n k i n g ... F eed bac k ... T hi n k i n g etc . Objectivity T he bas i s o f all s c i enc e is o b s erv ati on an d meas u remen t - n o ti c in g thi n gs. A c lev er brai n u s er i s a c lev er n o ti c er an d a c le v er n o ti c er i s o bj ec ti v e. T he s k i ll o f n o ti c i n g i s o bj ec ti v i ty . Detac hmen t i s als o i mp o rtan t i n n o ti c i n g thi n gs . W i th d etac hmen t y o u c an hav e a b ro ad er , c lea rer v i ew o f th e s i tu ati o n . F o r examp le , w hen p o u ri n g a gl as s o f c hamp agn e y o u n o ti c e feed bac k . Y o u n o ti c e w hen the c hamp agn e lev el i s n eari n g the to p o f the gl as s an d s o y ou begi n to s to p p o u ri n g the w i n e. If y o u d i dn ' t n o tic e thi s then y ou mi ght c o n ti n u e p ou ri n g the w i n e an d the w ho le s y s tem ru n s ou t o f c o n tro l. In fac t, n o ti c i n g thi n gs i s the bas is of c o n tro lli n g thi n gs . T hi s c hamp agn e s i tu ati o n i s an examp le o f a " feed bac k s y s tem" . No ti c i n g an d meas u ri n g fe ed bac k i n s y s tems i n o rd er to c o n tro l tho s e s ys tems is w hat c y bern eti c s i s all abo u t. No t i c i n g the feed bac k c reated by y o u r thi n ki n g, i n o rd er to c o n tro l i t, i s w hat c o gn i ti v e c y bern eti c s o r c o gn eti c s i s all abo u t. Cybernetics Du ri n g
W W II,
Mas s ac hu s etts
D r.
No rb ert
In s ti tu te
of
W ei n er
( Pro fes s o r
T ec hn olo gy )
i n v en ted
of
Math emati c s
c y bern eti cs ,
as
at a
MIT bo d y
of
mathemati c s to he lp an ti - ai rc raft tec hn o lo gy an d als o to he lp o u r u n d ers t an d i n g o f men tal ac ts v i a fo rmal s y s tems an aly s i s .
82 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN T he mai n p ro b lem w i th an ai rp lan e as a ta rge t w as tha t i t mo v ed . Cy bern eti c s w o rk ed by n o ti ci n g the "d egree o f mi s s " betw een an ac k - ack s hell and the ai rp lan e targ et an d feed i n g bac k that i n fo rmati o n to the w eap o n s o that an immed i ate ad j u s tmen t c o u ld be mad e an d then firi n g an o ther s hell . T hi s lo o p w o u ld b e q u ic k ly rep eated man y ti mes allo w i n g the w eap o n to "ed u c atei ts elf" an d c lo s e i n o n i ts target . T h i s gav e the w eap o n i ts c harac te ri s ti c ac k - ac k ac k - ac k - ack - ac k - ac k fi ri n g s equ enc e. F i re feed bac k fi re feed bac k fi re f ee d bac k fi re feed bac k fi re feed bac k fi re feed bac k e tc etc u n ti l i t c lo s ed in o n i ts target. Feedback Loops A s w i th man y o ther ad v an c es , thi s k i n d o f tec hn o lo gy has been lar gely d ev elo p ed by mi li tary s c i en tis ts . Mi s si les w o rk the s ame w ay , w i ggli n g to thei r tar get by u si n g heat s en s o rs to lo c ate the ta rge t' s en gi n e an d n o ti ci n g the feed bac k i n o rd er to mak e a ru d d er o r ro c k et ad j u s tmen t. No ti c i n g the feed bac k i s the c en tral ac ti v i ty that al lo w s the mi s s i le to reac h i ts go al. T he Pat ri o t mi s s i les u s ed in the fi rs t w ar i n Iraq s ho w ed ho w thi s tec hn o lo gy had been d ev elo p ed to s u c h an ex trao rd i n ary d eg ree by the U SA ' s Sta r W a rs p r o j ec t. T he Patri o t' s ab i li ty to c atc h Sc u d mis si les i n the ai r is ro u ghly equ i v alent to y o u d ri v i n g alo n g at 10 0 k p h an d p lu c ki ng a s i n gle blad e o f gras s , p rev i o u s ly p ai n ted red , as y o u go by . T hi s ki n d o f ad v an c ed Star W ars c y bern eti c tec hn o lo gy may be us ed i n the fu tu re to s hi eld p lan et E arth fro m meteo rs w hi c h are an i n c reas i n g w o rry to s c i en tis ts . Meteo rs remai n j u s t as s eri o u s a threat to li fe o n the p lan et to d ay as the y w ere to o u r J u ras s i c an c es to rs . Cy bern eti c s i s all abo u t s erv o - mec ha n i s ms , go al- s eek i n g behav i o u r, feed b ac k lo o p s , p o s i ti v e and n egati v e feed b ac k s y s tems , s elf- s tabi li zi n g s y s tems , ho meo s tas i s and the c o n tro l o f s y s tems , an d ho w they mi ght ap p ly to bi o lo gi c al o r mec han i c al s y s tems . T H I N KI NG . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K ING . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K IN G . . . F E ED B A C K . . . T H I N KI NG . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K ING . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K IN G . . . F E ED B A C K . . . T H I N KI NG . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K ING . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K IN G . . . F E ED B A C K . . .
83 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN T H I N KI NG . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K ING . . . F E E D B A C K . . . T H I N K I N G
Edward de Bono A ltho u gh p o p u larly k n o wn fo r hi s i nven ti o n o f the term lateral thi n k i n g, n o w i n the Oxfo rd Di c ti o n ary , E d w ard d e B o n o ' s mo s t i n teres ti n g i d ea i s that w ri tten u p i n his 1967 bo o k T he Mec han i s m o f Mi n d . De B o n o fo llo w s on fro m MIT Pro fes s o r No rbert W i en er' s i d ea that the brai n mu s t be an in fo rmati o n - p ro c ess in g mac hi ne an d the w ay i t " min d s" s ho u ld be cap able o f bei n g exp res s ed i n in fo rmati o n al ter ms . The Brain as a Body System Dr de Bono, was Professor of Investigative Medicine at Cambridge in England. He was an expert in body systems. In The Mechanism of Mind, which he wrote over thirty years ago, Edward de Bono builds a model of how the brain, as an organ of the body, is very likely to operate as mind. T hi s mo d el s ho w s ho w the brai n s y s tem, by o p erati n g alo n g th e li n es o f o ther bo d y s y s tems li k e the li v er s y s tem o r lu n g s y s tem c an p ro d u c e a mi n d , a bi o lo gi c al s y s tem to p ro c es s i n fo rmati o n . B y s ho w i n g ho w the brai n o p erates as a s elfo rgan i zi n g, p atte rn i n g s y s tem d e B o no s aw the n eed to p ro mo te l ate ral t hi n k i n g as a c o mp en s ati on mec hani s m fo r s o me of the li mi tati o n s o f the brai n /mi n d pattern i n g s y s tem. Cognetics Co gn i ti v e c y bern eti c s - c o gn eti cs - is abo u t the p rac ti c al ap p li c ati o n o f c ybern eti c s i n c o gni ti v e sc i enc e w hi c h i s the s ci en c e o f i n fo rmati o n p ro c es si n g, i n animals an d mac hi n es . In the W es tern w o rld w e a re hi s to ri c ally mo re c o n c ern ed w i th j u d gemen t than w i th mo v emen t. W e a re mo r e c o n c ern ed w i th " ri ghtn es s " than w i th effec ti v en es s . Other c u ltu res , li k e J ap an , are mo re c o n c er n ed w i th the PROCE SS than the res u l t. T hi s o ften gi v es them a b i g ad v an tage o v er u s . E ffec ti v en es s is reac hi n g an altern ati n g
balan c e
betw een
tho u g ht- bas ed
ac ti o n
an d
ac ti o n- bas ed
tho u ght.
T hi n k in g F eed b ac k T hin k in g F eed bac k T hi nk i n g F eed bac k T hi nk i n g F eed bac k T hi n k in g etc .
84 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
A s an exp eri men t try po u ri n g a glass o f w in e wi tho u t getti n g an y feed bac k , w i th y o u r ey es c lo s ed ? W hat hap p en ed ? H o w els e c an y o u get feed bac k ev en w i th y o u r ey es c lo s ed ? Who was a Noticer? Geo rge Gallu p fo u n d ed the Gallu p Po ll at P ri n c eto n , New J ers ey , w hi c h bec ame the w o rld ' s fi rs t sy s tem to o bj ec ti v ely an d sc i en ti fi c ally meas u re - that is , to n o ti c e p u bli c and c us to mer o p i ni o n . H e w as als o the i n v en to r o f mark et res ea rc h an d the u lti mate s av i o u r o f the c u s to mer . T he v ery exi s ten c e o f the Ga llu p Po l l has c han ged fo rev er the fu tu re o f t h e hu man rac e. T h e Ga llu p Po l l mak es i t i n c rea s i n gly d i ffi c u lt fo r i n d i vi d u als to c lai m " I- amri ght" , to c lai m they alo n e "k n o w what' s bes t" fo r the p u bli c n o w that ac c u rate s c i en ti fi c meas u remen t o f the p u bli c /c u s to mer v i ew p o in t i s p o s si ble. E xamp le: Th e f i rs t a nd o nly re p re se nt a t ive s u rve y o f Ba g hda d re s i de nt s ' vi e ws a bo u t t he wa r, o cc u p a ti o n, a nd t he i r fu t u re . In p o s si bly the mo s t c hallen gi n g p ro j ec t in Gallu p ' s hi s to ry , 1,178 p eo p le i n Iraq' s c ap i tal w ere in terv i ew ed i n A u gu s t 2 0 0 3 w i th res earc hers c o nd u c tin g hou r- lo n g, i n - p ers on in terv i ew s on all man n er o f to p i c s cu rren tly affec ti n g B a ghd ad i s . The vo i c es o f B a g hda d's ci t i ze ns ha ve no t be e n he a rd - - u nt i l no w. Gallu p ' s mi s s i on i s to rep o rt the o p i n i o ns o f B aghd ad ' s c i ti zen s to d ay - - an d to mo rro w .
T h e 2 0 0 3 Gallu p Po ll o f B ag hd ad w i ll p ro v i d e
ben c hmark fi n di n gs that en able lead ers to gau ge ho w d ip lo mati c p o li c i es an d c u ltu ral i n flu en c es are affec ti n g B ag h d ad i s ' vi ew s . Power to the People, Power to the Customer A s i n v en to r o f ma rk et res earc h an d t he Gal lu p Po l l, Pro fes s o r Geo rge Gal l u p has s o emp o w ered the p u b li c v i ew p o i n t that I beli ev e hi s i n v en ti on may be the gre ates t ac t o f d emo c rac y ev er p erfo rmed b y an y sc i en ti s t. His
res earc h
c o v ered
the
fi eld s
o f:
H ealth;
Reli gi o n ;
Po li ti c s ;
J ou rn ali s m;
A d v erti s in g; E n tertai n men t; B u s in ess ; E d u c ati on an d H u man T hin k in g. It c an be s ai d that n o o ther p ers o n in his to ry has ev er had the o p p o rtu n i ty to n oti c e an d rec o rd the v i ew s o f s o man y hu man s o n s o man y as p ec ts o f thei r exi s ten ce, an d i n
85 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN s o man y p arts o f thei r w o rld ! Teaching Thinking A les s er k n o wn si d e o f Dr Gallu p w as hi s in teres t i n hu mans an d the fac tors w hi c h i n flu en c e thei r o p i ni o ns , atti tu d es , thi n k in g an d as pi rati o n s . H e to ld me " teac hi n g p eo p le to thi n k fo r thems elv es w as th e mo s t i mp o rtan t thi n g i n the w o rld t o d o ." B o rn in J effers o n , Io w a, i n 190 0 , he atten d ed the U n i v ers i ty o f Io w a and s p en t ten y ears as a teac her the re an d at Drak e , No rthw es tern , an d Co lu mbi a u n i v ers i ti es . H e had a s tro n g i n teres t i n ed u c ati o n an d w hat c o u ld be d on e to i mp ro v e i t. H e had mo re than ten ho n o rary Do c to rat e D egrees f ro m c o lle ges an d u n i v ers i ti es aro u n d the w o rld . Geo r ge d i ed at hi s Sw i tzerl an d ho me i n 198 4. Notice the CVS A s my men to r, Pro fes s o r Ga llu p help ed w i th the d es i gn o f c o gn eti c s by imp res s i n g u p o n me the n eed to meas u re o r n o ti c e the C VS ( Cu r ren t Vi ew o f the Si tu at i o n ) as a bas i s fo r mo v i n g to the B VS ( B etter Vi ew o f the Si tu ati o n ) . W e w i ll exp lo re thi s fu rthe r i n c o mi n g c hap ters . Dr Ga llu p ' s w o rk , alo n g w i th that o f W ei n er, d e B o n o an d o thers , s tan d s as o n e o f the fi rs t g rea t examp les o f the p rac t i c al ap p li c ati o n o f the n ew fi eld o f c o gn i ti v e s c i enc e. Your Own Gallup Poll Question It c an c o s t aro u n d $U S2 0 ,00 0 to hav e a Gallu p Po ll c o n d uc ted o n ju s t on e qu es ti o n . If y o u c o u ld hav e a Gallu p Po ll c o n du c ted , w hat o n e qu es ti on w o u ld y o u as k ? W hy w o u ld y o u as k this q u es ti on ?
How to Notice Things T he mai n p o i n t abo u t n o tic i n g i s this: try to n o ti c e tho s e thin gs that y o u hav e NOT Y E T n o ti c ed . It' s eas y to n o ti c e the i n fo rmati o n th at s u p p o rts o u r CVS, o u r Cu rren t Vi ew o f the Si tu ati o n . It' s d i ffi c u lt to n o ti c e the i n fo rmati o n that fa lls o u ts i d e o u r CV S an d s o that' s exac tly w hy an d w here w e mu s t mak e a d eli bera te att emp t to n o ti c e thi n gs .
86 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Opposite Direction Su p p o s e y o u ' re lo o k i n g no rth. On c e y o u bec o me aw are o f the fac t , o n c e y o u n o ti c e i t, then y o u c an d eli berately c ho o s e to lo o k s o u th. Lo o k i n g i n the o pp o s i te d i rec ti o n i s o n e p lac e to n o ti c e thi n gs . T ry lo o k i n g i n d i rec ti o ns that y o u ar e n o t y e t lo o k i n g i n . W here are y o u lo o k i n g n o w ? W here c o u ld y o u be lo o k i n g n ow ? Mistakes Mi s tak es are a u s efu l thi n g to n o ti ce. Mi s tak e- p ho bi ac s are s o afrai d o f mi s tak es that they c an ' t bea r to n o ti c e them. T hey c an ' t s ee that a mi s tak e i s an o pp o rtu n i ty to mak e an app ro p ri ate ad j u s tment. T hey c an ' t c op e wi th mi s tak es . Mi s tak ep ho bi ac s are alw ay s " ri ght" . "Nothing is more dangerous than the certainty that one is right." writes Franois Jacob, winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine, "Nothing is potentially so destructive as the obsession with a truth one considers absolute. All crimes in history have been the result of fanaticism of one type or another. All massacres have been carried out in the name of virtue, of true religion, of legitimate nationalism, of proper policy, of right ideology: in short, in the name of the fight against somebody else's truth." ~ The Logic of Life, Penguin 1989. It' s i mp o rtan t to b e abl e to n o ti c e mi s tak es i n o rd er to be able to c o rr ec t t hem an d mo v e o n . ( OK , mo v e o n .) T o d o thi s ef fec ti v ely o n e n eed s to be o bj ec ti v e ra t her th an d es tru c ti v e, to be c reati v e rathe r tha n j u d gemen tal. T ry n o ti c i n g mis tak es that y o u hav e n o t y et n o tic ed . Co rrec t them an d mo v e o n . " F ai lu re i s on ly the o pp o rtu n i ty to mo re i n telli gen tly be gi n agai n ," s ai d H en ry F o rd .
Future Consequences F u tu re c o n s equ en c es c an be the mo s t d i ffi c u lt thi n gs to n o ti c e es pec i ally i n ad v an c e, w hi c h i s o n e o f the b es t ti mes to n o ti c e them . T hi s i s a bi t o f a p arad o x. H o w c an w e n o ti c e a c o n s eq u en c e that has n o t y et hap p en ed ? H o w c an w e n o ti c e the fu tu re? A c tu ally w e d o i t ev e ry ti me w e ri d e a s k atebo a rd , ap p ly mak e- u p o r u s e a c hai n s aw . B y n o tic i n g po ten ti al c o n s equ enc es w e c an av oi d them i n ad v an c e, i f w e w i s h. T he mo s t d i ffi c u lt c o n s equ enc es to n oti c e i n ad v an c e are the lo n g- ter m o n es . If I d o
87 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN s u c h- and - su c h w hat w i ll hap p en in ten y ears ? In tw en ty y ears ? A s the man y p o ss i b le fu tu res hu rtle to w ard s u s at an ev er- i n c reas i n g rat e w e w i ll hav e to g et bet ter an d bette r at n o t i c i n g lo n g- term c o n s equ enc es s o that w e c an c ho o s e the fu tu res w e w an t to be i n . Last Chance to Choose a Safe Future W e are c u rren tly d es tro y i n g the w o rld ' s fo res ts at the rate o f an ac re p er sec o n d . In ten y ears , mo s t o f the ea rth' s o xy ge n p ro d u ci n g fo res ts w i ll be go n e i f w e d o n ' t n o ti c e the lo n g- term c o n s equ en c es and mak e s o me bi g c han ges . W e hav e alread y d es tro y ed three- qu arte rs o f A u s trali a' s tro p i c al rai n fo res ts an d abo u t tw o - thi rd s o f the res t o f o u r f o res ts . W e hav e mad e a ho le i n o u r p ro tec ti v e o zo n e lay er al read y the s i ze o f Mo u n t E v eres t. Can ad i an sc i en tis t Dav i d Su zu k i , Pro fes s o r o f Gen eti c s at the U n i v ers i ty o f B ri ti s h Co lu mbi a, s ay s " W e are t he l as t gen e rati o n w ho w i ll hav e an y s ay o n the fu tu re o f o u r p lan et, b ec au s e after o u r li feti me i t w i ll all be go n e." If w e are to mak e the n ec es s ary ad j us tmen ts to o u r c u rren t behav i o u r, to en s u re a s afe fu tu re , w e w i ll hav e to get mu c h be tte r at n o ti c in g the fu tu re c o n s equ en c es o f o u r c u rren t behav i o u r. T ry n o ti c i n g fu tu re c o n s equ en c es that y o u hav e n o t y et n o ti c ed .
Why notice things? W hat w o u ld hap p en i f y o u d id n ' t n o ti c e thi n gs ? U su ally w hen w e d o n ' t n o ti c e s o methi n g w e mak e a mi s tak e . W hen w e d o n ' t n o ti c e the mi s tak e, w e mak e an o ther mi s tak e. A n d s o on . H o w ev er w hen we d o n o ti c e the mis tak e, then w e c an ad ap t o r ad j u s t i n s o me w ay an d then p ro c eed . ST A RT - DO - NOT ICE - TH INK - SDNT SDNT . Input Y o u hav e tw o ears an d o n e mou th so u s e them in that p ro p o rti o n - s o the s ay i n g go es . A n d y es , ears are c ertai n ly go o d fo r i n pu t, fo r n o ti c in g. E y es co me i n hand y . T he to n gu e an d the n o s e w o rk w ell togethe r. A n d , an ass o rtmen t o f fi n gers an d to es p lay thei r p art . W e d o hav e aro u n d fi v e i n p u t s en s es , w e are to ld , an d the s e are a ll u s efu l fo r n o ti c in g. Ou r exp eri en c e, pattern s bu i lt u p ov er the y ears , c an help u s to
88 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN n o ti c e thi n gs and , o f c o u rs e, they c an als o hi n d er u s in n o ti ci n g thi n gs . Habits of Noticing W e c an u s e rep eti ti o n to d ev elo p s p ec i al habi ts o f n o ti c i n g. In a ro o m, a c arp en ter hab i tu ally n o ti c es w o o d en thi n gs an d ho w p o o rly they are mad e. A bu s i n es s man n o ti c es bu s in es s o pp o rtu n i ti es i n a si tu ati o n . A law y er n o tic es lo o p ho les , a s o ld i er n o ti c es ... w hat d o es a s o ld i er n o ti c e? Skill and Training A c tu ally , the fi rs t ti me I w as fo rmally tau ght to exp an d my n o ti c in g s ki lls w as i n my army i n fan try trai n i n g. In tho s e Vi et n am d ay s , w e w ere tau ght ho w to n o ti c e thi n gs i n the j u n gle that w e had n ' t y et n o ti c ed . Shap e, s hi n e, s i lho u ette, s i ze, s o u n d ( I s ti ll remembe r) . T hro u gh p r ac ti c e d ri lls an d fi eld exe rc i s es w e w ere tau ght to n o ti c e bo o by trap s , thi n w i res , p an j i p i ts an d the o ther hi d d en d eli ghts o f j un gle w arfa re n o t n o ti c eable to the u n trai n ed ci vi li an ey e. W e w ere tau ght to exp an d o u r ran ge o f v i s i on fro m aro u n d 90 d egrees to 18 0 d egrees . W e w e re t au ght to n o ti c e thi n gs at n i ght - n i ght v i s i on .
H o w man y i n pu t p o rts d o es y o u r n ec k to p hav e? H o w w el l d o y o u n o ti c e thi n gs ? H o w w ell c o u ld y o u n o ti c e thin gs ? W hat d i d y o u d o to d ay to i n c reas e y ou r n o ti c in g s k i lls ? W hat w i ll y o u d o to mo r ro w to i n c reas e y o u r n o ti c i n g s ki lls ? Do es i t matt er? W hy ? Distractions So meti mes w e d o n ' t n o ti c e thi n gs bec au s e w e bec o me d i s trac ted . M agi c i an s u s e thi s p ri n c ip le s o y ou w o n ' t n o ti c e ho w they d o thei r magi c tri c k . B u t s o meti mes w e bec o me d i s trac ted fo r o the r re as o n s . T en w ay s y ou c an d eal w i th d is trac ti o n s :
1.
Y i eld to them then s en d them o n thei r w ay
2.
B reathe them o u t - rel ax, tak e a d eep breath an d s lo w ly exhale i magi n i n g the d i s trac ti o n to be leav i ng y o u r bo d y as y o u breathe o u t.
89 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
3.
Ign o re t he d i s trac ti o n
4.
Co n c en trate o n emp tyi n g y o u r min d , ei ther w i th a bro o m o r remo v i n g the d i s trac ti o n w i th a v ac u u m c lean er.
5.
Say NO to the d i s trac ti o n .
6.
Say Y E S to the d i s trac ti o n an d let i t bec o me the n ew fo c u s o f y o u r atten ti o n .
7.
Vi s u ali s e y o u r min d lik e a blac k bo ard w here the d i s trac ti o n is c halk ed . No w , w i p e i t c lean .
8.
Imagi n e c o llec ti n g u p an y d i s trac ti o n s i n y ou r han d , c ru mp le th em an d then thro w them aw ay .
9.
Imagi n e to s s i n g the di s trac ti o n i n to a fas t- flo w i n g s tream an d let them b e c ar ri ed o ff.
10.
If n ec es s ary , y o u c an try s ev eral c o mbi n ati o ns o f thes e s u gges ti o n s .
90 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
What is thinking? T hi s qu es ti on c o u ld k eep a ro o m fu ll o f p hi lo s o p hers hap p y fo r a hu n d red y ears . B u t i n the Sc ho o l o f T hi nk i n g w e are no t c o n c ern ed w i th thin k in g as c on temp lati o n , p hi lo s o p hi c al d is c us s i on o r ac ad emi c d es c ri p ti on , w e are c o n c ern ed wi th thi n k i n g as an op erati n g s k i ll - the k in d o f thin k i n g that gets thi n gs d o n e. T he d efin i ti o n w e u s e i s: T hi n ki n g i s the s ki ll o f u s i n g in telli gen c e to ge t thi n gs d o n e. Thinking vs Doing? T o man y p eo p le T H INK ING i s the o p p o s i te o f DOI NG. T hey s et t hes e tw o ac ti v i ti es u p as mu tu ally exc lu si v e o pp o si tes in thei r mi n d . Wi th p rac ti c e, ho w ev er, y o u c an d ev elo p y o u r abi li ty to u s e thi n ki n g as a s k i ll, j u s t li k e y o u c an d ev elo p c o o k i n g, go lf, l ead ers hi p , p ai n ti n g, ac ti n g o r ai k i d o . A ll hu man sk i lls c an be learn ed o r d ev elo p ed . Pau l Mac Cre ad y , i n v en to r o f the Go ssamer A lbatro s s an d the father o f man - p o w ered fli ght o n c e w ro te to me f ro m Cali fo rn i a: " W hen fi rs t w atc hi n g a Sc ho o l o f T hi n k in g c las s i n ac ti on , I w as am azed that s o methi n g s o s i mp le and s o mu c h fun c o u ld be s o qu ic k and effec ti v e in d ev elo p i n g a p ers o n 's " thin k in g mu sc le" . W e all, as i n d i vi d u als an d as c aretak e rs o f o u r p rec i o u s earth, n eed thes e thi n k i n g sk i lls " . Dr Mac C read y ' s metap ho r o f thi n k ing as a ' mu s c le' i s a go o d o n e. It' s better th an the o ld - fas hi o n ed id ea o f thi n ki n g as a ' gi ft' . If thi n k i n g i s o n ly a gi ft, th ere' s n o t mu c h y o u c an d o ab o u t i t. B u t, i f i t' s mo re li k e a mu s c le then there' s a lo t y o u c an d o to d ev elo p y o u r thi n k in g p o w er. T hat' s w hy w e lo o k at thi n k i n g as a s k i ll. W e w an t to he lp y o u en han c e y o u r s k i ll an d d ev elo p y o u r in tellec tu al c ap i tal. T he go al i s to reac h an altern ati n g balan c e betw een tho u ght- bas ed ac ti o n an d ac ti o n - bas ed tho u ght.
91 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Thought-Based Action:THINK-START-DO. T ho u ght- bas ed ac ti o n i s the ki n d o f ac ti o n that' s bas ed o n thi n ki n g. F o r examp le, y o u are read i n g a magazi n e an d y o u read abo u t a s to ry s et i n the Greek i s lan d o f Patmo s . Y o u s tar t to thi n k ab o u t the Greek i s lan d s an d d ec id e y o u w an t to ac tu ally go ther e. Y o u fi gu re o u t a p lan , y o u fi nd o u t abo u t c o s ts fo r fares etc , y o u s et a d ate an d y o u fi n ally go an d v i s i t Patmo s an d the Greek i s lan d s . Y o u tho u ght s o methi n g o u t, go t s tarted an d then d i d i t - t ho u ght- ba s ed ac ti o n : T H INK - ST A RT- DO. T hi s i s ho w I c ame to v i s i t Patmo s i n the s u mmer o f ' 8 4. Action-Based Thought: DO-NOTICE-THINK. A c ti o n- bas ed tho u ght i s the k i nd o f thi n k in g that' s bas ed o n ac ti on . F o r examp le, a c u s to mer w alk s i n to a s to re an d the s ales p ers o n s ay s " Can I help yo u ? " . T he c u s to mer then s ay s , " No than k s , j u s t lo o k i n g" then p i ro u ettes an d w alk s o u t o f the s to re. Mo s t s a les p eo p le k eep mak i n g the s ame mi s tak e d ay - afte r- d ay , w eek - afterw eek , y ear- aft er- y ear . B u t the thi n k i n g s ales p ers o n mi ght say to hers elf s o methi n g li k e thi s " W hen ev er a c u s to mer w alk s i n to a s to re an d I as k i f I c an help them I n o ti c e that u s u al ly d ri v es them bac k o u t o f the s to r e. May be I c an thi n k o f s o me o ther thi n g I c o u l d d o that w o u ld n o t hav e that eff ec t. W hat c o u ld I d o i n s tead ? " A c ti on - bas ed thou ght: DONOT ICE - T H INK . The Alternating Balance T he s k i lled thi n k er c an alt ern ate a balan c e betw een tho u ght- bas ed ac ti o n an d ac ti o n - bas ed tho u ght, betw een T H IN K - ST A RT - DO an d DO- NOT ICE - T H IN K . T hi s is w hat c o gn eti c s i s all abo u t - ac ti o n bas ed o n n o ti c in g feed bac k , an d feed b ac k b as ed o n n o ti ci n g ac ti on - SDNT = ST A RT -DO- NOT ICE - T H INK c o n ti n u i n g in a co n ti n u ou s s eri es o f lo o ps o r a k i nd o f c o gn eti c s s p i ral o n i n to the fu tu re, exp lo ri n g the c o gn o s , the v as t u n i v ers e o f p o s si b le tho u ghts .
92 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
The Cognetics Spiral
START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK Spiralling on into the cognos
St a rt D o N o t i c e Thi nk , o r i ts tri gger c o d e SD N T, i s a p o w erfu l s earc h en gi n e fo r y o u r n ec k to p that w i ll en ab le the b rai n u s er to ap p ro ac h an y s i tu ati o n , an y p ro blem, an y op p o rtu n i ty w i th c o n fi d en c e. T o be d o u bly n egati v e, there i s n o si tu ati o n that c an ' t be man aged b y SD N T:
1. F i rs t y o u St a rt . T hi s i s lik e s w i tc hi n g the n ec k to p fro m OF F to O N 2. T hen y o u D o ... s o methi n g .. . an y thi ng 3. T hen y o u No t ic e the feed bac k fro m y o u r ac ti o ns , c arefu lly an d o bj ec ti v ely
4. T hen y o u Thi nk . W hat hap p en ed ? W hat w ere t he c o n s equ en c es ? W hat d i d I li k e abo u t them? W hat d i d n ' t I li k e abo u t them?
5. T hen rep eat 1 - 5 . T hi s is exp lo ri n g, an d o ff y o u go agai n SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT ... on into the future, surfing the cognos.
93 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
What if ...? Thinking On e o f the mo s t famo u s u s ers o f the " w hat i f ...? " ty p e o f thi n k i n g w as a y o u n g thi n k er, a lad o f s i xteen , c alled A lb ert E i n s tei n . A t that age A lb ert w ro te to hi s u n c le w o n d erin g w hat he w o u ld s ee i f he w as s i tti n g o n a li ght beam. B y the ti me he w as tw en ty - s i x, i n 190 5, he had s o lv ed th at p ro b lem an d c han ged fo rev er the law s o f p hy s i c s an d the w ay fu tu re gen era ti o n s w o u ld u n d ers tan d the w o rld . T hi s " w hat i f ...? " thi n k i n g he c alled a ged an k en o r ' tho u ght exp eri men t' . On e o f the gr eat t hi n k er' s mo s t qu o ted s ay i n gs is , " Imagi n ati o n i s mo re i mp o rtan t than k n o w led ge." Sc i en c e ac kn o w led ges
E i ns tei n 's
tho u ght exp e ri men ts
as
amo n g the
gre ates t
tri u mp hs ev er p ro d u c ed by a hu man brai n . H i s thi nk in g feats mad e hi m famo u s , n o t j u s t in the sc i en ti fi c c o mmu n i ty , but amo n gs t the p u bli c at large. H e, i n effec t, bec ame s c i enc e' s fi rs t s up ers tar! U n ti l he d i ed in 1955 he w as alw ay s at the c en tre o f mu c h p u bli c i ty an d pu bli c in teres t. A t fi rs t he w as the ec c en tri c , the ge n i u s w ho n ev er w o re s o c k s . T hen he bec ame a lead i n g p ac i fi s t an d op p on en t o f rea rmamen t w ho s e t rad i ti o n al ed u c ati o n left hi m w i th a li felo n g s u s p i ci o n o f all fo rms o f au tho ri ty . A s the Nazi s s p read ac ro s s E u ro p e he ad v i s ed Pres i d en t Ro o s ev elt that i t w o u ld be p o s si ble to mak e an ato m b o mb. H o w ev er, w hen the bo mbs w ere ac tu all y u s ed on J ap an he i mmed i ately s o u ght the es tabli s hmen t o f a w o rld au tho ri ty th at w o u ld c o n tro l thes e w eap o n s . T o d ay , p o s ters o f A lb ert E i n s tei n are bes t s ellers . It' s en c o u ragi n g to k n o w that thes e p o s ters o f the s c i en ti s t, hu man i tari an , i n v en to r, No bel p ri ze w i n n er an d thi n k er, are s tu c k o n the w alls o f man y a teen ager' s bed ro o m alo n g w i th thei r o the r hero es o f ro c k , mo v i es an d s p o rt. Hardware and Software Li k e E i n s tein , w e al l hav e s o me p ret t y aw es o me hard w a re i n o u r tw i n - hemi s p heri c , n ec k to p c o mpu ter. Ou r p ro b lem , ho w ev er, i s th at w e ar e v ery s ho r t o n s o ft w are. T he trad i ti o n al w es tern ap p ro ac h to thin ki n g i s si mp ly reac ti v e, lo gi c al j u d gemen t - the s lap p in g o n o f the " ri ght" an d " w ro n g" labels .
94 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
T hi s has alw ay s led to extrav agan t, d es tru c ti v e c las hes thro u gho u t hi s to ry an d i s ho p eles s ly i n ad equ ate fo r d es i gn i n g a s afe fu tu re i n a rap i d ly c han gi n g w o rld . In thi s trai n i n g y o u c an go bey o n d y ou r exi s ti n g lo gi c s o ftw are w i th n ew s o ftw are c alled c o gn eti c s . Logic and Cognetics If y o u w o u ld li k e to ge t a " fee l" fo r th e d i fferen c e betw een lo gi c an d c o gn eti c s ( bo th o f w hi c h are s o ftw are s y s tems d es i gned to han d le i n fo rmati o n i n the brai n) y o u c an try the fo llo w i n g s i mp le exerc i s e: E X E RCISE : T here fo llo w s tw o s ets o f w o rd s w hic h help d es c ri be the p ro c ess i n v o lv ed in eac h brai n s o ftw are - lo gi c o r c o gn eti c s . Relax fo r a mo men t a n d tak e a n i c e d eep breath, t hen rep eat the w o r d s i n c api tals s lo w ly an d ev en ly o v er an d o v er u n ti l y o u get the " feel" fo r the w ay ea c h s o ftw are han d le i ts i n fo rmati o n . Do i t fi rs t fo r lo gi c ( rep eat a b o u t 10 t i mes ) :
RIGHT ... WRONG RIGHT ... WRONG RIGHT ... WRONG RIGHT ... WRONG RIGHT ... WRONG RIGHT ... WRONG RIGHT ... WRONG RIGHT ... WRONG RIGHT ... WRONG RIGHT ... WRONG
95 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Do i t n o w fo r c o gn eti c s ( rep eat abo u t 10 ti mes ) :
START ... DO ... NOTICE ... THINK START ... DO ... NOTICE ... THINK START ... DO ... NOTICE ... THINK START ... DO ... NOTICE ... THINK START ... DO ... NOTICE ... THINK START ... DO ... NOTICE ... THINK START ... DO ... NOTICE ... THINK START ... DO ... NOTICE ... THINK START ... DO ... NOTICE ... THINK START ... DO ... NOTICE ... THINK
Y o u may hav e n o ti c ed that lo gi c u s es a k i n d o f labeli n g o r " mai l- s o rti n g" ap p ro ac h to d eali n g w i th i n fo rmati o n . Lo gi c r e ac ts to i n fo rmati o n u s i n g j ud gemen t bas ed o n hi s to ri c al exp eri en c e. It fi ts , i t' s ri ght; i t d o es n ' t fi t, i t' s w r o n g etc . T hi s is , o f c o u rs e, v ery u s efu l i n a s ec o n d ary w ay an d fo r lo o k i n g bac k at s tati c , theo reti c al , s i tu ati o n s . B y i ts elf, ho w ev er, i t' s to tal ly i n ad equ ate fo r d eali n g w i th mo s t flu i d , fo rw ard - lo o k i n g s i tu ati o ns i n real li fe. W i th c o gn eti c s , y o u may hav e n o tic ed a qu i te d i fferen t, o p en - en d ed , s p i ralli n g effec t as mo v emen t i s c reated ( ST A RT ... DO) an d then feed bac k i s ev alu ated ( NOT ICE . .. T H I NK ) an d fu rther mo v emen t, w i th ad j u s tmen ts bas ed o n the feed bac k i s then c o n tin u ed . Thinking is Movement T here i s n o " ri ght" w ay to thi n k . T he k ey to thi n ki n g is mo v emen t. Mo v emen t thro u gh
the
c o gn o s ,
mo v emen t
th ro u gh
thi n k - s p ac e,
mo v emen t
thro u gh
the
i d eo s p here, mo v emen t thro u gh the u n i v ers e o f p o s s i ble tho u ghts .
W hether y o u mo v e o u t o r i n o r u p o r d o w n , s i d ew ay s , bac k w ard s o r u ps id e- d o w n rev ers e p i k es , i t d o esn ' t matter. W he ther y o u tak e great l eap s , u s e s tep pi ng- s to n es ,
96 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN ran d o m p ro v o c ati o n s , lateral t hi n k i n g, fli p - a- c o i n , o r fan tas ti c i mages , i t al l w o rk s . W hether y o u u s e i n tu i ti o n , alp ha- v is u ali s ati o ns , T M, taro t c a rd s , I- Chi n g, ru n es , p ray er, au to - s u gges ti o n , c o gn eti c s , hy p o theti c als , s c i en ti fi c metho d , p ro fes s i o n al c o u n s elli n g, n et s u rfi n g o r " as k the o rac le" - i t all ad d s u p to mo v emen t. T he es s en ti al k ey i n thi nk i n g i s mo vemen t - es c ap e fro m y o u r CVS . On c e y o u hav e mo v emen t, y o u get feed b ac k and , as w e hav e s een , i t's this no ti c in g feed bac k w hi ch i s the es s en ti al i n gred i en t fo r fu rther thi n k i n g, w hi c h is to s ay , s u rfi n g the c o gn o s . Thought Experiment: A T ho u ght E xp eri men t i s an exp erimen t y o u c arry o u t i n y ou r brai n , u s i n g o n ly thi n k i n g - y o u r i magi n ati o n . F o r exa mp le, y o u c o u ld i magi n e w hat w o u ld hap p en i f c i garettes w ere s qu are an d n o t ro u n d . Y o u thin k i t thro u gh an d i magi n e the c o n s equ en c es and p o ss i b i li ti es an d outc o mes .
SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT SDNT START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK START DO NOTICE THINK
97 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
The Universal Brain Software - CVSTOBVS A fter lo o k i n g a t SD NT w e n o w tu rn t o CVST OB VS. T hi s u n i v ers al brai n s o ftw are i s the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g’s #1 k ey to better thi n k i n g. CVST OB VS i s a p o w erfu l p erc ep ti o n s wi tc h. It allo w s the brai n u s er to thi n k o u ts i d e the s qu are. CVSTOBVS - Cognetics Operating System
CURRENT VIEW SITUATION TO BETTER VIEW SITUATION CURRENT VIEW SITUATION TO BETTER VIEW SITUATION CURRENT VIEW SITUATION TO BETTER VIEW SITUATION CURRENT VIEW SITUATION TO BETTER VIEW SITUATION CURRENT VIEW SITUATION TO BETTER VIEW SITUATION CURRENT VIEW SITUATION TO BETTER VIEW SITUATION CURRENT VIEW SITUATION TO BETTER VIEW SITUATION CURRENT VIEW SITUATION TO BETTER VIEW SITUATION
" I w o u ld lo v e to hav e a man ag emen t t eam that rea lly u n d ers to o d the CVST OB VS equ ati o n . It' s the v alu e ad d ed ro le i n the man agemen t p ro c es s ." ~ J a c k We lc h, C hai r m a n. Ge ne ra l Ele c t ric The Cognetics Operating System T he Co gn eti c s Op erati n g Sy s tem is the Sc ho o l o f T hi n ki n g' s p remi u m s o ftw are p res en ted to y o u in thi s trai n i n g and i s rep res en ted by the c o d e: CVSTOB VS. It' s als o the mo s t p o w erfu l an d i s n ec es s ari ly s o .
CVST OB VS i s a u n i v ers al b rai n s o ftw are. It w o rk s w ell i n bo th an i mal an d mac hi n e
98 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN brai n s . Y o u c an teac h CVST OB VS thi n k in g to y o u r c at, y o u r p u pp y , y ou r to d d ler o r y o u r lap to p . In hu man s , fo r examp le, i t en abl es the brai n u s er to u p grad e fro m lo gi c , th e exi s ti n g p ri mary thi n k in g s o ftw are, an d to allo w lo gi c to tak e i ts us efu l p lac e as a s ec o n d ary s o ftw are p ac k age. T he CVST OB VS s w i tc h en ab les y o u to c han ge c o gn i ti v e p attern s ... o n c o mman d . From CVS to BVS; or CVS2BVS. CVS2 B VS i s als o y o u r mai n an ti d o te to PT V, the P lato T ru th Vi ru s . It i s bas ed o n the U n i v ers al Law o f T hi n k i n g. Beyond Logic 50 0 y ears ago Co lu mb u s s et s ai l. T he T alav e ra Co mmi s s i o n rep o rted to Qu een Is abella o n Co lu mb u s ' i d ea - to reac h J ap an in the E as t by s ai li n g W es t an d to d i s c ov er o ther lan d s en ro u te - that the ad v en tu re w as " u nc ertai n an d i mpo s s i ble to an y ed u c ated p ers on ." T hey to ld the qu een that the p ro p o s ed v o y age w o u ld tak e three y ears . E v en i f the s hi p s c o u ld retu rn , w hi c h w as hi ghly u n li k ely , the c o mmis s i on rep o rted i t w o u ld be a w as ted exp ed i ti o n , " fo r Go d w o u ld s u rely n o t hav e allo w ed an y un in habi ted lan d o f real v alu e to b e c o n c ealed f ro m H i s p eo p le fo r s o man y c en tu ri es ." T he exp erts s c o rn ed his p ro j ec t. B u t Co lu mbu s d id s et s ai l. T hi rty - three d ay s later he d i s c o v ered half th e w o rld ! I hav e a lw ay s tho u ght th at Co lu mbu s w as a v ery c lev er brai n u s er.
Unique rightness B as ed s o lely o n thei r ac c u mu lated exp eri en c e, the exp er ts p o i n ted o u t that the A d mi ral' s mis si o n w as hard ly a lo gi c al o n e bec aus e hi s mathemati c s w ere w ro n g. So i f hi s mathemati c s w ere w ro n g th eref o re Co lu mbu s w as w ro n g. T hey w er e c o n v i nc ed
99 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN o f the s o u n d n ess o f thei r lo gi c . Y et i f all o u r thi n k i n g an d ac ti o ns w ere bas ed o n ly o n the " u n i qu e ri ghtn ess " o f o u r o w n exp eri en c e, then p ro gres s w o u ld be s lo w o r i mp os si ble. T here c o u ld be n o ro o m fo r
i n s i ght,
q u an tu m
leap s ,
o uts i d e- the- s qu are- thi n ki n g,
or
the
E u rek a
p hen o men o n . T here c o u ld b e no ro o m fo r hu mo u r. T he re c o u ld be n o ro o m fo r hu mi li ty . So meti mes exp erts u s e thei r exp e ri en c e n o t to exp lo re the fu tu re, bu t merely to p ro tec t the p as t. Man y an exp er t arri v es at a s i tu ati o n an d fo rms a n i n s tan t j u d gemen t. T hi s i s bas ed on hi s un i qu e bac k gro u n d , hi s p ers o n al exp ec tati o n s , hi s v alu es , hi s mo o d , hi s agen d a an d o ther fac to rs . H e s ees thin gs in a c ertai n w ay an d mak es a sn ap j u d gemen t bas ed o n his c u rren t p erc ep ti o n s . If he i s u s i n g lo gi c as hi s mai n c o gn i ti v e o p erati n g s ys tem, t he exp ert o ften u s es hi s exp erti s e, n o t as a bas i s to exp lo re t he s i tu ati o n , bu t mere ly to bac k u p an d s u pp o rt hi s s n ap j u d gemen t, an d , to k eep hi ms elf ' ri ght' . It s eems that the mo re exp ert thi n k ers are, the bett er they are abl e to d efen d thei r p o i n t- o f-v i ew s o they get trap p ed i n i t by thei r o wn exp erti s e. T hey c an no t es c ap e thei r CVS , thei r Cu rren t Vi ew o f the S i tu ati o n . No w I k n o w thi s n ev er happ en s to y ou , d ear brai n u s er, ( w i n k ! ) bu t y o u 'v e p ro bably s een o ther p eo p le fall i n to thi s ho le . A n d , i t' s a v ery d an gero u s o n e to fall i n to . T he thi n k er, the c l ev er b rai n u s er, mi ght tak e a d i fferen t ap p ro ac h to a p r o p o s i ti on p res en ted to hi m o r he r. She w o u l d u s e her exp eri en c e, w he ther thi n o r qu i te fo rmi d able, to p ro v i d e an i n fo rm ati o n bas i s fo r exp lo ri n g the i d ea. Sh e m ay n o ti c e w hat s he thi n k s i s go o d ab o u t i t, an d w hat s he thi n k s i s bad abo u t i t. T hen , s he may d eli berately s et o u t to n o ti c e ho w i t c o u ld be i mp ro v ed , p erhap s to lead to an ev en better i d ea , a B ette r Vi ew o f the Si tu a ti o n . T o help y o u d o thi s w e u s e a li tt le s w i tc h c alled C VS- T O- B VS. T h e s w i tc h i s s i mp ly a n eu ro w are d ev i c e fo r p ro g rammi n g c o gn eti c s i n to yo u r s ho rt term me mo ry . It tak es j u s t o n e s ec o n d to u s e thi s sw i tc h, to s ay CVS- T O- B VS. If y o u w i l l p rac ti c e
100 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN thi s s w i tc h fo r ten d ay s i t w i ll bec ome a habi t an d bec o me a p erman en t p i ec e o f n eu ro w are i n y o u r n ec k to p . A fter ten d ay s , y o u ' ll hav e i t fo rev er . The Law of Cognetics T he Law o f Co gn eti c s i s a u n i v ers al law o f thi n k i n g. It i s s tated as fo llo w s : t he C u r re nt Vi e w o f t he Si t u a t io n c a n ne ve r be e qu a l t o t he B e t t e r Vi e w o f t he Si t u a ti o n J u s t thi nk abo u t that fo r ten s ec o n ds. See i f i t mak es an y s ens e to y o u and w hether y o u c an emb rac e the law o r w heth er y o u c an' t. Say i t to y o u rs elf o u t lo u d an d s ee ho w y o u reac t to i t: t he C u r re nt Vi e w o f t he Si t u at i o n (C VS) c a n ne ve r be e qu a l t o t he B et t e r Vi e w of t he Si t u a ti o n (B VS) Do y o u hav e an y tro u b le w i th thi s law ? T hi s i s really the mo s t i mp o rtan t law fo r thi n k i n g. T he mo re y o u c an bri n g c o nv i c ti o n i n to thi s , the mo re i t' ll w o rk f o r y o u . T o s i mp li fy this y o u s i mp ly s ay : C VS c a n ne ve r be e qu a l t o B VS C VS ≠ B VS
Antidote to PTV T hi s un i v ers al law o f thi n k in g - C VS ≠ B VS - i s a s tro n g an ti d o te to PT V an d I w i ll s ho w y o u ho w to exp lo i t i t an d p u t i t to u s e i n the n ex t c hap ter . A s I c o n ti n u e to d es i gn w ays to n eu trali s e PT V I p r efe r to u s e the to o ls o f s c i en c e. W hy ? W hat i s i t that mak es s ci en ce s o u n i qu e? W hat i s i t that s ep arates the s c i en ti fi c ap p ro ac h to matt ers f ro m o ther n o n - s c i en ti fic ap p ro ac hes ? T he a n s w er i s : tes ti n g an d meas u ri n g. It' s o n ly by p u tti n g a theo ry up again s t tes tin g an d measu ri n g that w e c an mo v e i t fro m s c i en c e fi c ti o n to w ard s sc i ence fac t. I s ay to w ard s bec au s e w e c an n ev er ac tu ally p ro v e an y thi n g i n sc i en c e i n an abs o lu te s en s e.
101 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN W hat w e s ay i s that aft er t es ti n g an d meas u remen t o f th e ev i d en c e, the ' b alan c e o f ev i d en c e' as i t n o w s tan ds w ou ld in dic ate that s u c h- an d- s uc h a theo ry s eems v ali d . It' s a ' mo re li k ely tru th' . T hi s alw ay s gets u p d ated at a later s ta ge by o ther s c i en tis ts as tes tin g an d meas u ri n g p ro c ed u res i mp ro v e an d as n ew theo ri es , n ew ' mo re li k ely tru ths ' , a re p u t fo rw a rd . Not Testing and Measuring = Faith T he abs en c e o f tes ti n g an d meas u ri n g i s : fai th. W hen w e are i n a n o n -s c i en ti fi c mo d e w e c an u s e fai th as a w ay o f c o mi n g to a p o i n t- o f- v i ew . T here a re m an y thi n gs i n hu man c u ltu re that d o n ' t len d thems elv es v ery w ell to tes ti n g an d measu ri n g an d s o me p eo p le s ti ll get v alu e o u t o f b eli ev i n g i n them. F o r examp le t here exi s ts a my ri ad o f my ths an d legen d s , fo lk lo re, s u p ers ti ti o n s and fo rtu n e- telli n g p lu s a ri c h c o llec ti o n o f metap hy s i c al beli efs . T hes e hav e p ro v i d ed a grea t d eal o f i n teres t to mi lli o n s o f p eo p le ev en tho u gh muc h o f thes e areas elu d e an y fo rm o f o bj ec ti v e tes ti n g o r meas u remen t. F o r examp le , n o - o n e has ev er bee n able to tes t o r meas u re the exi s ten c e o f ' Gu ard i an A n gels ' . So thi s i s an u n sci en ti fi c beli ef that c an be s i mp ly ac c ep ted o n fai th i f o n e c ho o s es to d o s o .
So me p eo p le tak e c o mfo r t i n the i d ea o f hav i n g a gu ard i an an gel an d i t may be a ben efi t to them. Othe rs fi n d the co n c ep t un w elc o me. T he tho u ght o f hav i n g a s p i ri tu al Peep i n g T o m fo llo w i n g them aro u n d may s eem an i n fri n gemen t o n p ers o n al li b erty . Belief Systems A ltho u gh mo s t o f the w o rld ' s to tal p o p u lati o n o f 5 bi lli o n o r s o d o n o t su p p o rt a reli gi o n o f an y k i n d , i t w as rec en tly es ti mated by a reli gi o u s lead e r th a t a l ar ge mi n o ri ty o f aro u n d 3 0 % s ti ll hop e to get v alu e an d c o mfo rt o u t o f reli gi o u s beli efs o f o n e k i n d o r an o ther. Mo s t o f thes e be li ev ers w er e bo r n i n to maj o r w o rld reli gi o n s li k e J u d ai s m, Chri s ti an i ty , Is lam, H i n d u i s m o r B ud d hi s m w hic h are s p li t i n to tho u s an d s o f s u bgro u p s w i th a ran ge o f v a ri ati o n s i n thei r beli efs an d c u s to ms .
102 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN In ad d i ti on , there ar e a s tagge ri n g ran ge o f s maller reli gi o n s , c u lts an d beli ef s y s tems o f a v ari ety w hi c h tes ti fies to the ri c hn es s an d d i v ers i ty o f hu man i magi n ati o n . T hes e b eli ef s y s tems req u i re b eli ev ers to tak e a l eap o f fai th an d to b eli ev e i n thi n gs that w e may n o t b e ab le to tes t o r m eas u re. T hes e re li gi o u s beli efs fal l o u ts i d e the s c i en ti fi c metho d . T hi s d o es n ' t n ec ess ari ly mean thei r c lai ms ar e n o t t ru e o r d i d n ' t hap p en , i t s i mp ly means that the bal a n c e o f ev i d en c e is s o s li m that w e hav e n o w ay o f k n o w i n g w hether they a re tru e an d s o , i f w e ac c ep t them , w e d o s o by tak i n g a leap o f fai th . Man y p eo p le, ho w ev er, are qu i te able to tak e s u c h a leap o f fai th. Man y o thers may hav e had a s et o f b eli efs c u ltu rally p ro grammed i n to thei r brai n w hen they w ere v ery s mall c hi ld ren . T o be c o n s id ered s c i en ti fi c ally v ali d, a p ro p o s i ti o n mus t be able to be tes ted o r meas u red i n d ep en d en tly . It i s n o t en o u gh to s i mp ly meas u re the n u mber o f p eo p le w ho beli ev e i t. J u s t bec aus e a mi lli on p eo p le beli ev e the earth i s flat i s n o t en o u gh to mak e i t flat. If a mi lli o n bec o mes ten mi lli o n , the earth w i ll s ti l l n o t lo s e i ts thi rd d i men s i on .
Laws of Moses So meti mes , fro m a v ery ea rly age , o u r brai n s bec o me in fec ted by cu ltu ral memes ( s to ri es that rep li c ate b ec au s e the y are go o d at getti n g p as s ed o n fro m o n e gen erati o n to the n ext) an d v ery o ften w e n ev er, ev er really qu es ti o n thes e s to ri es . I hav e w ri tten mo re abo u t memes i n T he X 10 Me m e p le x: Mu lti p ly Y o u r B us i ne s s B y T e n! E s p eci ally w hen w e are v ery y o un g, w e may s i mp ly beli ev e thi n gs w e are to ld to beli ev e j u s t bec aus e w e n ev er really tho u ght the matt er th ro u gh o u rs elv e s . It may really o n ly b e an are a tha t has been p ro tec ted f ro m thi n k i n g fo r man y y ears . F o r examp le , Mo s es w as a lead e r o f an c i en t ti mes an d , li k e all le ad ers , h e n eed ed hi s p eo p le to ad here to hi s law s . H e s ai d that hi s ten law s o r c o mman d ments s ho u ld
103 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN be o bey ed . T he reas o n that th ey s ho u ld be o bey ed , he c lai med , i s bec au s e they w ere gi v en to hi m, p ri v ately , o n a mo u n tai n , by hi s go d , Y ahw eh. B y mak i n g thi s c lai m, Mo s es p o s i ti o n ed thes e law s w i th the hi g hes t p o s s i ble au tho ri ty . T hey w e re n o t hi s law s , s ai d Mo s es , bu t Go d ' s law s . T hi s i s a v ery o ld s to ry that man y p eo p le j u s t ac c ep t bu t hav e n ev er r eally u p d ated o r t ho u ght i t thro u gh fo r the ms elv es . If y o u d o s to p to thi n k abo u t thi s s to ry i n the li gh t o f ev i d en c e av ai lable t o d ay y o u may be able to as k y ou rs elf fo r a mo re p lau s i ble v ers i o n . Sin c e there w ere n o w i tn es s es o r ev i d enc e o f an y k in d we d o n ' t kn o w w hether Mo s es ' v ers i on ac tu ally hap p en ed . Y et there i s mu c h ev i d en c e to s ho w that i t i s v ery u n li k ely . From Polytheism to Monotheism Three o f the w o rld ' s maj o r reli gi o n s are ev o lv ed v ari ati o n s o f the ' on e God meme' J u d ai s m, Is lam and Chri s ti ani ty . H ow ev er, the fi rs t rec o rd ed ev i d en c e o f thi s meme fro m w hi c h al l t he ab o v e v ers i o n s hav e ev o lv ed ari s es o n ly abo u t a hu n d red y ears befo re Mo s es . K i n g T u t' s father , th e Pharo a h A k he n aten , d u ri n g the A marn a i s the o ri gi n ater o f mo n o thei s m.
T he
ev i d en c e
s ho w s
that
thi s
hereti c
king
i n v en ted
the
fi rs t
mo n o thei s ti c meme. T hi s w as on ly abo u t 3 0 0 0 y ears ago . Du ri n g the p rev i o u s 10 mi lli o n y ears o f man ' s ev o lu ti on there i s an en o rmo u s amo u n t o f ev i d en c e p ro v i n g the i n v en ti o n o f tho u s an d s o f blac k - bo x memes to fi ll the n eed s o f the b rai n to mak e s o me s en s e o f the i n exp lic able p hy s ic s o f the w o rld . E s p eci ally the ' go d memes ' that m o d ern man has i n v en ted o v er o v er the las t 10 0 ,0 0 0 y ears li k e the ' Zeu s meme' to exp lai n the p hen o men o n o f li ghtn i n g o r the ' go d o f the Ni le' mem e to exp lai n w hy the Ni le f lo o d ed fro m ti me to ti me et c etc . It s eems thes e ar e examp les o f ho w t he c lev er hu man brai n has ev o lv ed i ts ro le as an effec ti v e exp l an ati o n - c reati n g mec han i s m w hi c h i s n o t the s ame thi n g as exp lai n i n g the ac tu al p hen o men a. J u s t bec au s e a meme has i n fec ted mi lli o n s o f p eo p le' s brai n s is n o t en o u gh reas o n , by i ts elf, to mak e the meme a t ru th. T here n eed s to be the balan c e o f ev i d en c e that
104 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN en ab les u s to d i fferen ti ate the f als e m emes fro m the tru e r memes . In fac t, i f o n e c ar es to thi n k abo u t i t, the re a re man y p o s s i ble exp lan ati o n s that c o u ld exp lai n the Mo s es meme. So me are:
Mo s es w as c lev er en o u gh to mak e up the s to ry to gi v e hi s law s mo re au tho ri ty
p erhap s Mo s es j us t d reamt i t
Mo s es mi ght hav e been h allu c i n ati n g fro m i n hali n g s mo k e fro m a n earby bu rn i n g bu s h
Mo s es may hav e been o v erti red , s leep d ep ri v ati o n c o u ld d o i t
E xhau s ti o n o r maln u tri ti o n c o u ld i n flu en c e hi s j u d gemen t.
Old Mo s es may hav e ev en hav e been s u fferi n g fro m A lzhei mer' s o r o n e o f a ran ge o f men tal i l ln es s es .
W e s i mp ly j u s t d on ' t k n o w .
H o w ev er, mi lli o n s o f p eo p le w ho ad here to th e J u d eo - Chri s ti an trad i ti o n hav e s i mp ly c ho s en to tak e a le ap o f fai t h an d to be li ev e Mo s es ' c lai m. A Ch ri s ti an o r J ew i s h s ci en ti s t co u ld n o t ac c ep t thi s s to ry as a s c i en ti s t, bu t c o u ld ac c ep t i t, o n a leap o f fai th , as p art o f a reli gi o u s beli ef s y s tem. Believing Science and Believing Faith T he argu men t betw een s c i en c e and reli gi o n i s a fals e on e. It i s s i mp ly a matter o f d i s tin gu i s hin g b etw een tho s e thi n gs w e beli ev e bec au s e w e hav e tes ted t hem an d they are p art o f s c i en c e an d tho s e thin gs w e beli ev e bec au s e w e c an n o t test them s o w e tak e a leap o f fai th. T here i s n o reas o n w hy w e c an n o t ho ld v i ew p o in ts i n bo th areas as lo n g as w e are able to d i s ti n gu i s h betw een the tw o . Your Beliefs If y o u w i s h, y o u c an exp lo re s o me o f y o u r o w n beli efs , w hether abo u t y o u r reli gi o n , y o u r j o b an d c areer o r y o u r fu tu re . T e n T hi n gs T hat I B eli ev e ( B u t Can n o t Pro v e)
105 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
1.
A bo u t my reli gi o n , I beli ev e . ..
2.
A bo u t my reli gi o n , I beli ev e . ..
3.
A bo u t my reli gi o n , I beli ev e . ..
4.
A bo u t my j o b , I beli ev e .. .
5.
A bo u t my j o b , I beli ev e .. .
6.
A bo u t my j o b , I beli ev e .. .
7.
A bo u t my fu tu re, I be li ev e .. .
8.
A bo u t my fu tu re, I be li ev e .. .
9.
A bo u t my fu tu re, I be li ev e .. .
10.
A bo u t my beli efs , I beli ev e . ..
Thought Experiment T ry to c o n d u c t a tho u ght exp eri men t. In y o u r men tal labo rato ry t ry to u s e y o u r thi n k i n g s ki ll to gen er ate an alte rn at i v e exp lan ati o n to Mo s es ' s to ry , i n ad d i ti on to the o n es gi v en abo v e. Si n c e i t i s o n ly an exp eri men t y o u c an be as c reati v e as y o u are c ap able o f b ei n g. T ry to d o y o u r o w n exp eri men t be fo re lo o k i n g a t t he o n es s en t i n by o t her SOT trai n ees an d li s ted belo w . H ere are s o me o f the exp eri men ts su p p li ed by SOT members . Of c o u rs e, man y o f thes e thi n k ers c o me f ro m c u ltu r es t hat d o n o t u s e th e Mo s es s to ry . T hi s i s j u s t a s mall s amp le o f res p o n s es :
T he T en Co mman d men ts w ere n o t n ew . Mo s es , hav i n g been bro u g ht u p
i n Pharao h’s ho u s eho ld w as ed u c ated i n thei r law . H i s father- i n - law w as a p ri es t, s k i lled i n mo ral law . T he T e n Co mman d men ts he c ame u p w i th res emble o t her s ets o f an c i en t law s . H e j u s t c o p i ed d ow n the law s he k n ew , ' i n hi s o w n w o rd s ' . In p res en tin g them as ' Go d ' s law s ' , he w as n ' t bei n g d ec ep ti v e, he gen u i n ely beli eved that thes e ' u n i v ers al' law s mu s t hav e c o me f ro m Go d , s i n c e they w e re s o w i d ely u s ed . T hi s p ro bably d o es n ' t c ou n t as an ' altern ati v e' , j u s t a j u s ti fi c ati on .
Geo lo gi c al fo rmati o n s o n the mo u n tai n may hav e res embled s to n e tablets w i th w ri ti n g o n i t. Mo s es to o k s o me p i ec es an d s ai d ' God w ro te them' . T he p eo p le w o u ld n ev er hav e k n o w n , s in c e they w ere to o a frai d to go u p the mo u n tai n an d v eri fy the s to ry .
Mo s es may hav e fo un d the tablets , left by a p rev i o u s c i vi li s ati on . H e may hav e rec ei v ed them f ro m an ali en .
106 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
A n altern ati v e exp lan ati o n may no t in v o lv e Mo s es at all. It i s p o s s i ble that the en ti re s to ry o f Mo s es w as c o nc o c ted many y ears after the alleg ed i n ci d en t. My th an d legen d c on s ti tu te a large p art o f all reli gi o n s an d s to ri es are m ad e u p an d embel li s hed thro u gh rep eat ed te lli n gs . In fac t H i s to ry i s o ften refer red to as " hi s s to ry "; hi s referri n g to the en tren c hed p o w er o r lead e r o f the ti me.
Mo s es may hav e been s mo ki n g o r eati n g the leav es o f ' T he B u rni n g B u s h' . W as mes c alin aro u n d in tho s e d ay s ?
Ori en tal p hi lo s o p hi es li k e B u dd hi s m an d y o ga tell u s ( an d i n vi te u s to
v eri fy p ers o n ally ) that there i s a d eep in n er k n ow led ge attai n able thro u gh med i tati o n an d p ers on al effo rt. May be Mo s es mad e the effo rt an d had the i n si ghts bu t he felt that mo s t o f hi s p eo p le w o u ld n o t mak e thi s effo rt . So , to m ak e i t eas i er fo r t hem he u s ed the ' Go d ' i d ea.
Mo s es had to j u s ti fy hi s p o si ti o n as lead er by c lai mi n g that he w as Go d ' s emi s s ary an d is the o n ly o n e c ap able o f c o mmu n i c atin g w i th Go d .
May b e Mo s es had d elu s i o n s o f gran d eu r an d really be li ev ed he had a
p ri v ate p ho n e li n e to Go d an d that he w as the c ho s en o n e to lead hi s p eo p le to grea tn es s .
Mo s es w as a c on tro l freak w ho w o u ld go to any len gths to mak e p eo p le fo llo w hi m.
Mo s es j u s t u s e the p rev i o us exp eri en c e o f the p eo p le ' w hat go d s ay s is w hat i s ri ght.' Peo p le c an ac c ep t thi n gs eas i ly . T hi s c o u ld v ery p o s si bly o v ertak e the p ro c es s o f tes ti n g and meas u ri n g. Mo s es , i f exi s t, i s v ery c lev er brai n u s er.
Mo s es may hav e had a n ear- d eath exp eri en c e o n the mo u n t. Mo s es may hav e been a p o et. Mo s es w as ac tu ally a s li d er, a ti me trav elle r f ro m the fu tu r e, w ho k n ew
ho w the w o r ld w o u ld tu rn o u t i f hu man i ty c o n tin u ed d o wn the c u rren t p ath, s o he c ho s e to zap bac k to an altern ati v e ( better) fu tu re an d c o llec t thei r gu i d eli n es fo r c reati n g a better li fe . H e k n ew , ho w ev er , that the p eo p le i n the ti me he w as retu rn i n g to w ou ld n o t beli ev e i n ti me trav el an d w o u ld ac c ep t ' the w o rd o f Go d ' mo re eas i ly .
Mo s es ad ap ted the s to ry f ro m an o t her s to ry he hea rd as a c hi ld . H e
mi ght hav e tak en the c hi ld ho o d s to ry , c han ged the c o n text an d ad d ed the hi ghe r au tho ri ty o f c o mi n g fro m Go d s o tha t mo re p eo p le w o u ld li s ten .
W ell Mo s es may hav e had a v ery lu c i d d ream i n w hi c h he i magin ed meeti n g an as p ec t o f hi ms elf. H e w an ted to be i n c harge, as tha t w as the man ly thi n g to be , bu t tho u ght tha t a n exp ert n eed ed to be c al led i n . H i s exp ert w as c all ed Y ahw eh. B ec au s e hi s d ream w as o n the mo u n tai n ;
107 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN there w as n o t p ap y ru s han d y; o n ly big s to n e blo c k s , s o thi n k in g latera lly he g rabbed th e blo c k s o f ro c k an d c hi p p ed aw ay at the c o d e o f p r ac ti c e he' d w an ted all alo n g fo r hi s fo llo w e rs . Can y o u te ll I' v e been i n v o lv ed i n J u n gi an d ream g ro u p s to o ? T hen agai n , may be Mo s es had been s mo k i n g p ap y ru s ....
K en n y: I' m s o rry bu t c o u ld I sk i p thi s rep ly c o z I' m a Chri s ti an and I d o n ' t thi n k i t' s ri ght to qu es ti o n the B i ble. Ple as e rep ly .
Rep ly : Of c o u rs e y o u c an s k i p thi s o r an y o ther qu es ti o n i f y o u feel i t i s
n o t ri ght to an s w er. May I as k y o u why y o u feel a Chri s ti an has n o ri ght to q u es ti o n the bi b le? K en n y: B as ic ally , to u s , Chri s ti an s , the B i ble i s o u r “ ev e ry thi n g.” It' s s o rt o f an i n s tru c ti o n bo o k fo r u s ( a bo o k o f " Do " s ) an d all that' s s tated i n i t are tru e ( Go d n ev er li es ) . So b y as k i n g w hat altern ati v es I c o u ld thi n k o f to exp lai n the c as e, I fee l that i t' s li k e qu es ti o n in g Go d ' s c harac ter . Rep ly : F ai r en o u gh!
I fi n d i t hard to ev en c o n s i d er ther e i s an o ther e xp lan ati o n bec au s e I
d o n ' t beli ev e that i t hap p en ed i n the fi rs t p lac e. B u t I gu es s i f y o u n eed an o ther exp lan ati o n then I ten d er the fo llo w i n g: Mo s es w en t to the lo c al abo u t 3 o 'c lo c k i n the aftern o o n p romi s in g hi s w i fe that he w o u ld o n ly be an ho u r. H o w ev er he met s o me o f hi s mates an d they go t o n to the p o o l table an d s tarted to p lay p oo l. T hey k ep t w in n in g an d k ep t d ri n k in g. B efo re Mo s es k n ew i t w as 11.3 0 at n i ght. No w he k n ew that he w as go i n g to be i n d eep tro u ble w i th hi s wi fe bec au s e he w as late agai n ( hi s wi fe bei n g abo u t 5 s to n e heav ier than hi m) . So he mad e up this s to ry that o n hi s w ay ho me he s aw thi s bri ght li ght an d met thi s Du d e n amed Go d w ho w an ted to get ri d o f thes e s ec rets ( tablets ) . No w Mo s es , n ev er o n e to w alk aw ay fro m an o p p o rtu n i ty , to o k them as he s aw i t as a w ay to get o u t o f a bea ti n g by hi s w i fe. T hat' s the w ay the T en Co mman d men ts ' c ame in to bei n g.
H e w as rehears i n g fo r a p lay he had w ri tten , an d w as s tun n ed to fin d p eo p le ac tu ally beli ev ed w hat he w as s ay i n g.
May be he w as c han n elli n g mes s ages fro m ali en s May b e the p ri es ts an d w is e men o f the to w n c ho s e hi m to tell thi s s to ry ( w hi c h they mad e u p bas ed u p o n thei r exp eri en c es ) bec au s e he w as a c hari s mati c s p eak er.
Mo s es beli ev ed i n Go d an d beli eved that hi s law s w ere " d i vi n ely
i n sp i red " by Go d . H e d i dn ' t j us t mak e u p the s to ry to gi v e hi s law s mo re au tho ri ty . H e real ly B E LIE VE D they w ere i s s u ed fro m Go d . H e c a rv ed the tab lets hi ms elf, tho u gh . O f c o u r s e, as an athei s t, I rej ec t Mo s es ' beli ef i n Go d , altho u gh s o me o f hi s c o mman d men ts are o bj ec ti v ely v alid w hen hu man li fe i s u s ed as the s tan d ard o f meas u re.
Mo s es d eri v ed the bas i c ' ru les ' o f the c o mman d men ts fo r hi s p eo p le to fo llo w ; a c o d e o f c on d u c t o f s o rts . T hro u gho u t the y ear( s ) the s to ry w as embelli s hed u p o n ei ther by ferv en t fo llo w ers o r ru lers to ben d the
108 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN c o n s ci o us n ess o f the p eo p le to a ' hi gh er c au s e' .
T he s to ry w as p o s s i bly a c o mp lete fabri c ati o n ; Mo s es , had he re ally exi s ted , w as a fi gu rehe ad o r p u p p et, o n ly to len d c red en c e to the my th.
A n altern ati v e exp lan ati o n to Mo s es ' ' 10 c o mman d men ts ' s to ry : T he s to ry w as w ri tten 10 0 y ears aft er a p ers o n n amed Mo s es w ho led
p eo p le w as ali v e. It w as w ri tt en w he n a n ew lead e r w as elec ted to l ead the tri b e o f Is r ael . T hi s lead er m ad e u p law s bec au s e he w as hav i n g tro u ble k eep i n g p eo p le i n li n e. T hes e law s w ere then tau ght as go s p el.
So me o f the k i ds d eci d ed to p lay a prac ti c al j o k e o n go o d o ld Mo s es ...
B u rn i n g bus h... v o i c e o f go d ... . T he ten c o mman d men ts ? Mo s es s aw thro u gh i t an d d ec i d ed to p lay a li ttle tri c k o n the res t o f th e tri be .
10 0 y ears after Mo s es s u pp o s ed ly liv ed , there w as c hao s as d i fferen t tri bes c ame i n to c o n tac t w i th eac h o ther th ro u gh trav e lli n g d u e to trad i n g. On e man d es i gn ed a c o d e o f behav i o u r fo r p eo p le to ag ree o n an d mad e a go o d p ro fi t mark eti n g i t- the 10 c o mman d men ts . T he ' b u rn i n g bu s h' i d ea c ame to hi m w he n he w as o n a t ri p an d s aw a s mall tree w as j u s t s tru c k by li ghtn i n g.
Perhap s Mo s es w as ac tu ally Go d . T h at i s , Go d had man i fes ted hi ms elf i n to a hu man b o d y - an d c alled hi ms elf Mo s es - s o that he c o u ld p as s o n the 10 c o mman d men ts . T hen he reali s ed that there w as n o w ay that he c o u ld c lai m to be Go d , as p eop le w ou ld thi n k that he w as c razy , s o he had to mak e u p a s to ry that s ou n ded mo re beli ev able. T her efo re , he bec ame - as he w as - a mes s en ger fr o m Go d . H e k n ew th at thi s w o u ld n o t be qu es ti on ed , as n o o n e had c o me w i th s u c h ' rad i c al' i d eas befo re an d Mo s es ( w ho w as ac tu ally Go d ) had en o u gh lead ers hi p s ki lls to p as s o n the law s w i th c o n v i c ti o n . A fter all - w e ar e hi s ' c hi ld ren ' , hi s ' c reati o n - s o he k n ew ho w p eo p le w o u ld reac t.
Mo s es may hav e ei th er b een man i p u lated by a gro u p o r p art o f a gro u p
w ho w i s hed to c reate a better w ay o f li fe an d li vi n g fo r the mas s es an d n eed ed a c ap ab le lead er o f i n teg ri ty t o d eli v er the gu i d eli n es .
Mo s es w as d ec eiv ed by a gro u p o f mi s fi ts p lay i n g a p rac ti c al j ok e w ho n ev er exp ec ted the i d eas to c atc h o n !
Mo s es w as ac tu ally i n c o n tac t w i th an ext ra- ter res tri a l, w ho w as s o s ad d en ed by the s tate o f af fai rs o n E arth that he b es to w ed o n Mo s es 10 p ri n c ip les fo r hi s p eo p le to li v e by .
T here w as ac tu ally an i mp o s to r w ho p res en ted the law s . W hen Mos es '
w o rk ers c o n fro n ted hi m rega rd i n g the law s , he d en i ed that he had an y thi n g to d o w i th them. T hey t he n c o n c lud ed that Mo s es mu s t hav e been p o s s es s ed by Go d an d w as n o t c o n sc i o us ly aw are o f hi s ac ti o n s . T hu s , the law s w ere ac c ep ted as Go d ' s w o rd .
Mo s es mi ght hav e met s o meo n e w ho gav e hi m the tablets i n a p rearr an ged meeti n g.
109 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Mo s es w as afrai d he w ou ld be ki lled i f the p eo p le d id no t w an t to o bey hi s law s s o he s ai d they w ere go d ' s law s .
H e w as really o ld an d s u fferi n g fro m s c lero s i s . E v er read ' Ori gi n s o f Co n s c i ou s n es s i n the break d o w n o f the B i c ameral
Mi n d ' by Ju li an J ayn es ? Hi s theo ry w as that thr ee tho u s an d y ears ago p eo p le li tera lly ha llu c i n ated ' go d s ' w hi c h to ld them w hat to d o . T hey d i d n o t thi n k li k e w e d o , bu t merely fo l lo w ed the v o i c es . Mo s es p ro bably heard th e v o i c e o f ' go d ' li tera lly . B y the w ay , thi s may exp lai n w hy the brai n w o rk s in a p attern i n g s ys tem. If J ay n es w as ri ght, It w as d es i gn ed to s i mp ly fo llo w o rd e rs . Co n s c i o u sn es s i s a w ei rd thi n g that hap p en ed w hen man learn ed to w ri te an d s p eak i n metap ho r.
110 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Meas u remen t i s a v ery i mp o rtan t s ki ll fo r the brai n u s er to d ev elo p . Let' s lo o k at u n i ts o f meas u remen t. I t' s v ery help fu l, w hen t ry i n g to meas u re thi n gs , to hav e a u n i t o f meas u remen t. H av i n g a bas i c u n i t o f meas u remen t mean s y o u c an k eep s c o re an d then c o mp are o n e s c o re agai n s t an o ther. F o r examp le, the w ho le met ri c s y s tem u s es a n u mber o f u n i ts o f meas u remen t bas ed o n the d ec i mal ( o r 10 ) s y s tem. W e hav e metres , li tres , d o l lars an d gr ams . So , i f y o u w an t to meas u re ho w far y o u hav e to trav e l to w o rk y o u c an d o s o an d the an s w er may be 10 metr es i f y o u w o rk at ho me o r 10 k i lo metr es i f y o u d o n ' t. Y o u c an us e d o llars to fi gu re c os ts an d o v erhead s an d to help c on tro l them an d bri n g them d o w n . Y ou c an als o u s e do llars to fi gu re rev en u es an d s ales res u lts an d help mo v e them u p . Measuring Your Job T he mo re y o u c an bri n g meas u remen ts to as p ec ts o f y o u r j o b, the mo re y o u c an tak e c o n tro l an d the mo r e i n teres ti n g y o u r j o b bec o mes . W hat thi n gs c an y o u meas u re i n y o u r j o b?
Co s ts - eli mi n ati on s , red u c ti o ns o r i nc reas es ?
A c c id en ts /s afety - lo w er o r hi ghe r?
Sales c alls - mo re o r les s ?
Deli v ery ti mes - lo n ger o r s ho rte r?
W as tage - les s o r mo re?
Materi a ls u s ed - mo re o r les s ?
In d u s tri al d i s pu tes - few er o r mo re o f ten ? etc .
111 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Decimal Cognetics In the las t c hap ter, w e' v e alread y s een that a CVS c an n ev er be equ al to a B VS. So , w hat exac tly i s a B VS? A B VS i s a d ec i mal o f a CVS. A CVS i s als o a d ec i mal o f a B VS. In o ther w o rd s , they are rel ated b y p o w ers o f ten . So meti mes a B VS i s ten ti mes s maller tha n a CVS. Other ti mes i t i s ten ti mes greater . F ro m exp eri en c e, i t i s u s u ally the latter, bu t n o t alw ay s . B y d ec i mali zi n g (y es , i t i s a w o rd ) co gn eti c s w e are in tro d u c in g meas u remen t i n to the brai n s o ftw are an d w e get mo re c o n tro l. Co gn eti c s n o w bec o mes a mo re u s efu l brai n to o l. Remembe r, c o gn eti c s i s d ec i mal. In c o gn eti c s w e us e the n umber ten . T he d eli berate o r hab i tu al u s e o f the n u mber 10 i s c alled T en p o w er. BVS = CVS x 10 T he k ey to the p rac ti c al u s e o f thi s p o w erfu l p erc ep ti o n s w i tc h - CVST OBVS - i s the d eli berate e ffo r t o n e mak es to try to n o ti c e the B VS that i s T E N T IME S be tter t han the CVS . So , fo r examp le , i f y o u r C VS i s $ 1 the n a B VS mi ght be $ 10 ( o r i t c o u ld be 10 , i f y o u o w ed $1) . I f the C VS i s o n o n e lev el, then the B VS c an be fo u n d o n a lev el T E N T IME S bette r th an the CVS . T en ti mes better may be ten ti mes mo re, o r ten ti mes les s , o r ten u ni ts forw ard o r ten u n i ts bac k . It' s the d eli b erate u s e o f ten p o w er as a p ro v o c ati o n to g et y o u to es c ap e fro m y o u r CVS. W i th p rac ti c e, the " ten ti mes " p art o f c o gn eti c s j u s t bec o mes eas i er an d eas i er. T hi s i s w hat tenp o w er i s all ab o u t. Remember, math emati c ally , the re are a lw ay s mi lli o n s o f p o s s i ble o p ti on s ( li terally ! ) bu t y o u mu s t d eli berately lo o k fo r them to s ee them. T en p o w er help s y ou to sw i tc h p attern s o f p erc ep ti on . T hat' s all. W hi le i t i s n o t i mp o rtan t that the n u mb er ten i s ac c u rately u s ed , i ts u s e is a p o w erfu l es c ap e mec han i s m. T ak e a leap w i th ten p o w er.
112 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Exa m p le s : If the CVS i s 1 gi ft , th e B VS mi ght be 10 gi fts . If the CVS i s thi rs t, t he B VS mi ght b e 10 mo u thfu ls o f w ate r. If the CVS i s o n e emai l, the B V S mi gh t be 10 emai ls . If the CVS i s o n e s tep b ac k , the B VS c o u ld be ten s tep s fo rw ard . If the CVS i s ten s tep s fo rw ard , th e B VS mi ght be 10 0 s tep s bac k . If the CVS i s red , p erh ap s the B VS i s green . If the CVS i s u p , then the B VS may be d o w n o r ev en mu c h fu rther u p . If the CVS i s to tak e, the B VS may be to gi v e. If the CVS i s d o i t later , the B VS may be d o i t n o w . If the CVS i s 10 , the B VS c o u ld be 10 0 , o r 1. If the CVS i s 10 0 , the B VS mi ght be 1 0 0 0 . If the CVS i s 1, the B VS c o u ld be o n e t en th. If the CVS i s w here y o u are n o w , the B VS i s tak e a qu an tu m leap . In c o gn eti c s , ri ghtn es s i s n o t as i mp o rtan t as mo v emen t . Co gn eti c s , u s i n g ten p o w er, en ab les y o u to mo v e thro u gh i n fo rmati o n at a rate n ev er befo re p o s s i ble w i th o n ly lo gi c . A n d , in a rapi d ly c han gi n g w orld , mo v emen t to a better v i ew p o i n t i s mu c h mo re i mp o rtan t to th e thi n k er than d efen c e o f a c u rren t v i ew p o i n t. T he reas o n fo r ten p o w er i s b ec aus e there a re alw ay s ri s k s in thin k in g. I t c an be ri s k y leav i n g the s afety o f a C VS to g o o u t i n s earc h o f a B VS. B u t i f t he r e w ard s are s o great, s o w o rthw hi le - a t ru e qu an tu m leap , an o rd er o f magn i tu d e - then the rew ard p ro v i d es i ts o wn mo ti v ati o n . Y o u c an n o w hav e the d ri v e to es c ap e i n erti a to mo v e to w ard s a B VS. Tenpower T he habi tu al u s e o f t he n u mber 10 gi v es a v ery u s efu l meas u remen t an d a u s efu l trac k i n g an d c o n tro lli n g d ev i c e fo r t h e thi n k er o r c lev er brai n u s er. In the u n li mi ted u n i v ers e o f thi n ks p ac e p ow ers o f ten help s u s es c ap e fro m the g rav i ty o f o u r CVS an d to mo v e o u t o f o rb i t an d exp lo re t he c o gn o s , lo o k i n g fo r a B VS.
113 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Tenpower I w an t to d ev o te a s ep ara te les s o n to d i s c u ss i n g ten p o w er thereby gi v i n g i t the i mp o rtan c e i t d es erv es . If thi s w as j u s t a bo o k ab o u t th eo ry , ten p o w er c o u ld be le ft o u t , bu t i t' s a trai n i n g p ro gram abo u t ac ti o n . Y o u d o n ' t j u s t w an t to k n o w abo u t c o gn eti c s , y o u als o w an t to be able to DO i t . Practice, Repetition, Rehearsal It w as rev eal ed to me d u ri n g my a rm y trai n i n g les s o n s , i n the late ' 60 s , w hen I w as a 2 0 - y ear- o ld n ati o n al s erv i c eman d raftee , ho w amazi n gly ef fec ti v e w as th e s trate gy o f RE PE T IT IO N. A rmy i n s tru c to rs d emo n s trated i ts p o w er by alw ay s hav i n g u s u s e p rac ti s e, rep eti ti o n an d rehears als . I rememb e r thi n k i n g i t o d d , at the time, that an ambu s h w as ac tu ally rehears ed i n d etai l i n the fi eld b efo re bei n g lai d that n i ght. B u t w hy n o t? A mbu s hin g i s a sk i ll an d an y thin g that i s a s k i ll c an be d ramati c ally i mp ro v ed w i th rep eti ti o n and p rac ti c e. A p attern i s s o methi n g that i s rep ea t ed mo re o f ten than r an d o mn es s o r c hao s . T he arc hi tec tu re o f a p atte rn i s rep eti ti o n . T hat' s w hy in a p attern i n g- sy s tem li k e the hu man brai n s ys tem, rep eti ti o n i s the mo s t p o w erfu l lea rn i n g s trategy y o u c an u s e. T hat' s als o w hy y ou ' ll n o ti c e a great d eal o f rep eti ti o n i n this trai n i n g. It' s n o t bec au s e I' v e fo rgo t ten that I' v e al rea d y d is c us s ed s o methin g w i th y o u . It' s to help bu i ld p attern s in y o u r b rai n s o i t bec o mes eas i er fo r y o u to remember an d u s e the s o ftw are. IN A PA T T E RNING SY ST E M, LIK E T H E H U MA N B RA IN SY ST EM, T H E RE IS
NO
ST RON GE R
MA GIC
THAT
CA N
BE
U SE D
THAN
T HE
MA GIC
OF
RE PE T IT ION . A ll thi s i s c ri ti c al w hen ac q u i ri n g n ew s k i lls . A n d , rep eati n g thi n gs ten ti mes i s an
114 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN exc ellen t w ay to exp lo i t t en p o w er. What is Tenpower? T en p o w er i s the s ki ll o f u s in g the p ow ers o f ten . T en p o w er is a bo os ter mec han i s m fo r y o u r b rai n s o ftw are . J u s t li k e e n zy mes that bo o s t u p c hemi c al rea c ti o n s o r ro c k ets that bo o s t s p ac e s hu ttles , s o c an ten p o w er bo o s t y o u r brai n s o ftw are an d grea tly emp o w er y o u r thi n k i n g s k i lls . Put-on a Zero! A zero may n o t s eem li k e mu c h. If y ou ad d i t o r s u btrac t i t fro m an o ther n u mber, i t mak es n o d i fferen c e at all . A z ero b ar ely exi s ts .. . u n ti l .. . y o u p u t a zero o n the en d o f an o ther n u mb er an d , mi rabi l e d i c tu , that n u mber i n c reas es ten fo ld ! T hat i s T enp o w er! E v en the E gy p ti ans had a sy mbo l fo r ten p o w er an d may be that' s w hy the p y rami d s are s o b i g. In c o gn eti c s , thi n ki n g i s mov i n g thro u gh thi n k - sp ac e, the i n fo rmati o n u n iv ers e, the c o gn o s , by p o w ers o f ten . T en p o w er c an be u s ed in an y d i rec ti o n - mo v in g o u t o r mo v i n g i n . F o r examp le, w i th ten p o w er y o u c an mo v e fro m 1 to 10 to 10 0 to 10 0 0 to 10 0 0 0 to 10 0 0 0 0 to 10 0 0 00 0 to 10 0 00 0 0 0 etc o r fro m 1 to .1 to .0 1 to .0 0 1 to .0 0 0 1 to .0 0 0 0 1 to .0 0 0 0 0 1 to .0 0 0 0 0 0 1 and s o o n . T he habi t o f ten p o w er i s the habi t o f u s i n g the n u mber ten , th e habi t o f ad d i n g a zero o r the habi t o f mu lti p ly i n g by ten . B y u s in g ten p o w er y ou wi ll equ i p y o u r n ec k to p w i th a v ery p o w erfu l bo o s ter w hi c h w i ll gi v e y o u an u n fai r ad v an t age o v e r o thers w hen mo v i n g thro u gh the i n fo rmati o n en v i ro n men t. T he Offi c i al Nu mber o f the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g i s 10 !
115 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Te n R e p e ti t i o ns Rep eti ti o n i s s o methi n g y o u c an alw ay s d o . F o r examp le, he re a re 10 rep eti ti o n s …
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Rep eti ti o n Rep eti ti o n Rep eti ti o n Rep eti ti o n Rep eti ti o n Rep eti ti o n Rep eti ti o n Rep eti ti o n Rep eti ti o n Rep eti ti o n
Where to use Tenpower? Y o u c an u s e ten p ow er an y w here. T he re' s n o & " ri ght" p lac e to u s e tenp o wer. So me p eo p le u s e tenp o w er to get s tart ed . S o me u s e ten p o w er fo r fi tn es s , p rac ti si n g s k i lls an d
d o i n g rep eti ti o n s . Y o u
c an
us e ten p o w er to
s o lv e p ro b lems ,
to
c reate
o p p o rtu n i ti es . W ri ters c an u s e ten p o w er to es c ape w ri ter' s blo c k . I u s e ten p ow er i n teac hi n g thi n k i n g sk i lls . B u s in ess p eo p le u s e ten p o w er to p lan ahead . Stu d en ts u s e ten p o w er to d o thei r res earc h . Pa ren ts u s e ten po w er to help i n fami ly d i sc u ss i o ns . Where c an y o u u s e ten po w er? Why use Tenpower? Pu tti n g- o n a zero i s a p o w erfu l thi n g to d o . It i s the qu i n tes s en ti al p ro v o c ati o n . It' s p u rp o s e i s to p ro v o k e mo v emen t thro u gh the c o gn o s , to allo w y o u to es c ap e fro m y o u r p res en t p o si ti o n . It' s a b i t li k e u s i n g a heli c o p ter. If y o u w an ted to c li mb a mo u n tai n yo u mi ght s tart f ro m th e bo tto m bu t t hen w hen y o u reac h the s u mmi t y o u s ay " B oy , i f o n ly w e' d c o me that w ay i t w o u ld hav e been eas i er." T hi s i s bec au s e the vi ew fro m the to p i s d i fferen t fro m the v i ew at the bo tto m. If y o u had a heli c o p ter y o u c o u ld fly to th e to p fi rs t , s ee th e bet ter w ay , an d then go bac k an d u s e i t.
116 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Quantum Leaps and Orders of Magnitude T en p o w er help s y ou mak e qu an tu m leap s i n y o u r thin k in g. It emp o w ers y o u to es c ap e fro m the s qu are . I t en ables y o u to u s e o rd ers o f ma gn i tu d e to c han ge y o u r p o i n t- o f-v i ew . T hen y o u c an u s e that in fo rmati o n i f y o u c ho o s e. Tenpower and Googols W hen p u t o n the en d o f a n u mber, the re' s n o li mi t to the p o w er o f a ze ro ! H o w man y grai n s o f s an d o n Sy dn ey' s famo u s B o n di beac h? H o w man y rai n d ro p s fall i n Ri o eac h y ear? W hat i s the n umber o f w o rd s s p o k en i n W as hi n gto n i n a y ear o r ev en s p o k en by ev ery A meri c an i n hi s to ry ? T o c o p e w i th qu es ti on s li k e thes e mathemati c i an s n eed to d es i gn v ery , v ery lar ge n u mbers . T he A meri c an mathemati c i an , E d w ard K ras n er, has u s ed the zero to d es i gn hi s v ery large n u mb er c alled : t he go o go l . A go o go l i s a 1 w i th a hu n d red zero es p u t- o n . A go o go l lo o k s li k e thi s : 10 ,0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 00 0 00 0 00 0 00 0 00 0 0 00 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 00 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 00 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 . How large is a googol? W ell, the gr ai n s o f s and o n Bo n di beac h are abo u t 10 0 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 ,00 0 ,0 0 0 1 w i th tw en ty ze ro es p u t- o n . Mu c h s malle r than a go o go l. R ai n d ro p s i n Ri o are als o mu c h s maller than a go o go l an d s o are the w o rd s o f A meri c a. A hu n d red mi lli o n ato ms p lac ed i n a ro w w o u ld o n ly be thi s lo n g
- a c en ti metre.
So w hat abo u t the n u mber o f ato ms in all o f Mt F u j i o r ev en the A lp s ? No , ev en they w o u ld n o t mak e a go o go l . E i ns tei n 's theo ri es mak e i t p os s i ble fo r as tro p hy s i c i s ts to es ti mate the nu mber o f ato ms i n the w ho le u n i v ers e an d ev en that i s les s th an a go o go l . In f ac t, a go o go l i s larg er t han the v ery l ar ges t n u mbers u s ed in p hys i cs an d c hemis try . W ell, c an a w e p ro v o k e a go o go l? Can w e u s e ten p o w er o n a go o go l? A n d th e an s w er i s , o f c o u rs e, y es . F o r examp le, the go o go lp lex i s a large r n u mber s ti ll: a go o go l w i th an extra t en mi lli o n , bi lli o n zero es p u t- o n .
117 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN F o rgi v e me i f I w o n ' t b o the r to s ho w y o u w hat a go o go lp le x lo o k s li k e bec au s e i f I w ere to t ry ty p i n g o u t a go o go lp lex b y ad d in g zero es to the abo v e go o go l a t the r ate o f thr ee ze ro es a s ec o n d - 0 0 0 - an d I n ev er s to p p ed to eat o r s leep o r d o an y thi n g els e, I w o u ld be d ead an d d u s t lo n g befo re I go t an y w here n ear i t. H ere are ten w ay s I c an u s e the n u mber 10 :
1.
I c an gi v e ten ti mes mo re gi fts to c li e n ts thi s w eek than las t w eek
2.
I c an s en d ten ti mes mo re p o s tc ard s to fri en d s thi s mo n th than I d i d las t mo n th
3.
I c an c all s o meo n e w ho w o u ld li k e to hear fro m me i n ten mi n u tes ti me.
4.
I c an c o ns u lt ten brai n us ers fo r thei r o p i n i on on a matter o f i mp o rtan c e to me.
5.
I c an v i s i t ten W eb si tes that I d o n ' t u s u ally v i s i t.
6.
I c an i n v i te ten p eo p le o v er fo r a d i s c u ss i on o n a matte r o f i mp o rtan c e to all c o n c ern ed .
7.
I c an p rac ti s e a n ew s k i ll 10 ti mes a day fo r the n ext ten d ay s .
8.
8 I c an go fo r a w a lk i n the Ro y al Melbo u rn e B o tan i c Gard en s at 10 am.
9.
I c an c u t c o s ts by 10 % .
10.
I c an s p en d ten mi n u tes fi gu ri n g o u t the fi rs t li n e o f the n ext c hap ter.
118 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
A tten ti o n ! Let' s talk ab o u t atten ti o n . B u t fi rs t a s mall exp eri men t . IN STR U C TIO N : A s s o o n as y o u ha v e fi n i s hed read i n g thi s s en ten c e, tu rn y o u r head aro u n d abo u t 18 0 and d es c ri be s o methi n g y o u c an s ee that is c o lo u red green an d d o es n o t b elo n g to y o u . OK . H ere' s the p o i n t. On c e y o u lo o k i n a d i rec ti o n i t' s eas y to s ee w hat i s there . H ere' s ho w i t w o rk ed :
1. I g av e y o u the c u e abo v e to tu rn y o u r head an d lo o k fo r s o methi n g s p ec i fic
2. Y o u tu rn ed y o u r head an d lo o k ed 3. Y o u s aw . I d o n ' t k n o w w here y o u are ri ght n o w bu t mo s t read ers w o u ld hav e be en able to c arry thi s exp eri men t o u t s u c c es s fu lly, o n c e y o u d ec id ed to lo o k . H ere' s the s p ec i al i ns i ght that I w o u ld li k e y o u to get n o w as a res u lt o f thi s li ttle exp eri men t. I t w i ll help y o u get b ette r u s e o u t o f the b rai n s o ftw are. It' s th i s : ONCE Y OU MOVE Y OU R A T T E NT ION IN A CE RT A IN DIRE CT I ON Y OU CA N E A SILY SE E W HA T IS T H E RE T O SE E . B U T , T H E DE CISION T O MO VE Y OU R A T T E NT ION COU LD T A K E T W E NT Y Y E A RS! Managing Your Attention Man y p eo p le feel that i f the re i s an o p p o rtu n i ty s o mew here - a B VS - w h y , they ' ll s ee i t and go get i t. T hey ass u me the v ery p res en c e o f a B VS wi ll mak e i ts elf k n o w n to them, tha t i t w i ll attr ac t thei r at t en ti o n . B u t n o , i t d o esn ' t w o rk that w ay . Y o u hav e to d i rec t y o u r o w n atten ti o n .
119 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN B VSs are ther e all t he ti me, y o u ' r e tri p p i n g o v er them all d ay lo n g, li teral ly hu n d red s o f them, bu t y o u ' re n o t s e ei n g them. T he reas o n y o u ' re mi s s i ng them i s o bv i o u s: It' s i mp o ss i b le to n o ti c e a B VS i f PT V i s ho ld i n g y o u r atte n ti o n o n d efen d i n g y o u r CVS. A tten ti o n i s the gatew ay to c o n sc i o us n es s . A tten ti o n i s the bu si n ess o f yo u r mi n d . A tten ti o n i s the p rin c ip al s erv i c e p ro v i d ed by the man agemen t s ec ti o n o f yo u r brai n w hi c h en ables y o u to fo c us i n and have a mi n d - - fo r y o u to thi n k abo u t things . H o w y o u mov e y o u r atten ti o n aro u nd i s v ery i n teres ti n g. T here are th re e d i s tin c t as p ec ts o f atten ti o n - di rec ti n g i n yo u r brai n :
1. di s e ng a g em e nt : esc ap in g fro m y o u r p res en t fi xati o n o f atten ti o n 2. m o ve m e nt : mo v emen t o f atten ti o n a c ro s s the c o gn o s , the v as t u n i v ers e o f p o s s i ble tho u ghts
3. e ng a g e me nt : atten d in g to a n ew obj ec t o u t o f a c o mp eti ti on o f an i n fi ni te mu lti tu d e o f p o s si ble c an d id ates . T he CVST OB VS u n i v ers al brai n s o ftw are i s d es i gn ed as a sw i tc h that help s y o u to c o n tro l y o u r at ten ti o n an d mo v e i t aro u n d , es p ec i ally w hen y o u r a tte n ti o n i s hab i tu ally fo c u s ed o n y o u r CVS an d i ts d efen c e. CVST OB VS c an he lp y o u d i s en gage an d mo v e y o u r atten ti o n aw ay f ro m y o u r CVS an d to en ga ge i t els ew he re o n a B VS, u n les s PT V s to p s yo u fro m d o i n g i t. Pa y a tte nti o n! T hi s i s a c o mman d w i th w hi c h w e are al l f ami li ar. W e a ll heard i t man y ti mes as c hi ld ren and w e s ti ll hear i t ( i f mo re s u btly exp res s ed ) ev ery d ay i n bu s i n es s . W e k n o w w hat i t means to d i rec t o ur atten ti o n ev en tho u gh i t i s s o methin g w e d o i n si d e o u r head . F o r examp l e:
In
a
noisy
c o c k tai l
p arty ,
you
c an
ho n e
in
on
on e
p arti c u lar
c o n v ers ati o n .
120 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
In a b u s in es s p res en tati o n , w hi le p res en ti n g to the ro o m at large an d d o i n g j u s tic e to her p res en tati o n as p lan n ed , an ac c o un t exec u ti v e c an s hi ft the at ten ti o n aro u n d i n her v i si o n to c atc h the exp res s i o n o n her exec u ti v e c li en t' s fac e w hi le ap p aren tly s tari n g i n ten tly at her au d i o v i s u al.
A mark eti n g p ro fes s i o n al c an s ho w y o u ho w to d eli berate ly s hi ft y o u r atten ti o n aw ay fro m y o u r p ro d u c t- d ri v en s trate gy to a bet ter c li en td ri v en o n e an d then y o u c an n o ti c e the w ay the i n fo rma ti o n befo re y o u rear ran ges i ts elf .
A habi t o f a tten ti o n may mean that t he fi rs t thi n g a hai rd res s er n o ti c es abo u t y o u i s yo u r hai r w hi le a d en ti s t may n o ti c e y o u r s mi le i n s tead .
On arri v i n g at O' H are In tern ati o n al ai rp o rt, I c an p i c k ou t my d ri v er fro m t he d o zen s o f o the rs w ai ti n g ev en tho u gh my n ame i s bad ly mi s sp elt o n hi s si gn .
A n o v er- c ri ti c al, PT V- i n fec ted p aren t c an p i c k o u t the o n e mi s tak e i n a c hi ld ' s w o rk and n o t s ee that the c hi l d has ac c o mp lis hed a great d ea l.
A s hared go al, li k e Si r B o b Geld o rf' s B an d -A i d , c an cu e a di v ers e gro u p o f i n di v i du al an d ev en c o mp eti ti v e en tertai n ers to gi v e p ri o ri ty to a c ertai n ev en t w here o the rw i s e they w o u ld all b e p ay i n g atten ti o n to s o methi n g els e.
A team lead e r c an p u ll bac k the atte n ti o n o f her team to a p ro j ec t- i n han d after a d i s trac ti o n had d raw n at ten ti o n aw ay .
A s p ec i fi c mo ti o n pu t befo re the bo ard c an fo c u s the at ten ti o n o f the d i rec to rs after a lo n g an d w an d eri n g d i s cu s si o n .
Mo s t
lan gu ag es
hav e
a
w o rd
li k e
A c htu n g!
w hi c h
fo c u s es
o n e's
atten ti o n .
121 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN W e exp eri en c e atten ti o n as a fi lter th at the man agemen t p art o f o u r br ai n ap p li es to the flo o d o f c o mp eti n g i n fo rmati o n that c o mes i n fro m o u r s en s es . Attention Disorders In d i v i du als w ho hav e s u ffered brai n -d amage c an lo s e thei r abi li ty to c o n tro l thei r atten ti o n . A tten ti o n d is o rd ers are man i fes ted in d i fferen t w ay s d ep end i ng o n the n atu re o f the d amage . It c an tak e the fo rm o f an i n abi li ty to es c ap e fro m a p arti c u lar fi xati o n an d s o they remai n s tuc k i n a v i ewp o in t regard le s s o f the d eman d s o f thei r en v i ro n men t. Or, d am age to th e ri ght s i d e o f t he b r ai n c an mak e i t i mp o s si ble fo r p ati en ts to p ay atten ti o n to the s i d e o p p o s i te the d a maged hemi s p here ev en to the p o i n t o f fai li n g to d res s the lef t s i d e o f thei r b o d i es . So meti mes , lo s s o f atten ti o n - co n tro l mean s c on s tan t and d ebi li tati n g d is trac ti o n . T hi s is bec aus e a p ers o n s u fferi n g fro m an atten ti o n di s o rd er c ann ot p rev en t atten ti o n fro m bei n g d i v erted by i rrel ev an t s ti mu li . The CVSTOBVS Switch Let' s n o w d i s en gage o u r atten ti o n fro m ' at ten ti o n ' an d mo v e i t to en gage o n ' o rtho go n ali ty ' . In q u an tu m p hy s i cs there i s s o methi n g c alled o rtho go n ali ty . Ortho go n ali ty m ean s mu tu al exc lu s i v i ty , that ther e c an n o t be tw o thi n gs i n the s ame p lac e at the s ame ti me. A s wi tc h c an n o t b e bo th OF F an d ON at the s ame ti me. If a fli p p ed c o in has lan d ed as H E A DS, then i t c an n o t als o be lan d ed as T A ILS at the s ame ti me. T o ge t to tai ls req u i res at leas t o n e mo re f li p o f the c o i n , as any o n e w ho vi si ts Melbo u rn e' s n ew c as i n o wi ll s o o n di s c ov er. Switching TO Sw i tc hes are u s efu l bec au s e they hav e at leas t tw o p o s i ti on s . T his means y o u c an es c ap e fro m o n e an d mo v e TO the o th er. It o n ly requ i res i s a fli p o f the s w i tc h:
s w i tc h: HE A DS TO T A ILS.
s w i tc h: OF F TO ON.
122 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
s w i tc h: CVS TO B VS.
Programming the Software So , w e w i n d u p w i th thi s si mp le, u s er fri en d ly n eu ro - s o ftw are p ac k age, thi s p o w erfu l thi n k i n g s w i tc h: fro m CVS t o B VS. H o w d o w e lo ad thi s n eu ro w are i n to y o u r n ec k to p? Rep eti ti o n . Rep eti ti o n . Rep eti ti o n . Pro g rammi n g the s o f tw are s w i tc h i n to y o u r n ec k to p i s eas y . B y exp lo i ti n g the p atte rn i n g s y s tem o f y o u r brai n , i t' s s i mp ly a matter o f r ep eati n g, " CVS T O B VS" . Y o u c an s i mp ly rep eat the s o ftw are c o d e - CVST OB VS - o n e hun d red ti mes a d ay ! E v ery d ay ! Starti n g to d ay . CVSTOBVS one hundred times per day (CVSTOBVS) x 100pd W hen I li v ed o n Park A v en u e i n New Y o rk I' d p rac ti s e by w alk i n g alo n g th e s i d ew alk ( A meri c an fo r fo o tp ath) an d as my left fo o t hi t t he g ro u n d I' d s ay " CVS" an d as my ri ght fo o t hi t the gro u n d I' d s ay " ... T O B VS" . CVST OB VS CV ST OB VS C VST OB VS C VST OB VS etc . No t o u t lo u d bec au s e B ellev u e Men tal H o s p i tal w as n ' t far aw ay an d they ’d thi n k I w as c razy ! It o n ly tak es a s ec o n d to s ay CVST O B VS s o 10 0 rep eti ti o n s eac h d ay tak es y o u 10 0 s ec o n ds o r a min u te an d 40 s ec o n ds. T hat' s all. So me d o thei r rep eti ti o n s i n the s ho w er, o the rs w hi le c o mmu ti n g, o th ers c o mbi n e thi s brai n exerc i s e w i th exerc i s i n g thei r bo d y . No w w hat w i ll hap p en i f y o u d o thi s? It w i ll mean that y o u ' re c o n s tru c tin g a n ew exec u ti v e n eu ro s o ftw are p attern i n y o u r brai n . T h e mo re y o u p rac ti s e, th e s tro n ge r the p atte rn . T he s tro n ge r the p a ttern , the mo re p o w er i t w i l l hav e to o v e rri d e PT V. In s tead o f fi n di n g y o u rs elf lo c k ed i n to d efen d in g a CVS, y o u ' ll hes i tate ... an d y o u' ll
123 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN lo o k fo r . .. an d y o u ' ll s ee . .. an d then y o u ' ll s w i tc h to ... a B VS . A n d the w on d erfu l thi n g is that i f y ou p ain t the p attern s tro n g en o u gh i t w i ll w o rk o n ev ery o the r s k i ll y o u hav e . If y o u p rac ti c e go lf , th at w o n ' t mak e y o u a go o d c o o k w i ll i t? B ei n g go o d at go lf d o es n ' t TRA NSF E R to bei n g a go o d c o o k . B u t c o gn eti c s d o es . It i s a p ro c es s , an d as s uc h, i t' s d es i gn ed to tran s fer to an y s i tu ati o n , w hats o ev er. It' s gen eri c ! Better is Clever Y o u c an u s e c o gn eti cs to get b et ter ( an d ' better' mean s mo re c l ev er) a t go lf, be tte r at c o o k i n g, bette r at s tu d y i n g, bet ter a t li s ten i n g, bet ter at s o lv i n g bu s i n es s p ro blems , b et ter at s elli n g, bett er at c rea ti n g o p p o rtu n i ti es , better at mak i n g d ec i si o n s , better at han d li n g fami ly matters , bette r at d eali n g w i th p ers o n al s i tu ati o ns , better at g etti n g b et ter , be tter a t an y thi n g! T he fi rs t s tep is to get s tarted o n y ou r 10 0 rep eti ti o n s eac h d ay o f CVST OB VS. T o get the fu ll ben efi t o f c o gn eti c s , the p ri c e is 1 min u te an d 40 s ec o n ds a day ! Let' s s tart n o w . Say thi s o u t lo u d o n c e, i t o n ly tak es o n e s ec on d . Say : CVST OB VS. Go o d . No w let' s B VS that. W e' re go i n g fro m 1 to 10 . T hat s i mp ly mean s rep eati n g the CVST OB VS s w i tc h ten ti mes . I t m ay feel a li ttl e s i lly at fi rs t bu t n o o n e' s go i n g to hu rt y o u fo r d o i n g i t, an d y o u ' ll alr ead y be w ell o n y o u r w ay . Sa y i t no w t e n t im e s o u t lou d: C VSTO B VS C VSTOB V S C VSTOB V S C VSTOB VS C VSTO B V S C VSTO B VS C VSTOB V S C VSTOB V S C VSTOB VS C VSTO B V S If y o u thi n k i t' s di ffi c u lt to get y o u to s ay i t o u t lo u d , i magi n e w hat i t w as li k e to get a Mo n te Car lo au d i to ri u m fu ll o f o v e r a tho u s an d IB M exec u ti v es fro m al l o v er the w o rld , w i th fi v e t ran s lato rs , to d o i t! B u t they d i d i t, an d n ow they c an u s e i t, to o . CVST OB VS s i mp ly means that the c urren t w ay i s fin e, bu t there' s alw ay s a better w ay , ten ti mes better , i f o n ly w e reme mber to d eli be rately lo o k fo r i t. If y o u w ere to rep eat a hu n d red o f tho s e s w i tc hes eac h d ay ( that i s rep eat CVST OB VS a hu n d red ti mes ) , y o u w o u ld be k eep i n g the s w i tc h i n y o u r s ho rt- term
124 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN memo ry s o that the p atte rn c an li n k u p w i th the p ro j ec ts an d s i tu ati o ns that c o me u p fo r y o u d u ri n g the d ay . F o r examp le:
y o u mi ght get w ri te r' s blo c k w hi le d o i n g a bu s i n ess rep o rt – CVST OB VS
y o u mi ght fi n d y o u rs elf bei n g a s p ac e glu tto n i n a meeti n g – CVST OB VS
y o u mi ght be try i n g to help a c u s to mer s o lv e a p ro blem – CVST OB VS
y o u mi ght be s u rfi n g the n et lo o k i n g f o r an o p p o rtu n i ty – CVST OB VS
y o u mi ght be w o rri ed an d d ep res s ed abo u t mo n ey – CVST OB VS
y o u mi ght be abo u t to d ec i d e w hat to hav e fo r lu n c h – CVST OB VS
y o u mi ght be bo ri n g a c u s to mer – CV ST OB VS
y o u mi ght be bei n g bu lli ed by a fri en d o r fami ly member – CVST OB VS
y o u mi ght be w atc hi n g T V - CVST OB V S.
Rep eti ti o n ens u res that the s w i tc h wi ll p o p u p at a ti me w hen y o u n eed to u s e i t. A n d w hen i t d o es p op u p , then w hat? To Look Is To See If y o u d ec i d e to lo o k fo r a B VS, y o u w i ll s ee i t. Y es , y o u real ly w i ll s ee i t. W hat ti me i s i t? ( Chec k y o u r w atc h an d rec o rd the ti me here
.)
Is n ' t i t amazi n g! T he ti me i s alw ay s there , B U T y o u on ly s ee i t w hen y o u ac tu ally lo o k fo r i t. T hi n k ab o u t that fo r a mo men t! T hro u gh trai n i n g an d p rac ti c e y o u r brai n learn ed ( d ev elo p ed the c o gn i ti v e p attern ) to tel l the ti me, lo n g ago . On e j u s t n eed s to u s e the s w i tc h: “W hat ti me i s i t? ”; an d H ey! Pres to ! ... w e ge t t o s ee the ti me! T he s ame ap p li es to a B VS.
125 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
It' s y o u r atten ti o n that c o n tro ls y o u r behav i o u r. Y o u n eed a t ri gg er to ma n i p u late y o u r atten ti o n fro m me rely fo c u s i n g o n y o u r CVS an d to get i t to s w i tc h to a B VS. T hi s is als o c alled lateral thi n k i n g o r c reati v e thi n k in g. Y o u ' v e d o n e i t man y ti mes befo re bu t y o u n eed to d o i t b ette r an d mu c h mo re o ften - o n c o mman d! T he k ey to c r eati v i ty i s remembe ri n g to be c reati v e at an y p arti c u lar mo men t, remembe ri n g to u s e the s w i tc h CVST OB VS. W hat ti me i s i t? Seek and You Shall Find CVST OB VS w i ll d ramati c ally i n c reas e y o u r o d d s o f fi n d i n g i d eas , bec au se y o u w i ll be ac ti v ely lo o k i n g fo r them , habi tu al ly , as a matt er o f p e rs o n al p o li c y . Y o u c an get a go o d id ea to d ay , a better i d ea to mo rro w an d y o u get the bes t i d ea ... n ev er! T here' s alw ay s a B VS! T hi s mean s that y o u c an hav e a p erfec tly vali d CVS, bu t there mu s t a lw ay s b e a b ette r o n e. T here' s alw ay s a B VS! T he d i fferen c e betw een the w ay y o u u s e y ou r n ec k top n ow , an d the w ay i t c o u ld o p erate, i s u p to the s o ftw are y o u us e. E ac h ti me y ou d o y o u r 10 0 rep eti ti o n s o f CVST OB VS gu a ran tees th at y o u a re k eep i n g y o u rs elf, y o u r fami ly , y o u r s c ho o l o r c o mp an y , o n the ro ad to a B VS. A n d , thi s s o ftw are i s v ery c o o l w hen it c o mes to p ro tec ti n g y o u r n ec k to p fro m PT V.
CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS CVSTOBVS
126 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
QRH Styleware QUALITY RECOGNITION HUMOUR QUALITY RECOGNITION HUMOUR QUALITY RECOGNITION HUMOUR QUALITY RECOGNITION HUMOUR QUALITY RECOGNITION HUMOUR QUALITY RECOGNITION HUMOUR QUALITY RECOGNITION HUMOUR QUALITY RECOGNITION HUMOUR
What is Styleware? Sty lew are i s n ew . It' s a s o ftw are p ac k age d ev o ted s p ec i fi c ally to hel p i n g the brai n u s er c ho o s e a w o rld - c las s s ty le that i s c o mp ati ble w i th bein g a PT V- fre e thi n k er. W hen i t c o mes to thi n k i n g an d behav i o u r, w h at c an be mo r e i mp o rtan t than s ty le? Style A Strategy for Behaviour A s ty le i s a s trategy fo r b ehav i o u r. A p ers o n 's s ty le d etermi n es n o t o n ly w hat that p ers o n w i ll allo w hi ms elf o r he rs elf to d o , bu t als o the w ay he o r s he w i ll d o i t. Sty le i s that in tan gi b le q u ali ty abo u t behav i o u r that leav es a mo re las ti n g i mp res s i on than the behav i o u r i ts el f. Lead ers , li k e Co c o Chan el, J u li u s Caes ar, Po p e J o hn XX III, E v a Pero n an d the Dalai Lama are remembe red as mu c h fo r thei r p ers o n al s ty le as fo r thei r s p ec i fi c ac ti o n s .
127 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Your Personal Style Sty le p ro v i d es a framew o rk fo r d ai ly thi n k i n g an d d ai ly behav i o u r. Y o u r p ers o n al s ty le s ho w s the w ay y o u hav e p o si ti on ed y o u rs elf in li fe, reflec ts y o u r p ers o n al li fe s trategy , an d mak es i t q ui te p o s si ble to p red i c t the w ay y o u are li k ely to behav e i n s i tu ati o ns . A lo v i n g gen tle w o man w ho treats h ers elf an d o the rs w i th res p ec t i s u nli k ely to begi n s u dd en ly an d i n exp li c ably behav i n g li k e a Salo me. A Sc ro o ge i s un li k ely to s tart s u d d en ly p lay i n g b all w i th t he k i d s o r to j o i n B i g B ro thers - - bu t , ev en a Sc ro o ge c an c han ge! Changing Your Style Y o u c an ' t hi d e y o u r p ers o n al s ty le. A s i n gle ac ti o n may o r may n o t go u n n o ti c ed bu t y o u r behav i o u r p attern s are i mp o s s i ble to hi d e. R ep eti ti o n attrac ts at ten ti o n . Y o u r p attern o f behav i o u r i s an exhi bi ti o n o f y o u r p ers o n al s ty le j u s t as the p attern o f y o u r p ers o n al o p in i o ns i s a lo u d adv erti s emen t o f the s tat e o f y o u r mi n d . B u t, i f y o u ' re n o t hap p y w i th y o u r p ers o n al s ty le, there i s n o law that s ay s y o u hav e to li v e w i th i t. Y o u c an s i mp ly c han ge i t. Peo p le ar e d o i n g thi s ev ery d ay . Sty le i s a matter o f p ers o n al c ho i c e, o n c e y o u c o me o f age . It i s i n d ep en d en t o f bac k gro u n d , ed u c ati o n , o r i n c o me; i t has muc h to d o w i th thi n ki n g the w ay y o u c ho o se to d eal w i th i n fo rmati o n - - in o rd er to d eal w i th s i tu ati o n s . Y o u c an c ho o s e the p ers o n al i d i o m w i thi n w hi c h to li v e y o u r li fe, j u s t a s y o u c an c ho o s e the tel ev i s i o n p ro grams y o u w i s h to w atc h, t he f ri en d s y o u w i s h to mi x w i th, the c lo thes y o u w is h to w ear, the att i tu d es y o u wi s h to ad op t o r the W eb s i tes y ou w i s h to v i si t. Chan gi n g i s s i mp le on c e y o u mak e the d ec i si o n . Y et mak in g the d ec is i o n co u ld tak e 2 0 y ears ! It req u i res an ac t o f wi ll. No t c han gi n g, o f c o u rs e, i s the d ec is i on to k eep the s ty le y o u c u rren tly hav e. T he s ty le o f the Clev e r B rai n u s er c an mo s t read i ly be d es c ri bed by QRH w hi c h s tan d s fo r the balan c e amo n g thes e c harac te ri s ti c s : Qu ali ty , Rec o gn i ti on , H u mo u r. T he QRH s ty le i s c on temp o rary an d c o o l bu t has a tas te o f w hat u s ed to be c alled n o bles s e o bli ge.
128 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Your Virtual Board of Directors W hen i t c o mes to c han gi n g y o u r s ty le, i t i s v ery us efu l to hav e a c lear v i ew o f the c han ges y o u w i s h to mak e an d j us t ho w y o u ' d li k e to s ee y o u rs elf. Chan gi n g i s eas i er i f y o u hav e a mo d el o r a p i c tu re o r a c o ac h - s o meo n e to gi v e y o u gu i d an c e. F o r my o w n gu i d an c e, I u s e my p ers o n al gro u p o f vi rtu al men to rs , my Vi rtu al B o ard o f Di rec to rs . T o my Vi rtu al B o ard ( w hi c h i s happ y to meet i n my mi n d w hen ev er I w an t them to meet) I am free to ap p o i n t, as a no n - p aid Di rec to r, an y o n e I c ho o s e. I' v e had members fro m the p r es en t o r fro m the p as t o r fro m a fu tu re n o t y et a reali ty . I c ho o s e bo ard memb ers fo r d i ffe ren t r eas o n s . I' v e had t hem fo r s p eec h c o ac hi n g, fo r d res s , fo r c o n v ers ati o n , fo r d ec i s i o n- mak i n g, fo r
w i t,
fo r
c o mp as s i o n ,
fo r
lo o k s ,
fo r
s ti mu lati o n ,
fo r
p ro v o c ati o n ,
fo r
en c o u ragemen t, fo r s en ti men tal reas o n s an d fo r i ns pi rati o n . F o r examp le, at d i ffe ren t ti mes o v er the y ears , s eats o n my Vi rtu al B o ard hav e been held by Ci c ero , N as tas i a K i n sk i , J ean d e la Vale t, Maj o r T e rry H ay es D F C, J u li es Caes ar, Sak i , A u d rey H ep bu rn , P ro fes s o r Geo r ge G allu p , W .C. F i e ld s , my fa ther, the Pri n c e o f W ales , Ri c hard Daw k i ns , Dame E li zabeth Mu rd o c h, F ra M arti n Lu ther, A n to ni o Carlo s J o b i m, my g ran d mo ther, Po p e J o hn Pau l I, B ri an F err y , A lber t E i ns tei n , Os c ar W i ld e, G eo rg e Co s t an za, Pro fes s o r Ro ge r Sho rt F RS , Mu s as hi , Qu een Is ab ella an d man y o thers w ho s e n ames I n eed n ' t men ti o n . T hes e hav e been s o me o f my p ers o n al fav o u ri tes an d fro m w ho m I hav e rec ei v ed mu c h ad v i c e, s up p o rt an d gu i d an c e - free o f c ha rge an d o n - c all an y ti me, an y p lac e. Y o u c an o p erate y o u r Vi rtu al B o ard al o n g the li n es o f a tho u ght exp eri men t .
Appointing Your Directors T he p o in t, o f c o u rs e, is to c ho o s e yo u r o w n Di rec to rs bec aus e y ou ad mi re s o me as p ec t o f thei r s ty le an d y o u w an t to emu late tha t as p ec t, i n y o u r o w n w ay , s o y o u n eed thei r ad v i c e to d o s o . Other p e o p le hav e to ld me they u s e s i mi lar strate gi es an d hav e c ho s en men tal ad v i s ers fo r thei r o w n d ev elo p men t.
129 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
If y o u w i s h, yo u c an si mp ly read a go o d bi o grap hy o f y ou r p o ten ti al s ty le d i rec to rs an d i f i t s ati s fi es y o u c an ap p oi n t them to y o u r bo ard . It' s als o gr eat fu n to d o ! Q is for Quality W hen i t c o mes to the su b j ec t o f s ty le, the c lev er brai n u s er i s o n e w ho alway s tri es to p o s i ti v ely u p grad e a s i tu ati o n fro m i ts c u rren t s t ate to a bet ter s tate . In o the r w o rd s , y o u are m ak i n g a d eli be rate effo rt to i mp ro v e the qu a li ty o f th e s i tu ati o n , the qu ali ty o f the w ay i n w hi c h the i n fo rmati o n i s arran ged . Quality is Adding Value Qu ali ty i s i mp o rtan t. A s a c lev er bra i n u s er y ou ' re c o n c ern ed wi th ad d in g v alu e to the s i tu ati o n . T he p oi n t is n o t w hether at an y p arti c u lar mo men t i n ti me y o u are s u c c ess fu l. W hat i s far mo re i mp o rt an t i s the o v era ll s ty le , th at i s , the d eli berate p o li c y o f alw ay s bei n g c o n c ern ed w i th i mp ro v i n g the v alu e o f the s i tu ati o n the qu es t fo r qu ali ty . Co n tras t thi s w i th the d u mb ' w hat ev er- I- c an - get- aw ay - w i th' atti tu d e. Qu ali ty i s a matter o f c ho i c e, a matt er o f s ty le. On ly by u n d ers tan di n g the p ro c es s o f ad d i n g v alu e w i ll w e b e ab le to u n d ers tan d the k ey to p ro d u c tiv i ty an d s o lv e w hat ap p ear to be ' ec o n o mi c' p ro b lems . The Habit of Quality Qu ali ty i s better . Qu ali ty i s i mp ro v emen t. Qu ali ty i s gen era l exc e llen c e. T he habi t o f qu ali ty is the habi t o f fi n di n g a better w ay , a bette r p o s s i bi li ty , a better v i ew , a better c ho i c e, a b ette r alte rn ati v e, a bette r o u tc o me , a bett er atti tu d e, a bet te r o p i ni o n , a better li fe . If y o u c an n o t fi n d a bet ter al tern ati v e i n a s i tu ati o n then y o u c an n o t ad d v alu e to the s i tu ati o n . T hat' s w hy CVST OB V S, the s w i tc h to a bett er w ay o f lo o k i n g at a s i tu ati o n , i s a s k i ll o r s trategy that i s c en tral to the habi t o f qu ali ty . “ Qu al i ty i s n o t an ac t” s ai d A ri s to tle " i t' s a habi t! "
130 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
A s w e hav e d i sc u ss ed earli er. th e c e lebrat ed Greek t hi n k er Plato li v ed i n an c i en t A then s aro u n d 2 50 0 y ears ago . A t a ro u n d the s ame ti me, i n an c i en t Chi n a, li v ed an o ther thi n k er K ' u ng F u T zu . T hi s an ci en t Chi n es e mas ter s tarted o n e o f the w o rld ' s mo s t s u c c ess fu l sc ho o ls o f thi n k i n g an d his memes hav e s p rea d aro u n d the w o rld an d i n fec ted ev en mo re p eo p le than Plato ' s . Mas ter K ' u n g ( o r C o nf u c i u s as he has c o me to be k n o w n i n the W es t) d ev elo p ed p o s i ti v e memes o n ethi c s , b ehav i o u r an d relati o n s hi ps and d ev o ted his thi n k in g to fi n d in g bette r p o s s i bi li ti es in the w o rld . H e w as a gre at m as ter o f CV S to B V S thi n k i n g. Self X10 Co n fu c i us had an i n s ati able thi rs t f o r k n o w led ge o f an ti qu i ty . In hi s s ay i n gs , he rare ly u s ed n egati v e p ro hi b i ti o n s bu t p refer red to o ffer p o s i ti v e memes o n ho w to fi n d a B VS i f y o u w i s h to b e hav e as a c hu n - tzu o r gen t leman . W h at mo v ed hi m w as n o lu s t fo r p o w er b u t the w i ll to at tai n tru e mas tery . I f y o u s eek ' s elf x10 ' then u n d ers tan d y o u r s tren gths an d d ev elo p them w i th p rac ti s e and mas tery . Bu t he w as n o abs trac t p hi lo s o p her. H e s aw the need to be bo th a man o f thi n k in g an d a man o f ac ti o n . I h e ar and I for ge t . I s ee a nd I bel ie v e . I do and I unde r s t and. - C onf u c i u s H i s n atu re s tri k es u s as s mi li n g, o p en an d n atu ral. H e w as a man o f the w o rld an d o f the s treet w ho w as d ri v en to fi n d w ay s to help i mp ro v e the hu man c o nd i ti o n . H e fo u n d ed a s c ho o l fo r fu tu re s tates men . H e ed i ted the c las si c s . A n d , mos t si gn i fi c an t o f all he i s c red i ted w i th b egi n n i n g Chi n a' s great exp lo s i o n o f thi n k i n g i n all i ts bread th an d p o ten ti ali ty . A s a teac her Co n fu c i u s w as alw ay s en c o u ragi n g hi s s tu d en ts to learn . H e als o beli ev ed i n the i mp o rtan c e o f d ai ly trai n i n g an d p rac ti s e. T he Mas ter s ai d: " Is i t n o t
131 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN p leas an t to learn c o n ti n u ally an d then to p u t i t i n to p rac ti c e?" Regard l es s o f ho w the w o rld treated hi m, Co n fu c i us c o u ld s ti ll mai n tai n a p o s i tiv e atti tu d e an d go o n learn i n g an d teac hi n g.
132 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
B o th J es u s and Co n fu ci u s , as tw o of hi s to ry ' s mo s t famo u s teac hers , hav e s o me thi n gs i n c o mmon . Y es hu a ( J es u s ) , w ho ev en tu ally bec ame k n o w n by hi s fo llo w ers as ' T he Lo rd ' , le ft n o ac c o u n t o f hi s li fe o r his teac hin gs in hi s ow n hand . H is s ay i n gs , w hi c h he s p o k e i n A ramai c , had to w ai t fo r man y y ears a fter hi s d eath to be w ri tten d o w n i n Greek an d Lati n . H u n d red s o f y ears later they w er e ag ai n tran s lated i n to German by Marti n Lu ther. T hen i n 1611, they w e re tr an s lated ag ai n in to the o ld Shak es p earean E n gli s h o f the K i n g J ames v ers i o n and i ts d esc en den ts ( Pro tes tan t) . A n d agai n i n to the Do u ay Rhei ms v ers i o n an d i ts v ari ati o n s (Catho li c ) . Mo r e rec en tly , i n the 2 0 th c en tu ry , there hav e b een a w av e o f c o n temp o rary E n gli s h tr an s lati o n s li k e the N ew In tern ati o n al Ve rs i o n ( E v an geli c al) . W hat w e ar e le ft w i th to d ay a re t ho s e s ay i n gs o f J es u s that hav e been ed i ted an d tran s lated o v er the mi llen n i a by hi s d i s ci p les an d his di s ci p les ' d is c ip les s o w e c an o n ly mak e ed u c ated gu es s es ab o u t the ac c u rac y o f hi s o ri gi n al s ay in gs . It i s i n teres ti n g to n o te that man y Engli s h- s p eak in g p eo p le are n o t ev en aw are that the o ri gi n al lan gu a ges o f the B i ble are H ebrew ( O ld T es tamen t) an d Gr eek ( New T es tamen t) . A s i mi lar s i tu ati o n ap p li es to Co n fu ciu s w ho bec ame k n o w n to hi s fo llo w er s as ' T he Mas ter' . Co n fu c i u s is the ro man i s ed v ers i o n o f K ' u n g F u - tzu w hi c h mean s Mas ter K u n g. Li k e J es u s , Co n fu c i u s left n o w ri ti n gs o f hi s o w n an d s o w e als o hav e to rely o n the ac c o u n ts hand ed d o wn by later gen erati o n s o f hi s d i s ci p les . B o o k s alleged to be w ri tten by hi m ( B o o k o f Od es , B o o k o f Ri tu al, Spri n g an d A u tu mn A nn als ) w ere ac tu ally o n ly ed i ted by hi m. Co n fu ci u s w ro te n o w ork s o f hi s o w n . E v en the A n alec ts o f Co n fu c i us w as w ri tten by a d i s ci p le o r d i s c ip les w ho
133 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN w ro te d o w n a c o l lec ti o n o f T he Mas ter' s s ay i n gs w hi c h they began w i th the, n o w famo u s , p hras e " Co n fu c i us s ay s ..." . In ad d i ti o n to thes e s i mi lari ti es , there a re a ls o s o me i n teres ti n g d ifferen c es betw een thes e tw o great teac he rs . T h e Lo rd emp has i s ed the J u d aic trad i tio n o f ' T he F ather i n H eav en ' an d the ' li fe o f the s p i ri t' as qu o ted i n J es u s ' d yi ng w o rd s : " F ather, i n to y o u r han d s I c o mmen d my s p i ri t" . B y c o n tras t, T he Mas te r fo c u s ed o n man i n to d ay 's w o rld . In p arti c u lar, the relati o n s hi p betw een man an d o the r men . H e p lac ed n o i mp o rtan c e at a ll o n th e s p i ri t w o rld . H e w as c on c ern ed abo u t the real w o rld an d the o bli gati o n s inheren t i n ' the fi v e r elati o n s hi p s ' betw een : father an d s o n , hu s ban d an d w i fe, o ld er bro the r an d y o un ger b ro th er, fri en d an d fri en d , an d ru ler an d s u bj ec t. A ltho u gh p o w er w as hered i tary i n Chi n a, Co n fu c i us s tres s ed that the ru ler s ho u ld lead fro m the fro n t by s etti n g a go o d examp le to hi s p eo p le. T hi s has bec ome k n o w n as T he Go ld en Ru le o r th e " Do to o the rs as y o u w i s h d o n e to y o u" p hi lo so p hy . T he Mas ter' s i d eal w as the c hu n - tzu o r w hat W es tern e rs w o u ld c all ' the ge n tleman ' . T he c hu n - tzu p rac ti s ed d ai ly to attai n exc ellen c e i n the fo llo w i n g n o ble me mes :
c hi h o r i n tegri ty
i o r fai rn es s
c hu ng o r lo y alty
s hu o r c o - o p erati o n
re n o r c o mp as s i o n .
If a ru le r ex emp li fi ed thes e v i rtu es i n all o f hi s ' fi v e rel ati o n s hi p s' then hi s ru le w o u ld be a s u c c ess an d his p eo p le w ou ld be hap p y . T hi s
is
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v ery
in teres ti n g
p o li ti cal
mo d el
an d
qui te
mo d ern
bec au s e
the
134 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN relati o n s hi p s are p ers o n al on es n o t organ i s ati o n al o n es . B ehav i ou r i s go v ern ed by a bo tto m- u p ap p ro ac h rather t han i mp o s ed by a to p - d ow n o n e. Y o u n g p eo p le bec o me i n fec ted w i th t hes e n o ble memes by i mi tati o n an d the go o d examp le s et by th e ru l er, the fathe r, t he o ld e r bro ther an d the hu s ba n d . T hes e i d eals bec o me i n tern ali s ed , an d i f t he i n d i v id u al p rac ti s es thes e memes then thi s s p read s o u t i n a v as t w o rd - o f- mou th n etw o rk to i n fec t the s tate as a w ho le. It' s an o rg an i c mo d el an d s eems to hav e been v ery s u c c es s fu l. T hro u gho u t hi s to ry fo rei gn v i s i to rs to the v as t Chi n es e s tate hav e n o ti c ed an d c o mmen ted o n i ts fami li al o r gan i s ati o n . In Chi n a, befo re T he Mas ter , the s t ate w as ru led by fo rc e. Po w e r w as s ei zed b y w arri o rs w ho s tru ggl ed amo n g the ms elv es fo r s u p remac y . T hey ru l ed the o t her th ree c las s es - merc han ts , arti s an s an d p eas an ts - by fo rc e. A fter Co n fu c i u s there w as a p arad i gm s hi ft to ethi c al ru le. T he s ame thr ee c las s es w ere n o w ru led by s c ho lars an d the C o n fu c i an ethi c s ho w ed that i n d eed th e p en c an be mi ghti er th an the s w o rd .
135 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
A s w e hav e exp lo red in p rev i o us thi n k in g les s o ns , W es tern tho u ght has been d o mi n ated by the Pla to n i c ethi c : the i mp o rtan c e o f T he T ru th . E as te rn tho u ght has been d o mi n ated by the Co n fu ci an ethic : the i mp o rtan c e o f T he Relati o n s hi p. In the c o n tex t o f w hat w e hav e b een exp lo ri n g abo u t i n fo rmati o n v i ru s es ( o r memes ) , abo u t ho w i d eas s p read by w o rd - o f- mo u th an d abo u t ho w c u ltu r es bec o me i n fec ted by i d ea- v i ru s es an d memes w e c an id en ti fy the fo llo w i n g Plato n i c an d Co n fu c i an memes: PT V - the Plato T ru th Vi ru s , an d RMC - the Rel ati o n s hi p Meme o f Co n fu c i u s . It i s i n teres ti n g to u n d ers tan d an d a p p rec i ate the d i ffe ren t thi n k i n g s trat egi es that hav e ev o lv ed o u t o f the Pla to T ru th V i ru s an d the Relati o n s hip Meme o f Co n fu c i us . In
my
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u n d ers tan d s the thi nk i n g s ty le o f a d ifferen t c u ltu re i t mak es i t easi er to ap p rec i ate the u n i qu e elemen ts o f o n e' s o w n . PTV and RMC PT V p lac es the emp has i s on hav in g the tru th, o n bei n g ri ght. T o d emo n s trate tha t o n e i s ri ght, i n thi s trad i ti o n , i t has tu rn ed o u t that the bes t w ay to d o thi s i s by s ho w i n g o thers to be w ro n g. A s a resu lt o f PT V w e hav e s een the ri s e o f do gmati s m, i n to leran c e, arro gan c e an d p ers ec u tio n . T hi s is no t w hat Plato i n ten d ed , o f c o u rs e, bu t i s a c o n s equ en c e o f PT V. Ou r o w n p arli amen tary behav i o u r, bas ed o n the W es tmi n s ter sy s tem, i s a regu larly telev i s ed examp le o f " I- am- ri ght- an d- y o u - arew ro n g" i n ac ti o n . RMC p lac es the emp has i s o n the i n terac ti o n , the i n terc han ge, the c o n n ec ti o n . T hi s fi ts i n w i th c o n temp o rary med i a- d ri v en tren d s i n p sy c ho lo gy , s o c i olo gy an d p hi lo s o p hy w here the ac c en t i s o n u nd ers tan d i n g the relati o n s hi p s an d d efi n in g the ro les . B ehav i o u r i s go v ern ed les s f r o m exte rn al l aw s an d mo re f ro m i n t ern ali s ed c o n c ep ts o f " the gen tleman , the y u p p i e, the gen X er, Mars /Ven u s , n eti qu ette, green i es " an d i d en ti fi c ati o n wi th bran d s and li fes ty les .
136 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
In s u mmary , the mai n d i fferen c e betw een the Co n fu c i an ethi c an d the Pla to n i c on e i s thi s :
the Co n fu c i an ethi c i s mo re c o n c ern ed w i th man n ers an d ap p ro p ri ate behav i o u r. It d o es n ' t matter s o mu c h w hether y o u ar e ' ri ght' o r ' w ro n g' as lo n g as y o u behav e w ell.
the Plato n i c ethi c i s c o nc ern ed wi th ' tru th' an d w hether y o u are i n the ' ri ght' o r n o t. If y o u a re ' ri gh t' the n that c an exc u s e y o u r behav i o u r bec au s e ' tru th' i s o n y ou r s i d e. In to d ay ' s s hri n ki n g w o rld there i s an o v erlap o f PT V an d RMC as the c u ltu ral bo u n d ari es are b ec o mi n g mo re fu zzy w i th glo bali s ati o n . Y et the d i fferen c e s are s ti ll there an d the rec en t U S/Chi n a i n c i den t rega rd i n g the s p y p lan e i s a c lear examp le o f ho w the tw o c u ltu res hav e d i ff eren t v i ew s o f the s i tu ati o n . It s eemed th at Chi n a fe lt th e A meri c an s d id n o t behav e w ell r ega rd i n g thei r lo s t p i lo t an d p ro to c o l req u i red an ap o lo g y . W hi le, o n th e o the r h an d , A meri c a felt they w ere i n the ' ri ght' s o they d i d n o t n eed to ap o lo gi s e. No d o u bt thes e thi n gs are mo re c o mp li c ated than that bu t i t d o es help to get an o v erv i ew i f y o u c an .
137 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
re c o g ni ti o n / n an i n s tan c e o f ac k n ow led gi n g the exi s ten c e, v ali d i ty , c harac ter an d c lai ms o f an o ther ~ O xf o r d Eng li s h Di c t io na r y
" W he rea s r ec o gnit io n o f the i nhe re nt d i g ni ty a nd o f the e q u a l a nd u na lie na b le ri g hts o f a ll m e m b e rs o f the hu m a n fa m i ly i s the fo u nd a ti o n o f fre e d o m , j u s ti c e a nd p e a ce i n the wo rld .. . . .. ... " --T hi s Preamble o f the U n i v ers al Dec l arati o n o f H u man Ri ghts w as ad o p ted by the U n i ted Nati o ns Gen eral A s s embly o n 10 Dec ember 1948 .
Mammal i n tel li gen c e i s n o t the o n ly o n e to d i s c o v er the s trat egi c ben efi ts o f mu tu al re c o g ni ti o n. T o mak e a li v i n g, o t her an i mals , p lan ts an d ev en bac teri a p lay v ari o u s games o f c o o p erati o n an d mu tu al rec o gn i ti o n . Mu tu al rec o gn i ti o n is the o bv i o u s reali s ati o n that w hat i s i mpo rtan t to me i s als o i mp o rtan t to y o u , s o let' s c o o p erate.
No man i s an i s land ! Y o u ' re n o t Ro bi n s on Cru s o e! J o i n the c lu b! W hat go es aro u n d c o mes aro u n d ! Li v e an d let li v e! A ll fo r o n e an d o n e fo r all! T i t fo r tat . E Plu ri bu s U n u m etc etc . W hat d o es i t all mean ? I t mean s I' ll ac k n o w led ge y o u r exi s ten c e an d the matc hi n g v ali d c lai ms that ari s e fro m y o u r exi s ten c e an d , i n retu rn , y o u ' ll d o the s ame fo r me.
138 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Mutual recognition Man y p eo p le hav e talk ed ab o u t the v alu e o f rec o gn i ti o n . It' s n o thi n g n ew . H ere a re s o me o f them: Se ne c a H e that d o es go o d to an o ther d o es go o d als o to hi ms elf. C o nf u c i us H e w ho w i s hed to s ec u re the go o d o f o thers , has a lread y s ec u red hi s o w n . H i ndu Pro ve r b H elp y o u r bro ther' s bo at ac ro s s , an d l o ! y o u r o w n has reac hed the s ho re. R i c ha r d D a wk i ns Ni c e gu y s fi n is h fi rs t. We s t e rn Pro ve r b Y o u s c ratc h my b ac k an d I' ll s c ratc h yo u rs . Zi g Zi g la r I beli ev e y o u c an get ev ery thi n g y o u w an t i n li fe i f y o u j u s t help en o u gh o the r p eo p le get w hat t hey w an t. Ma rc u s Au re li us Men exi s t fo r the s ak e o f o n e an o ther. H e nry F o r d Co mi n g to gether i s a begi n ni n g; K eepi n g to gether i s a p ro gres s ; W o rki n g togethe r i s s u c c ess . A lbe rt Ei ns t e i n W i tho u t d eep reflec ti o n , o n e k n o w s fro m d ai ly li fe that o n e exi s ts fo r o the r p eo p le. J e s us T here w as a man go i n g fro m J eru s ale m d o w n to J eri c ho w hen he fell i n to the han d s
139 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN o f ro bbe rs . T hey s tri p p ed hi m, beat hi m u p , an d w en t o ff leav i n g hi m h alf d ead . No w by c o i n ci d en c e a p ri es t w as go i ng d o w n that ro ad ; w hen he c au ght s i g ht o f hi m, he w en t o u t o f hi s w ay to av o i d hi m. In the s ame w ay , w hen a Lev i te c a me to the p lac e, he to o k o n e lo o k at hi m an d c ro s s ed the ro ad . B u t thi s Samari tan w ho w as trav el li n g that w ay c ame to w he re he w as an d w as mo v ed to p i ty at the s i ght o f hi m. H e w en t u p to hi m an d ban d aged hi s w o u n d s , p o u rin g o li v e o i l an d w i n e o n them. H e ho i s ted hi m o n to hi s o wn ani mal, bro u ght hi m to an i n n , and lo o k ed after hi m. T he n ext d ay he to o k o u t tw o s i lv er c o i n s , w hi c h he gav e to th e i n n k eep er, an d s ai d , " Lo o k after hi m, an d o n my w ay back I' ll rei mbu rs e y o u fo r an y ext ra ex p en s e y ou hav e had ." R e c o g ni ti o n c an be a c o mmod i ty whi c h c an be o f v alu e to us all. T her e are the three rec o gn i ti o n s : R1 - s e lf : rec o gn i ti o n o f on e' s s elf; R2 - o t he rs: rec o gn i ti o n o f the s elv es o f o thers ; R3 - s ys te m : rec o gn i ti on o f the s elv es o f s y s tems . If w e t reat rec o gn i ti o n as a c o mmo d ity , then i t c an be earn ed , t rad ed , an d i n v es ted i n , as are o ther c o mmo d i ti es . R1 - Self Recognition Rec o gn i ti o n o f o n e' s s elf i s a le gi ti mate rec o gn i ti o n o f the fac t o f o n e' s e xi s ten c e, an d a c reati v e i n teres t i n the qu ali ty o f o n e's exi s ten c e an d the p res erv ati o n o f o n e' s exi s tenc e. E ac h p ers o n rec o gn i s es the u n i qu e v iew that he o r s he has o f s i tu ati o n s , the u n i qu e w ay i n w hi c h he o r s he s e lec ts an d arran g es i n fo rmati o n ac c o rd i n g to h i s o r her u n i q u e exp eri en c e. Self- rec o gn i ti o n i n c lu d es the ri ght a n d w i lli n gn ess to c han ge the w ay w e lo o k at thi n gs , to s eek fres h an d b etter ar r an gemen ts o f i n fo rmati o n , to bu i ld a better i n d iv i du al w o rld i n w hi c h w e c an li v e.
R2 - Other Recognition Valu i n g rec o gn i ti o n o f o n e' s s elf au to mati c ally c arri es w i th i t a v alu e fo r the
140 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN rec o gn i ti o n o f the s elv es o f o thers . W e rec o gn i s e thei r rec i p ro c al ri gh ts ; thei r ri ght to a u n i qu e vi ew o f s i tu ati on s ; thei r ri ght to th e w ay they s elec t an d arran ge i n fo rmati o n ac c o rd i n g to thei r u n i que exp eri en c e; thei r ri ght to li v e i n thei r o w n w o rld s , as w e li v e i n o u rs . Rec o gn i ti o n o f o thers i n c lu d es the r i ght an d w i lli n gn es s to help them c han ge the w ay they lo o k at thi n gs , to help t hem s eek fr es h an d bette r a rran g e men ts o f i n fo rmati o n , to he lp them b u i ld bet ter i n d i v i d u al w o rld s i n w hi c h they c an li v e better , o f c o u rs e, i n T H E IR v i ew . T hi s i s n o t merely the i mp o s i ti o n o f o u r v i ew w i th the c lai m tha t s i n c e o u r v i ew i s " ri ght" fo r u s , then i t s ho u ld als o be " ri ght" fo r them. Rec o gn i ti o n o f o thers i s the v alu i n g an d ap p rec i ati on o f p lu rali ty a v ari ety o f o p i n i on s . Li v e an d let li v e. R3 - System Recognition Rec o gn i ti o n o f the s y s tem mean s reali s i n g that, o n balan c e, i f w e are all to en j o y the maxi mu m rec o gn i ti o n as i n di v i duals , gi v e go es a lo n g w i th tak e. Sy s tem rec o gn i ti o n means u nd ers tan d i n g the p arad o x o f s tru c tu re an d freed o m. It i s o n ly w i th the s tru c tu re o f th e br i d ge that w e en j o y the freed o m to c ro s s the rav i n e. T hi s p arad o x als o me an s the freed o m o f p ro d u c ti v i ty that c o mes w i th an elec tro n i c s tru c tu re li k e the i n tern et ; the f reed o m o f a hi gh er i n c o me that c o mes w i th the s tru c tu re o f ac q u i ri n g n ew an d mo re u s efu l s k i lls an d s trategi es ; the freed o m o f c o mp eten c e, c o n fi d en c e, an d p erfo rman c e that c o mes w i th the s tru c tu re o f d i s c ip li n e, p rac ti c e, an d rep eti ti o n . Rec o gn i ti o n o f sy s tems mak es p o ss i ble rec o gn i ti o n o f o thers , w hi c h i n tu rn mu lti p li es the rec o gn i ti o n w e c an enjo y fo r o u rs elv es .
E xamp le: Imagi n e the re a re ten p eo p le i n a s p ac es hi p hu rtli n g thro u gh s p ac e: R 1 - F i rs t, i f ev ery i n d i v i d u al p ass enger d ec i d es to rec o gn i ti o n hi ms elf o r hers elf , then eac h c an en j o y the rec o gn i ti o n of o n e p ers o n hi s o r her o w n s elf;
141 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN R 2 - Sec o n d , i f ev e ry i n d i v id u al p as sen ger d ec i d es to gi v e rec o gn i ti o n o f t he o the r p as s en gers , eac h c an en j o y the r ec o g n i ti o n o f ten p eo p le hi s o r her o w n P LU S that o f n i n e o thers ; R 3 - T hi rd , thi s s p ac es hi p is reall y a c las si c s o ci al s ys tem; i f eac h p as s en ger d ec i d es to rec o gn i s e the s y s tem the n the s y s tem c an c o n ti n u e to p ro v id e s afety , p ro gres s , hap p i n ess , c o o p erati o n , and a feeli n g o f s elf- i mp o rtan c e o r s elf-w o rth fo r all o n bo ard . So meti mes o u r lead ers are i n s pi ri n g examp les o f the 3 Rs and o ften they are n o t. Sti ll, i t' s i n all o u r i n teres ts to en c o u r age c o o p erati o n w herev e r w e c an fi n d i t. Papal Recognition Perhap s the mo s t w i d ely res p ec ted p o p e o f mo d ern ti mes w as J o hn XXII. In hi s mo s t famo u s En cy c li c al, Pac em i n Terri s , he c o n s id ered the ri ghts an d d u ti es o f mu tu al rec o gn i ti o n to b e s o i mp o rtan t that he w ro te a le tter ' to the C lergy an d F ai thfu l o f the en ti re Catho li c W o rld , an d to all Men o f Go o d W i ll ' s ay i n g: " T he n atu ral ri ghts o f w hi c h W e hav e s o far b een s p eak i n g are i n extri c ab ly bo u n d u p w i th as man y d u ti es , all ap p ly i n g to o n e an d the s ame p ers o n . T hes e ri ghts an d d u ti es d eri v e thei r o ri gi n , thei r s u s ten an c e, an d thei r i n d es tru c ti bi li ty fro m the n atu ral law , w hi c h i n c o n ferri n g the o n e i mp o s es the o ther. " T hu s , fo r examp le, the ri g ht to li v e i n v o lv es the d u ty to p res erv e o n e's li fe; the ri ght to a d ec en t s tan d ard o f li v i n g, t he d u ty to li v e i n a bec o mi n g f as hi o n ; the ri ght to be free to s eek o u t the tru th , the d u ty to d ev o te o n es elf to an ev er d eep er an d w i d er s earc h fo r i t. " On c e thi s i s ad mi tted , i t fo llo w s th at i n hu man s o c i ety o n e man ' s n atural ri gh t gi v es ri s e to a c o rres p o n d i n g d u ty in o ther men ; the d u ty , tha t i s , o f re c o gn i zi n g an d res p ec tin g that ri ght . E v ery bas i c hu man ri ght d raw s i ts au tho ri tati v e fo rc e fro m the n atu ral law , w hi c h c o n fers i t an d attac hes to i t i ts res p ec ti v e d u ty . " H en c e, to c lai m o n e' s ri ghts an d i gno re o n e' s d u ti es , o r o n ly half fu lfi l th em, i s li k e bu i ld i n g a ho u s e w i th on e han d an d teari n g i t d o w n w i th the o ther" .
Princely Recognition W hen
it
c o mes
to
the
u n d ers tan d in g
the
c o n c ep t
of
rec o gn i ti o n
an o ther
c o n tro v ers i al examp le i s the P ri n c e o f W ales . T he Pri n c e, w i th a tho u s an d y ears o f trad i ti o n b ehi n d hi m, has emerged as o n e o f the au then ti c lead ers o f the New Mi llen n i u m. Qu i te ap art fro m tho s e as p ec ts o f hi s li fe that s o o c c u py the atten ti o n o f the go s s i p
142 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN med i a, the Pri n c e has muc h mo re to o ffer u s . H e i s a s tro n g beli ev er in the c o n c ep t o f trai n i n g, p rac ti s i n g an d p ers o n al dev elo p men t an d has trai n ed an d s erv ed i n the Ro y al Nav y an d he i s als o w ell- k n o w n fo r hi s i n v o lv emen t in ac ti vi ti es li k e s teep lec has i n g, d i v in g, p arac hu ti n g a n d p o lo . In ad d i ti on , An tho n y H o ld en i n his bo o k Charles li s ts hi s i n teres ts as Carl J u n g, U n i ted W o rld Co lleges , o rgan i c farm i n g, altern ati v e med i c i n e, arc hi tec tu re w i th a hu man sc ale, u rb an regen era ti o n , y ou th d ev elo p men t and wi ld li fe ( bo th an i mal an d p lan t) , w ri ti n g that they a re al l " p i ec es o f a gi an t j i gs aw w hi c h fi ts to gether as a c o hes i v e w o rld v i ew . B etw een the m t hey amo u n t to a P ri n c ely B i ll o f H u m an Ri ghts bas ed o n Charles ' beli ef o f the i n n ate qu ali ti es o f the i n d i v i du al, hi s ri ght to li v e i n c o n d i ti o n s i n w hi c h he c an tak e p ri d e as p art o f a c ari n g, p rej u d i c e- free c o mmu n i ty w hi c h fu n c ti on s s mo o thly an d effec ti v ely " . Recognition for Self Pri n c e Charles meets man y p eo p le i n c en tres o f u rban s qu alo r. H e w o rk s to en c o u rage p eo p le to d eman d a s ay i n w hat hap p ens to them by s tres s in g the i mp o rtan c e an d the ef fec ti v en es s o f s elf- help . H e s t res s es , as fu n d amen t al to hi s o w n beli ef sy s tem, the ri ghts o f the i n d i vi d u al. H e s eeks to emp ow er p eo ple to lead thei r o w n li v es the w ay they c o n s id er bes t fo r thems e lv es . Recognition for Others T he Pri n c e als o p ro mo tes the c ri t i c al n eed fo r INT E RDE PE N DE NCE . In thi s res p ec t, hi s men to r Si r Lau ren s v an d er Po s t, ad v en tu rer an d p hi lo s o p her, h ad a grea t i mp ac t o n Charles an d w as go d father to hi s o ld es t s o n , Pri n c e W i lli am. Si r Lau ren s has a d eep res p ec t fo r the bu s hmen o f So u thern A fri c a w ho li ve i n to tal harmo n y w i th the K alaha ri D es ert . T he bu s hman ' s s p i ri tu al beli efs are ba s ed o n a balan c e o f the i n d i v id u al w i th n atu re, w i th the v i llage an d the t ri be - a b alan c e o f w ho len es s an d in terd ep en d enc e. In 198 7 Si r L au ren s to o k Pri n c e Ch arles to c o mmu n e to ge ther w i th hi s bu s hman fri en d s and the Pri n c e d ev elo p ed a lov e fo r the bu s hmen an d fo r the w i ld ern es s and remo ten es s o f thei r l an d s c ap es . In
Sy d n ey ,
d u ri n g
Au s trali a' s
198 8
B i- c en tenn i al
c elebrati o n s ,
the
Pri n c e
143 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN emp has i s ed hi s s u pp o rt fo r abo ri gi n es ' lan d ri ghts . W hen A u s trali an ac to r J ac k T ho mp s o n c o mmen ted that after 2 0 0 y ears A us trali an s are j u s t no w fin d in g o u t w hat abo ri gi n es hav e k n o w n fo r 40 ,0 0 0 y ears , the P ri n c e i n terru p ted hi m w i th " tho s e are my s en ti men ts en ti rely " . Recognition for the System H e o ften lead s the w ay w hen i t c o mes to s p eak in g u p agai ns t the c razy , s u i ci d al d i s res p ec t to the li fe s ys tems o f o u r p lan et - the ai r, the w ate r, the lan d an d the bi o - d iv ers i ty . In Lo n d o n i n 198 9, a t a c o n feren c e o n CF Cs ( c hlo ro flu o ro c ar bo n s ) the Pri n c e i n s is ted to d elegates o n the n eed fo r thei r c o mp lete e li mi n ati o n an d c harged go v ern men ts w i th an u rgen t agen d a t o i n terv en e. A gai n s t the p o llu ti o n o f the o c ean s ystems an d the d es erti fi c ati o n o f the rai n fo res ts an d thei r s p ec i es , the Pri n c e s p o k e s tro n gly , " i f w e c an s to p the s k y tu rn i n g i n to a mi c ro w av e o v en w e w i ll s ti ll fac e the p ro s p ec t o f li v i n g in a garbag e d u mp ' . On Balance Co mmen ti n g o n the p ers o n al c hall en ge o f hi s o w n u n i qu e p os i ti on o f gre at w eal th an d ti tle he has s ai d " I may hav e every thi n g I n eed materi al ly bu t there are o the r d i ffi c u lti es . On e w o rri es a grea t d ea l abo u t o n e' s res p o n si bi li ti es an d every thi n g els e, t ry i n g to d o the ri ght thi n g, to h av e as balan c ed an ap p ro ac h as p o ss ible" .
Secret Revolution F ran c i s K in s man , c o mmen ti n g i n Mi llen n i u m o n the Pri n c e' s ro le as a w o r ld lead e r o f the New A ge , w ri t es " H i s emp has is o n c lo s en ess to the e arth an d a c o mmu n i on w i th the p lan t k i n gd o m has gi v en him a hard ro w to ho e w i th th e med i a - ' A lo o n agai n ! ' s n eered o n e tablo i d head li n e. B u t the re ali ty i s that th e p u bli c i s begi n n i n g to li s ten to the marc hi n g s o n gs o f the Pri n c e' s s ec ret rev o lu ti o n . An ap p rop ri ate qu o tati o n i s o n e fro m Mac hi av elli ' s T he Pri n c e: ' there i s n o thi n g mo re di ffi c ult to tak e i n hand , mo re p eri lo u s to co n d u c t o r mo re u n c ertai n i n i ts s u cc es s than to tak e the lead i n the i n tro d u c tio n o f a n ew o rd er o f thi n gs ' . T he p lan et i s i n c red i bly lu c ky to hav e Pri n c e Charles an d he d es erv es all the s u p p o rt an d lo v e that w e c an mu s ter" .
144 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Q. H o w man y Su rreali s ts d o es i t tak e to c han ge a li gh t bu lb? A . A b u tterfly ! H u m o u r in v o lv es the ap p rec i ati o n of o d d n es s . In hu m o u r there i s the w i lli n gn es s to en j o y s eein g the OT H E R SIDE o f thi n gs , the w i lli n gn es s to s ee fres h p o i n ts o f v i ew , to s ee them an d ap p rec i ate th e m w i tho u t n ec es s ari ly feeli n g the n ee d to ad o p t them as o n e' s o w n . Os c ar W i ld e s u gges ted " Selfi s hn es s is n o t li vi n g as on e w is hes to li v e; i t i s as ki n g o thers to li v e as on e w is hes to li v e. Selfi s hn es s alw ays ai ms at un i fo rmi ty o f typ e. U n s elfi s hn es s rec o gn is es i n fin i te v ari ety o f ty p e as a d eli ghtfu l thi n g, ac c ep ts i t, ac qu i es c es i n i t, en j oy s i t" . Stars and Conformists H u m o u r (w i th u o r w i tho u t u) inc lu d es flexi bi li ty in the w ay w e c an lo o k at i n fo rmati o n , the hu mo u r o f c re ati v i ty , an d the hu mo u r o f i n s i ght. H u mo u r mean s s eei n g thi n gs in a d i fferen t w ay . A p p rec i ati n g the v alu e o f d i fferen c es . No t j u s t try i n g to mak e ev ery thi n g c o n fo rm, no t try i n g to fo rc e s tar- s hap ed p egs i nto s qu are ho les . T o d o thi s w e hav e to c u t o f the s tar bi ts an d o ften , by d oi n g thi s , w e lo s e the bi gges t ad d ed - v alu e that th e s tar s ha p e has to o ffer . W hi le c o n fo rmi n g has i ts v alu e, s tarri n g has i ts ad d ed - v alu e. Y o u ' ll r emember w e d i s c u s s ed a few d ay s ag o that th e ' habi t o f ad d i n g v alu e' i s w hat Qu ali ty i s all abo u t. Humour is Clever H u m o u r als o embrac es exp lo r ati o n an d exp eri men t an d the w i lli n gn es s to c reat e " mi s tak es" an d to b e su rp ri s ed . It als o en c o mp as s es the abi li ty to enj o y on es elf, as w ell as hu mi li ty . H u m o u r allo w s freed o m fro m a rro gan c e, s elf- ri gh te o u s n ess , hy p o c ri sy , an d fals e mo rali ty .
145 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN H u mo u r i s als o freed o m f ro m s el f- bu lly i n g an d the bu lly i n g o f o th ers . T here' s th e hu mo u r o f w i s d o m, the hu mo u r o f b alan c e an d to le ran c e, th e hu mo u r o f p lu rali ty . T he en j o y men t o f su rp ri s e, c han c e an d v ari ety . T he go o d mo o d , the s o u nd o f lau ghte r, go o d hu mo u r an d go o d heal th. Surprise is Human H u mo u r i n v o lv es the ap p rec i ati o n o f s u rp ri s e. T hat' s w hy i t's s aid that Go d mu s tn ' t hav e a s en s e o f hu mo u r. T he argu men t go es that i f w e d efi n e a Go d as omn i s ci en t ( k n o ws ev ery thi n g) then that Go d c an n o t be s u rp ri s ed . So , H e/She c an n o t hav e a s en s e o f hu mo u r. W hether o r n o t thi s i s tru e, Go d k n o ws ! W hat i s tru e i s that w e' re n o t go d s , w e' re n o t k n o w - i t- alls . W e are hu man s an d w e ar e mo s t hu man w hen w e are s u rp ri s ed . F o r thi s re as o n , o n e o f my T V fav o u ri tes has alw ay s been tho s e v i gn et tes fro m Ca nd i d Ca m e ra . I' v e n ev er fai led to lau gh hear ti ly an d n ev er fai led to s hed a tear at the w o n d erfu l mi x o f c lev e rn es s , v u ln erabi li ty , s u rp ri s e an d lau ghter . Humour is Serious In 1918 , Geo rge Mered i th , li tera ry c ri ti c , w ro te i n A n Es sa y o n Co m ed y that the " Co mi c Sp i ri t" i s li k e a s o c i al gu ard i an an gel to h elp u s w hen ev er men " w ax o u t o f p ro p o rti o n , o v erblo w n , affec ted , p re ten ti o u s , bo mbas ti c al, hy p o c ri ti c al, p ed an ti c; w hen ev er i t s ees them s elf- d ec ei v ed o r ho o d - w i nk ed , gi v en to ru n ri o t, p lan n in g s ho rts i ghted ly , p lo tti n g d emen ted ly ." DH Mu n ro i n hi s A rg u m e nt o f La u g hte r ( 195 1) s ay s that d eli ght i n w hat i s n ew an d fres h an d a d es i re to es c ap e fro m bo red o m an d mo n o to n y are i mp o rtan t as p ec ts o f w hat i s mean t b y a s en s e o f hu mo u r. A rthu r K o es tle r i n T he A c t o f Cre a ti o n ( 196 4) c o mp ares th e c re ati v e i n s i ghts o f hu mo u r to be s i mi lar to th e i n s i ghts o f p o etry an d s c i enc e. " T he lo gi c al p attern o f the c reati v e p ro c es s i s the s ame i n all three c as es " s ay s K o es tler an d that la u ghter i s w hat fo llo w s w hen tw o i n c o mp ati ble o r i n c o n gru o u s frames o f refe ren c e ar e j o i n ed .
F o r examp le: H e w as an o ld li o n- k i ller. T he tro u b l e w as there w e re n o mo re o ld li o n s left to k i ll,
146 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN s o he s tarted k i llin g y o un g li o ns wi th a c lu b. T he tro u ble w as there w ere fi fty o f them i n the c lu b . o r, F ather C an n i bal: So rry I' m late , hav e I mi s s ed d in n er? Mo ther C an n i bal: Y es , ev ery b o d y ' s eaten . o r, A p ri s on er i s p lay in g c ard s w i th hi s gu ard s . On d i sc o v eri n g that he' s b een c heati n g they k i c k hi m o u t o f j ai l. Co gn i ti v e s c i en tis ts li k e Pi aget an d C ho ms k y p ay a lo t o f at ten ti o n to the s u bj ec t o f hu mo u r an d thei r fi n d i n gs are c o n tr i bu ti n g bo th to o u r u n d ers tan d i n g o f hu man lan gu age an d hu man behav i o u r. A s hu mo u r i s s o u n i qu ely a hu man p hen o men o n , the
mo re
we
u n d ers tan d
abo u t
it
the
mo re
we
u n d ers tan d
thi n gs
li k e
CONT RA DICT IONS an d PA RA DOX E S an d hu man thi n ki n g in gen eral. Rec en tly ,
i n teres t
in
hu mo u r
is
d ev elo p i n g
amo n g
mathemati c i an s
w ho
s ee
c o n n ec tio n s betw een p u re mathemati c s an d c atas tro p he theo ry an d the p attern s o f hu mo u r. A n ac c o u n t o f thi s is p res en ted i n J o hn A llen Pau lo s ' Ma the m a ti c s a nd H u m o u r ( 198 0 ) . A n d als o , i n p hy s ic s and s c i en c e, the s i mi lari ti es betw een the s tru c tu re o f hu mo u r an d the s tru c tu re o f s c i en ti fi c break thro u ghs has als o been o bs erv ed ( T ho mas K u hn i n Stru c tu re o f Sc i en ti fi c Rev o lu ti o ns 1970 ) . The Humour of Change So meti mes thi n gs c han ge. T hey s ay the o n ly thi n g tha t d o es n ' t c han ge i s c han ge i ts elf. Chan ge c an b e su d d en an d c atac ly s mi c li k e the K o be earthqu ak e o r s lo w and u n n o tic eable li k e a fri en d ' s w ei ght lo s s p ro gram. B u t c han ge i s c han ge an d s o meti mes thi n gs may n ev er b e the s ame agai n .
That was then ... this is now! W hen I thi n k o f c han ge i n thi s w ay I' m o ften remi n d ed o f the T W T T IN p hr as e - T hat
147 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN W as T hen ... T hi s Is No w ! - an d o f the hu mo u r that o ften ac c o mp ani es this k in d o f c han ge i n c i rc u ms tan c es . The Scientist's Dogs A b o u t ten y ears ago i n Pas ad en a, Cali fo rn i a, I w as hav i n g lu n c h w i th a c o u p le o f s c i en tis ts . On e w as Pau l Mac Cread y , w ho i n v en ted the Go s s amer A lbatro s s w hi c h w o n the p ri ze fo r man - p o w ered fli g ht ac ro s s the E n gli s h Ch an n el. T he o ther w as Mu rray Ge ll- Man w ho w o n a No bel Pr i ze fo r hi s d i s c o v ery o f the qu ark . W e c ame to d i sc u ss the ro le that c rea ti v i ty p lays in sc i en ti fic d is c o v ery . Thi s led to a d i s c u ss i on ab o u t s u d d en i ns i ghts li k e the A ha! p hen o men o n an d then , i n ev i tably , to the s u bj ec t o f hu mo u r . Mu rray Ge ll- Man be gan to lau gh an d then h e t o ld u s hi s d o g s to ry . A t that ti me, Mu rray had tw o Do be rman s an d an av o c ad o p ear tree. O n e o f the d o berman s li k ed to eat the av o c ad o s w hen they fell fro m the t ree , t he o ther d o berman d i d n ' t c are fo r the av o c ad o s at all . Mu rray ' s p ro blem w as to s to p the fi rs t d o g fro m eati n g hi s av o c ad o s . H e t ri e d a n u mber o f thi n gs bu t to n o av ai l. B u t bei n g the s c i en ti s t that he i s , he d i d n ' t gi v e u p . T hen he had an i d ea ... A ha! Mu rray s p ri n k led c ay en n e p ep p er o n an av o c ad o to s ee i f the d o g w o u ld s ti ll eat i t, the d o g w o u ld n ' t to u c h i t. So , tri u mp han tly , he then s p rin k led c ay en n e p ep p er on all th e av o c ad o es that h ad fal len o n the gro u n d to t eac h the d o g a le s s o n that av o c ad o es are fo r hu man s w ho are s m arte r than d o gs , an y w ay . T he c han ge i n ci rc u ms tan c es w o rk ed, mo re o r l es s . T he av o c ad o - eati n g do g n ev er ate an o ther av o c ad o , ho w ev er, the o t her d o g n o w began to eat all the av o c ad o es . H e li k ed them n o w that they w er e lac ed w i th c ay en n e p ep p er!
Productivity is Fun B u t, ho w i s all thi s he lp fu l to y o u , as a c lev e r n ec k to p u s er, i n a p rac t i c al w ay , to d ay ? Pro d u c ti v i ty ! W hether y o u ' re i n the fac to ry , at s c ho o l, at ho me , i n s p ort, i n the lab o rato ry o r o n the s to c k mark e t the s tru c tu r e o f hu mo u r i s i d en ti c al to the
148 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN s tru c tu re o f qu an tu m leap s , p arad i gm s hi fts , c han ges o f mi n d , CVS T O B VS. i n n o v ati on , ri s k - tak in g w i th thei r s u bs equ en t ri s e i n p ro d u c ti vi ty . A b o v e all, the Clev e r Co mp an y mu s t hav e a s en s e o f hu mo u r. It mu s t hav e a c u ltu re that en c o u rages s u rp ri s e, exp eri men t ati o n , learn i n g an d the c o n tin u al s earc h fo r a B VS. T hi s i s w hat i s mean t b y QR H , the balan c e betw e en the v i rtu es o f Qu a li t y, R e c o g ni ti o n a nd H u m ou r. If a c o mp an y c an n o t learn to es c ap e f ro m i ts o w n exp eri en c e then i t' s s tu ck w i th i t. T here' s ei ther mo v i n g ahead o r falli n g behi n d . Mo v i n g ahead w i th leap s o f p ro d u c ti v i ty i s fu n to d o . F alli n g behi n d , fai li n g an d layi n g- o ff p eo p le is n o fu n at all. Cognetics Style H o w w o u ld o n e d es c ri be the s ty le o f a c lev er brai n u s er? . .. QR H . H o w w o u ld o n e d es c ri be the en v i ro nmen t o f a c lev er fami ly ? .. . QR H . H o w w o u ld o n e d es c ri be the c u ltu re o f a c lev er c o mp an y ? ... QR H . H o w w o u ld o n e d es c ri be the p o li c i es o f a c lev er c o u n try ? . .. QR H . QR H Sty lew are i s an o ther mi n d to o l, i f i t bec o mes a habi t o f thi n k i n g, that w i ll help y o u d ev elo p y o u r n eck to p to i ts fu ller p o ten ti al. Oh! an d by the w ay , PT V c an ' t c o p e w i th QR H . QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH QRH
149 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
PRR Personal Trainer
PRACTICE REPETITION REHEARSAL PRACTICE REPETITION REHEARSAL PRACTICE REPETITION REHEARSAL PRACTICE REPETITION REHEARSAL PRACTICE REPETITION REHEARSAL PRACTICE REPETITION REHEARSAL PRACTICE REPETITION REHEARSAL PRACTICE REPETITION REHEARSAL PRACTICE REPETITION REHEARSAL PRACTICE REPETITION REHEARSAL PRACTICE REPETITION REHEARSAL
In my bus in es s I o ften get as k ed i n med i a i n terv i ew s an d s emin ars qu es ti o n s li k e, " W hat i s the u lti mate s tra tegy fo r s u c c ess ? " E v ery o n e, u n d ers tan d ably , w an ts a qu i c k fi x, a s ec ret p as s age, a s ho rt- c u t. If the re rea lly i s a s ho rt- c u t. If there really i s a s ec ret p as s age. If there r eally i s a gen u i n e ans w er to s u c h a q u es ti on , I thi n k i t is w hat I hav e c alled - PR R w hi c h s tan d s fo r Pra c t ic e - Re p e ti t i o n- R ehe a rs a l. Pra c t i ce - R ep e t it i o n- R e he a r s a l. A p attern i s s o methi n g that i s rep eated mo re o ften than ran d o m c hanc e. T o d ev elo p n ew p attern s o f thi n ki n g y ou r brai n n eed s r e pe t it io n to bu i ld the n ew p attern . T hi s is s u c h an i mp o rtan t s trategy fo r y o u r p ers on al s uc c es s that w e w i ll d ev o te thi s w ho le les s o n to i t.
150 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN J ac k W elc h, a s uc c es s fu l bu s in ess thi n k er, w hen he w as Chai rman o f Gen eral E lec tri c u s ed to s ay , Y o u' v e g o t to b e o u t i n fro nt o f c ro wd s , re p e a ti ng yo u rse lf o v e r a nd o v e r a ga i n, ne v e r c ha ng i ng yo u r m e ss a ge no m a tte r ho w m u c h i t b o re s yo u . Man y p eo p le are n o t aw are o f the fa c t that th e o ri gi n al c o n c ep t o f " s elf- help " an d " i nd i v id u al p ers o n al d ev elo p men t" w as i n v en ted by the early o rd ers o f k n i g htho o d . The Stirrup It w as the i n v en ti on o f the s ti rru p in the n in th c en tu ry that led to the i d ea o f the k n i ght. No w a ho rs eman w as mu c h s u rer i n the s ad d le and s o the c av alry c harge agai n s t a w all o f i n fan try b ec ame p o s s i ble. T hi s red u c ed i n fan try to the ro le o f s u pp o rt tro o p s an d atten ti o n b ec ame fo c u s ed o n the ho rs eman o r c av ali er o r k n i ght ( German ) an d hi s sp ec i al i nd i vi d u al trai n i n g an d p ers on al d ev elo p men t. W hen o n e i s a s eri o us s tud en t o f the hi s to ry an d s trategi es o f trai n i n g an d p ers o n al d ev elo p men t, o n e mus t s tud y an d learn the c o nc ep ts an d s trategi es o f the o rd ers o f c hi v alry . Training and Service T he n o b le p ri n c ip les - o f trai n in g and s erv i c e - s ep arated the o rd ers o f k n i ghtho o d fro m thei r mi li ta ry p red ec es s o rs . T he n o ti o n s o f exc ellen c e an d quali ty - o f d ev elo p i n g o n e's i d eals an d p hy si c al p ro w es s thro u gh to u rn amen ts an d p rac ti c e an d o f o fferi n g o n e' s s erv i c e to o thers - bec ame the o ri gi n al c o n c ep ts o f c hi valry an d k n i ghtho o d . T hi s gav e c hi v alry i ts p ecu li ar qu ali ty w hi c h has en d u red fo r 90 0 y ears . The New Age of Chivalry A ll the o ri gi n al c ru s ad i n g o rd ers o f k n i ghts hav e been exti n c t fo r 2 0 0 y ears s i n c e Nap o leo n d ro v e the las t o f them o u t o f Malta i n 1798 . B u t to d ay w e s ee a bi g retu rn to the i d eals o f t rai n i n g an d s erv ic e. Pe rhap s w e are n o w i n the Ne w A ge o f Chi v alry ! Peo p le a ro u n d the w o rld a re a tten d i n g s emi n ars , read i n g bo o k s , bu y in g tap es , atten d i n g trai n i n g c ou rs es , gy ms an d s o o n at a rate that w o u ld mak e th e an c i ent k n i ghts green w i th en v y . Y o u , y ou rs elf, d o i n g thi s s elf- help trai n i n g, ar e o n e o f them.
151 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
A ll o f thi s go es to s ho w th at th ere i s a bi g tr en d i n A us trali a, th e U n i ted States an d aro u n d the w o rld fo r p eo p le to help thems elv es an d to help eac h o ther, as n ev er befo re i n hi s to ry . A n d the bo tto m li n e i s p rac ti c e, p rac ti c e, p rac ti c e. So , remembe r thi s : s emin ars d on ' t w o rk ! B o o ks d on ' t w o rk o n an y s u bjec t u n les s y o u p rac ti s e! On the o the r han d , p ra c t i ce alw ay s w o rk s . R e p e t i t io n alw a y s w o rk s . R e h e a rs a ls alw ay s w o rk . The Ultimate Strategy is PRR! T here i s n o d ou bt i n my mi n d w hats oev er, tha t the u lti mate s t rate gy fo r s u c c es s i n an y area i s Prac ti c e- Rep eti ti o n - Rehears al o r PRR. Jungle Warfare Du ri n g the Vi etn am er a, A u s trali a ' s J u n gle T rai n i n g Cen tre at Can u n gra i n Qu een s lan d w as c on s id ered o n e o f the bes t i n the w o rld . In J u n gle W arfare, o n e o f the thi n gs s o ld i ers mu s t learn i s w hat to d o i n the ev en t o f an ambu s h. No w , o f c o u rs e, an ambu s h rea lly i s the w o rs t s i tu ati o n y o u c o u ld be in . It ' s to tally u n exp ec ted an d the n atu ral p attern s o f behav i o u r are n o t u s efu l . Imagi n e tha t y o u are go i n g alo n g a j u n gle p ath n early bac k at b as e c amp , ti red , c ertai n y o u are s afe. Su d d en ly y o u run in to an A MB U SH ! ! Sup p o s e the ambu s h is on y o u r left . T hey ' re lu c k y ; they hav e th e elemen t o f s u rp ri s e. Y o u try n o t to get i n to that k i n d o f s i tu ati o n , bu t w hat i f y o u d o ? Opposite Way W ell, fi rs t , w hat i s the n atu ral thi n g to d o ? Natu rally y o u w i ll ten d to ru n the o p p o si te w ay , bu t a ll that d o es i s to k eep y o u c learly i n the li n e o f fi re . A c t u ally , th e bes t thi n g to d o i s to tu rn left to f ac e them an d w alk s trai ght i n to t he ambu s h, bec au s e o n the o ther s i d e o f the ambu s h, li es s afety ( an d y o u ev en get a chan c e to hav e a go a t the o t her gu y s ) . So that' s w hat mi li tary t rai n ers teac h: w hen a gro u p ru n s in to an ambu sh c o mi n g fro m the lef t, the l ead man i s s u p p os ed to y ell " A MB U SH LE F T ! !" an d then ev ery o n e i s s up p os ed to tu rn left an d attac k . B u t, i n a hi ghly emo ti o n al s i tu ati on li k e an
152 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN amb u s h, i t' s d i ffi c u lt to d o that j u s t bec au s e s o meo n e y ells o u t "A MB U SH LE F T ! !" Y o u k n ow y o u' re s u pp o s ed to tu rn left an d w alk s trai ght i n to i t. Y o u c o u ld p ro bably p as s a w ri tten exam i n that ri ght n o w ! Y o u c ou ld p ro bably ev en teac h i t to s o mebo d y els e! B u t to ac tu ally DO i t y o u rs elf i s an o ther m atte r. T here' s a hu ge d i fferen c e betw een k n o w i n g an d d o i ng. Royal Australian Air Force A t o n e ti me, i n the RA A F , I w as tau g ht to ej ec t f ro m a p lan e. A gai n , y o u d o n ' t w an t to hav e to ej ec t fro m an ai rp lan e, bu t w hen i t' s n ec es s ary there i s n o o ther c ho i c e. T here a re mu c h mo re mo d ern s y s tems n o w , bu t the w ay I w as tau gh t o n th e Maac hi J et w as thi s : y o u j u s t reac h u p an d p u ll d o w n tw o li ttle y ello w an d blac k s tri p ed han d les . T hat' s all y o u hav e to d o ! E v ery thi n g els e hap p ens au to mati c ally . W hat that d o es is to d eto n ate a bo mb u n d er y o u r s eat w hi c h exp lo d es an d p u s hes y o u thro u gh the c an o p y o f the p lan e. No t v ery p leas an t. Of c o u rs e i t' s the les s er o f tw o ev i ls . If s o methi n g go es w ro n g an d y o u get the c o mman d " E JE CT ! E JE CT ! E JE CT ! " , at tha t mo men t y o u s i mp ly reac h u p an d d o i t. Y o u c an ' t w ai t to thi n k , " T his c o u ld n ' t be hap p eni n g to me." Y o u hav e to ej ec t i mmed i ately ! Y ou hav e to go fi rs t befo re the fro n t s eat p i lo t d o es bec aus e i f he go es fi rs t, the exp lo s i o n o f hi s s eat w i ll k i ll y o u . No , y o u d o n ' t hav e an y ti me to thin k i t o v er. Y o u mu s t k n o w that w hen y ou get that c o mman d y o u A RE go i n g to reac h u p an d d o w hat' s c alled fo r. A gai n , i t' s s i mp le to k n o w bu t d i ffi cu lt to DO.
Knowing Versus Doing It' s an o ther c as e w here there' s all th e d i fferen c e i n the w o rld betw een k no w i n g and d o i n g. Do i n g tak es s k i ll, an d s ki ll c o mes w i th trai n i n g. W i th p rac ti s e, p rac ti s e, p rac ti s e o v er an d o v er agai n y o u can d o i t. T hen , w hen s o methi n g o r s o meo n e tri gge rs the p attern w i th the c o mman d , " E J E CT! " , i t w i ll tri gger y o u r bei n g able to ac tu ally DO i t .
153 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN In a p atte rn i n g s y s tem, li k e y o u r bi o lo gi c al n ec k to p , PRR i s the u l ti mat e s trat egy fo r bu i ld i n g the d eep exec u ti v e p att ern s that y o u c ho o s e to o v er ri d e th e w eak e r o n es . " T he mo s t s u c c ess fu l p eo p le i n the en d are tho s e w ho s e s u c c es s is the res u lt o f s tead y ac c reti o n . It is the o n e w ho carefu lly ad v an c es s tep by s tep , w i th hi s mind bec o mi n g w i d er an d w i d er - p ro gres s i v ely able to g ras p an y theme o r s i tu ati o n p ers ev eri n g i n w hat he k n o w s to be prac ti c al, an d c o n c en trati n g hi s tho u ghts u p o n i t, w ho i s bo u n d to su c c eed in the gre ates t d egr ee." ~ A le xa nde r Gra ha m B e ll PRR i s li k e y o u r o w n p ers o n al trai n er. W hen y o u u s e the PRR n ec k to p s o ftw are y o u alw ay s i mp ro v e. W hat n ew i n s i ghts are y o u d ev elo p i n g o n the s u bj ec t o f PRR? Do y o u u nd ers tan d the s trategi c r elati o n s hi p betw een PRR an d s ki ll d ev elo p men t.
154 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
So w a n a c t ... re a p a ha b i t; So w a ha b i t ... re a p a c ha ra c te r; So w a c ha ra c te r ... re a p a de s ti ny. Dr E ri c B i ens to c k w as the fi rs t Chi ef In s tru c to r o f the Sc ho o l o f T hi n ki ng i n New Y o rk i n 198 1 an d i s Vi c e P ri n c i p al SOT to d ay . H i s w o rk , as a d ear fri en d an d c lo s e c o lleagu e , w as c ri ti c al i n help i n g u s to get ' thi n k i n g' i n to the U S s c ho o ls . In the 8 0 s E ri c w ro te a bo o k c alled T hi nki ng fo r Re s u lts an d the mai n po i n t abo u t hi s b o o k w as that thi n k i n g is n o t j u st a p i e- i n- the- s ky ac ti v i ty fo r tho s e w ho hav e n o thi n g better to d o . Rath er , tha t t hi n k in g i s the qu i c k es t an d bes t w ay to get s u p eri o r res u lts . A n d w e d o w an t res ults ! Results as Consequences On e mean i n g o f ' res u lt' i s c o n s equ en c e o r o u tc o me o f s o met hi n g. T he r eas o n w e thi n k an d then d o s o methi n g i s bec au s e o u r ac ti o n has c o n s equ enc es an d w e hav e d ec i d ed w e w an t tho s e c on s eq u en c es . A baby c ri es bec au s e i t k n o w s i ts c ry i n g w i ll bri n g th e at ten ti o n o f a p aren t. Po li ti c i an s mak es p ro mis es bec au s e they w an t y o u r v o te. A y o u n g teen ager s tarts to s mo k es c i garettes bec au s e he o r s he ho p es , as a res u lt, to lo o k o ld e r, o r p erhap s to fi t i n w i th fri en d s , o r may b e j u s t to a s s ert a d eg ree o f i n d ep en d enc e fro m a p aren t' s au tho ri ty . W e k n o w that all ac ti o n s hav e c o n s equ enc es an d s o w e c an man i p ulate o u r behav i o u r to try an d ac hi ev e the s ati s fac to ry o u tc o me, the res u lt w e w an t . Results as Scores A n o ther mean i n g o f ' r es u lt' i s as a s c o re. It mi ght b e a qu an ti ty o r a fo rmu la o btai n ed b y s o me c alc u lati o ns o r a meas u remen t. F o r examp le , w e re ad i n the p ap er: " T he res u lt o f y es terd ay ' s T V t eletho n fo r A IDS res ea rc h w as $3 ,563 ,8 92 an d s u rp as s ed las t y ear' s res u lt" .
155 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
A c o mp an y' s qu arterly s ales fi gu res , the d ai ly s to c k mark et r es u lts , th e r e s u lts o f a Gallu p Po ll o r o f an el ec ti o n are a ll examp les o f the w ay w e u s e res u lts a s a s c o re. Of c o u rs e, the mo s t o bv i o u s us e o f res u lts fo r s c o ri n g i s i n s p o rts . F o o tball res u lts , rac i n g res u lts , ti me s c o res , p o i n t sc o res , fi rs t p lac e , las t p lac e , s tro k e s , k i c k s , p u n c hes , p en alti es , metres , c en ti metres an d p ho to fi ni s hes are d i fferen t w ay s o f meas u ri n g res u lts fo r k eep i n g s c o re. How To Get Results So meo n e o n c e s ai d that y o u c an n o t sc o re u n ti l y ou kn o w w here the go al po s ts are. My late fri en d an d men to r, F red H erman , ( au tho r w i th E arl Ni ghti n gale o f K ISS: K eep It Si mp le S ales man ) u s ed to t alk abo u t s et ti n g o bj ec ti v es i n o rd er to r eac h them. H e o n c e to ld me that fo r o v er 2 5 y ears he had been a s tu d en t o f psy c ho lo gy , p hi lo s o p hy , reli gi o n s , mo ti v ati o n , tr ai n i n g etc ., an d th at h e' d had t he o p p o rtu n i ty o f w o rk i n g w i th many lead in g teac her s in the U ni ted States li k e Dale Carn egi e, E arl Ni ghti n gale , F ran k B ett ger , an d Dr . N o rman Vi n c en t Peale. H e w en t o n to s ay that i f he w ere a s k ed to bo i l i t all d o w n in to o n e p rin c ip le, i t w o u ld be thi s : " Fi n d ou t w hat i t i s y ou w an t; then d o w hat i s n ec es s ary to get i t." Process, Not Result H ere n o w , w e c o me to a k i n d o f p ara d o x i n thi s di s cu s si o n o f res u lts . W hen ev er w e w an t res u lts , i t' s better NOT to fo c u s o n them. Is n ' t thi s o d d ? Do es n ' t thi s s eem a c o n trad i c ti o n ? W hat d o w e fo c u s o n if w e d o n ' t fo c u s o n the res u lts ? T he an s w er i s thi s : F o c us o n the PROCE SS that l ead s to the res u lts . In b u s i n es s , fo r examp le, m an y s ales man agemen ts hav e k ep t thei r s ales p e o p le at a lo w p erfo r man c e lev el b ec au s e o f the i r p reo c c u p ati o n w i th res u lts . T hei r p erc ei v ed n eed to get ev ery s ale, c lo s e ev ery d eal, g et the o rd er, o f ten d i s trac ts them fro m fo c u s in g o n the p ro c es s o f s elli n g, w hi c h i s getti n g the c u s to mer' s atten ti o n , k eep i n g i t an d mak in g the c u s to mer hap p y . In fac t, i n bu si n ess , fo c u si n g o n the res u lt an d try i n g to c lo s e the s ale, o ft en at the an n o y anc e o f the c u s to mer, has gi v en the w ho le s elli n g p ro fes s i o n su ch a p o o r
156 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN rep u tati o n that man y c u s to mers ac tu ally tre at s ales p eo p le w i th a c e rtai n amo u n t o f s u s pi c io n ... c av eat emp to r!
Process Equals Results Res u lts are s i mp ly the en d p ro d u c t o f a p ro c es s i n p erfo rman c e! Res u lts are w ha t y o u get w hen y o u d o c ertai n thi n gs .. . w i th s k i ll. W an ti n g res u lts i s n o t en o u gh. E xp ec tin g res u lts do es n o t c on s ti tu te man agemen t o r lead ers hi p . A ll the go al- s etti n g i n the w o rld i s mean i n gles s talk w i tho u t abi li ty an d s k ill. I f y o u p rac ti c e the p ro c es s , there i s n o mystery to the fac t that y o u w i ll au to mati c ally get res u lts . T here i s n o mys tery that j u gglers c an j u ggle. A n y o n e c an learn to j u ggle th ree balls w i th abo u t tw o ho u rs o f p rac ti s i n g - p rac ti s i n g the p ro c es s o f j u ggli ng. M ere ly w an ti n g to j u ggle i s n o t en o u gh. E xh o rtati o n i s a w as te o f ti me . Say i n g to s o meo n e, “ Y o u ' v e go t to j u ggle! ” ; is ti res o me an d n ev er w o rk s . B u t, p rac ti s in g the p ro c es s o f j u ggli n g alw ay s lead s to res u lts , ev e ry ti me, w i tho u t fai l . Managing For Results No man ager c an ev er man age res u lts by man agi n g res u lts . T he wi s e man ager k n o w s y o u get res u lts by man agin g the ac ti v i ty that p ro d u c es res u lts . Y o u man age the p ro c es s . T he p ro c es s o f getti n g res u lt s i s to p rac ti s e the s k i ll that lead s to res u lts . If y o u i nc reas e p rac ti c e o f the s k i ll, y o u i n c reas e the s k i ll. W hen y o u i n creas e th e s k i ll, y o u i nc reas e the res u lts . T here i s n o w ay y ou c an fai l. In thi s trai n i n g y o u ' v e s een that c o g n eti c s i s the s k i ll o f c han gi n g CVSs i n to B VSs , the s k i ll o f i mp ro v in g s i tu ati on s , and the s k i ll o f getti n g res u lts . It i s als o a s hi ft i n atten ti o n fro m res u lts to the p ro c es s o f ge tti n g r es u lts , w i th the ad d i ti o n o f tr ai n i n g ( PRR - p rac ti c e, rep eti ti o n , reh ears al ) . The Secret A n d n o w w e c o me to the s p eci al s ec ret o f ho w to get res u lts . T hi s i s the mo s t c lev er tri c k y o u c an learn fro m thi s trai n i n g. A re y o u read y ? ( T ru mp et fan fare an d bi g d ru m ro ll, p leas e! ) ... Da d ah!
157 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
T he tri c k i s to alw ay s s et T RA INING go als , n o t j u s t res u lt go a ls . PR R ! Set y o u r trai n i n g go als : 5 ho u rs , 50 ho u rs . Lo g y o u r trai n i n g ho u rs , lo g y o u r p ro gres s , lo g the d ev elo p men t o f y o u r s k i ll, j u s t as a p ers o n at th e gy m lo gs hi s p ro gres s , o r a p i lo t lo gs he r fly i n g ho u rs . No p res s u re. No ten s i o n . No n eed t o s u d d en ly be the 50 0 - ho u r lev el w hen y o u hav en ' t had the o p p o rtu n i ty to lo g ev en 5 ho u rs . J u s t lo g y o u r ho u rs o f tra i n in g an d mo v e grad u ally fro m y o u r CVS to a B VS. T hat bec o mes y o u r n ew CVS an d y o u grad u ally mo v e to an o ther B VS . T hat bec o mes y o u r n ew CVS. Y o u s earc h fo r a B VS, y o u g rad u ally mo v e to w ard i t, an d s o o n . T rai n i n g, trai n i n g, trai n i n g. P rac ti s e, p rac ti s e, p r ac ti s e. Lo g y o u r ho u rs , ho u rs , ho u rs . PRR. T hi s i s the s ho rt c u t to s u c c es s . It' s the o n ly s u re w ay . It n ev er fai ls . T hi s i s the c o gn eti c s pi ral. T he gra d u al, ten s i o n - free i mp ro v emen t o f s i tu ati o n s . T he J ap an es e c all thi s K ai zen an d c lai m i t' s been a fun d amen tal c u ltu ral c au s e fo r thei r s u c c es s as a p ro d u c ti v e n ati o n . On w ard s an d u p w ard s , better an d bet ter, s tep by s tep wi th RE PE T IT ION. T he s ec r et i s to meas u re y o u r trai n in g ho u rs an d to en j o y the p ro c es s . T hen , the res u lts w i ll tak e c are o f thems elv es . Results = Training Hours = Results A s y ou w i ll hav e n o tic ed b y n o w ( gro an ! ) w e'v e p lac ed a lo t o f emp has is o n PR R , o n p ra c t ic e , r e p e ti t i o n, re he a rsa l. T he reas o n s ho u ld be v ery c lear. It' s bec au s e w e w an t
res u lts !
And,
in
trai n in g,
r es u lts
c o mes
fro m
ho u rs
of
RE P E T IT ION
RE PE T IT ION RE PE T IT IO N. The Secret A n d , as w e' v e alread y d i s c u s s ed , the s ec ret to g etti n g res u lts i s to n o t o n ly s et res u lts go a ls bu t to als o s et p ro c es s g o als , th at i s , T RA I NI NG GOA LS. Do n ' t j u s t s et a res u lt go a l li k e: I w an t to be able to j u ggle . Y o u als o n eed to s et a t rai n i n g go al li k e: I w an t to p rac ti s e j u ggli n g fo r 10 ho u rs . H o w d o y o u j u ggle? PRR x 10 ho u rs .
158 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
SOT Training Survey In 198 3 , i n New Y o rk , the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k in g c o n d uc ted a s u rv ey to fi n d o u t the trai n i n g ho u rs n eed ed to ac q u i re a bas i c o p erati n g s ki ll an d c o n fid en c e in that s k i ll i n the fo llo w i n g areas . W e than k the J u i llard Sc ho o l in New Y o rk an d o ther exp erts w ho gav e the fo llo w i n g es ti mates : Sk i ll H o u r s : Pi an o
450
Si n gi n g
90 0
A lto s ax
60 0
Cello
90 0
F lu te
12 0 0
Vi o li n
190 0
T ru mp et
300
T ro mbo n e
60 0
Gu i tar
150
H armo n i c a
50
Read i n g mu s i c
150
Kung Fu
60 0
J u ggli n g
2
It w as p o in ted ou t b y the exp erts that thes e ho u rs o f trai ni n g w o u ld n o t be en o u gh to p ro d u c e a v i rtu o s o ab i li ty , bu t w o u ld gi v e a v ery s o u n d o p erati n g o r p erfo rmi n g abi li ty o f s k i ll i n thes e areas . T he s ame, o f c o u rs e, ap p li es to y ou r o w n d ev elo p men t o f the sk i lls o f c o gn eti c s . T he mo re ho u rs y o u p rac ti s e the bette r t he s k i ll y o u ac qu i re. T he better the s k i ll y o u ac qu i re the bette r th e res u lts fo r y o u r li fe an d i t' s res u lts w e w an t. So , the re y o u hav e i t. U lti mate ly res u lts c o me fro m ho u rs o f p rac ti s i n g. M o re ho u rs = mo re r es u lts . If y o u u s e PRR as y o u r p ers o n al trai n er , y o u are bo u n d to s u c c eed .
159 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
The Rehearsal Oc to b er 1 9, 198 6 . D ri v i n g fro m Man h attan to u p s tate New Y o rk o n th at la t e- au tu mn Su n d ay , I rem ember thi n k i n g, " W ell, thi s may be my l as t d ay a li v e bu t i t c ertai n ly i s a go r geo u s o n e! " I w as head ed fo r New Palt z, o rc ha rd c o u n try , an d w her ev er y o u lo o k ed ther e w e re t rees a ll ablaz e i n the fal l c o lo u rs o f red s , o c hres , bro w n s , c i tru s es an d the blu es t s k y I c o u ld ev er rec all s eei n g. Or p e rhap s i t w as s i mp ly fear that had hei gh ten ed my s en s es . The AFF On arri v i n g at the fa rm, my f ri en d an d ho s t Carl Zatz , met me w i th a hearty w elc o me telli n g me ho w p leas ed he w as that I ac tu al ly s ho w ed u p . " Sinc e y o u ' re here, y o u s ho u ld d o an A F F !" s ays Carl an d befo re I c o u ld as k w hat an A FF w as he lau n c hed i n to the i n tro d u c ti o ns o f th e gro u p o f abo u t ten " fi rs t- ti mers " w ai ti n g fo r the c o mmen c emen t o f the mo rn i n g' s i n s tru c ti on . B y lu n c hti me w e had c o v ered ev ery thi n g an d the i ns tru c to r s ai d "OK . Y o u c an all break fo r lu n c h n o w an d w ait fo r y o u r tu rn . O h . .. n o t y o u Mi c hael, y o u ' re go i n g to d o an A F F !" I w as i mmed i ately es c o rted o ff by tw o n ew i n s tru c to rs w ho s u dd en ly emerged an d as I lo o k ed , a li ttle s tart led , bac k a t my c las s mates they w av ed at me w i th a blen d o f c u ri o s i ty an d reli ef as I w as led aw a y . I k n ew then , tha t I s ho u ld hav e m ad e mu c h s tro n ger i n q u i ri es as to the mean i n g o f A F F . " W ell, y o u c an fo rget ev e ry thi n g y o u learn ed i n thi s mo rn i n g's c las s bec au s e y o u w i ll b e d o i n g an A F F - A c c elerated F r ee F all . I' m B ren d an K en n ed y , y o u r Mai n Si d e J u mp mas ter, an d thi s i s y o u r Reserv e Si d e J u mp mas ter " an d i n the fearfu l ap p rehen s i o n that b lo c k ed o u t my heari n g I n ev er d i d c atc h the o the r fe llo w ' s n ame. My u n d ers tan d i n g had alw ay s been t hat, fo r a fi rs t- ti me p arac hu te j u mp , y o u w en t u p to aro u n d 3 0 00 feet, j u mp ed , an d a s tati c - li n e op en ed y o u r c hu te au to mati c ally as y o u left the p lan e. H o w ev er, an A FF , as I w as n o w bei n g to ld , mean t go in g u p to
160 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN 12 50 0 feet an d j u mpi n g fro m the p lan e, free- fal li n g fo r 50 s ec o n d s an d then p o p pi n g y ou r o w n c hu te all o n the fi rs t j u mp . T he tw o j u mp mas ters wo u ld als o j u mp w i th me o n ei ther s i d e ... j u s t i n c as e. The Dilemma It' s d i ffi c u lt to ad eq u ately d es c ri be t he lac k o f en thu s i as m that I w as n o w feeli n g fo r the w ho le i d ea o f j u mp i n g bu t s i nc e I fe lt I had c o mmi tted my s elf to t he A F F , I w as ev en les s en thus i as tic abo u t can c elli n g o u t. T here w er e s o me bac k gro u n d reas o n s as to w hy I felt thi s w ay bu t i t' s en o u gh to s ay that I fo u n d my s elf d eep i n a d i lemma. A n d I mad e the d ec i s i o n that the o n ly w ay to go w as . .. u p . The Decision T hi s i s exac tly ho w I tho u ght th ro u gh the d ec i s i o n . F i rs t, I' ll c o mp lete the trai n i n g they p lan to gi v e me. T hat may mak e me feel bette r as I' ll u n d ers tan d w hat' s i n v o lv ed . Sec o n d , I p res u me thes e gu y s ( bo th qu ali fi ed U S Parac hu te A s s o c i ati on J u mp mas ters ) k n o w thei r j o b an d i f I fo llo w met i c u lo u s ly ev ery thi n g they tell me, then I s ho u ld be OK . T hi rd , i n ad d i ti o n to the t rai n i n g they gi v e me, I w i l l d o ten mo re rehea rs als o f my o w n , befo re I go u p . T he trai n i n g to o k abo u t tw o ho u rs after w hi c h they s ai d to w ai t fo r my tu rn . Mi n e w o u ld be the las t j u mp o f the d ay bec au s e o f the ext ra hei gh t to 12 50 0 feet an d they w an ted to d o all th e o the rs befo r e m e. I t w as 143 0 an d I w o u ld go u p a ro u n d 170 0 . So , I w en t be hi n d the b a rn an d s tart e d to r ehears e the d ri ll they h ad tau g h t me, ten mo re ti mes . The Rehearsals T he d ri ll w as c alled a Ci rc le o f A tten ti o n . It i n v o lv ed fo cu s in g o n e's atten ti o n aro u n d
a
c i rc le
w hi c h
i n c lu d ed
the
ho ri zo n ,
fo c u s ed
ey e
c o n tac t
w i th
the
j u mp mas ters o n ei ther s i d e o f me, the alti mete r fo r hei gh t, an d the d ri ll fo r p o p p in g the c hu te. Du ri n g th e 50 s ec o n d s o f my free fal l I w as mean t to d o t he s equ en c e tw i c e as a p rac ti s e, an d o n the thi rd ti me to ac tu ally p u ll the h an d le o n the ri p - c o rd an d p o p the c hu te. A ll i n all , n o t a t erri bly d i ffi c u lt t hi n g to d o .. . i n the o ry . T h e o n ly d i s trac ti o n w as that I w o u ld b e hu rtli n g to ea rth at m axi mu m s p eed an d , fo r o bv i o u s reas o ns , n eed ed to d o i t ri ght the fi rs t ti me. So I rehe ars ed the s equ en c e ten ti mes . I d i d this qu i te d eli beratel y as a p rac ti c al ap p li c ati on o f the PRR s trategy
161 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN w e hav e been talk i n g abo u t thi s p ast w eek . I d i d thes e rehears als k n o w i n g fro m mi li tary exp eri en c e that they w o u ld mak e me v ery p ro fi c i en t at the d ri ll an d mu c h mo re li k ely to be able to d o i t w ell, ev en in the hi ghly emo ti o n al s i tu atio n o f my free f all . The Plane A fter k i tti n g u p i n the s u i t an d p arac hu te w e bo a rd ed the p lan e. I s at o n a ben c h o n the left s i d e o f the p lan e o p p os i te the s p ec i al j u mp d o o r o n the ri ght s id e. My tw o j u mp mas ters s at, v ery c lo s e to me, o n ei ther s i d e. T hey w ere v ery hy p ed u p and there w as a great d eal o f " Let' s go d o i t!" an d " Y o u lo o k great, Mi k e." etc . etc . Pres u mably thi s w as to k eep my s p i ri ts u p , k eep me o c c u p i ed and s to p me fro m p u lli n g o u t, s o methi n g that I v ery mu c h w o u ld hav e li k ed to hav e d o n e i f the c o s t to my s elf- es teem had n ' t b een s o p ro hi biti v e. The Omission E v en tu ally the p lan e r eac hed the fi n al c i rc u i t an d lev elled o f at 12 50 0 f eet. T h ey o p en ed the j u mp d o o r an d i t s eemed the w ho le s i d e c ame o f f the p lan e. No w the s o u n d o f the c o ld ai r ru s hi n g by w as ro ari n g i n my ears , a rc i n g u p the fea r thres ho ld , an d as I p eered o u t th e ear th s eemed j u s t li k e a map . It w as real ly , rea lly hi gh. Y o u c o u ld n ' t mak e o u t c ars o r ho u s es j us t the geo m etri c s hap es o f the fi eld s an d the lo n g s i lv er s n ak e o f a ri v er re flec ti n g the r ay s o f the s etti n g s u n . T hen the Mai n J u mp mas ter s ai d s o methi n g that real ly thr ew me. So methi n g that I had n ' t rehears ed an d s o methi n g that s en t an i c e c o ld w av e o f p ani c thro u gho u t my bo d y . H e s ai d , " Get i n to p o s i ti o n !" T hi s en tai led getti n g u p o ff the bench mo v i n g ac ro s s to the o ther s i d e o f the ai rc raf t an d s i ttin g o n the ed ge o f the p lan e w i th my legs o u ts i d e the d o o r , read y to j u mp . If I c o u ld hav e s p o k en at all , I w o u ld hav e s ai d n o bu t the ter ro r tha t g ri p p ed me w a s o v erw helmi n g. I k n ew I w o u ld j u m p , bu t th e tho u ght o f fal li n g o u t ac c i d en tally w hi le get ti n g i n to p o s i ti on really go t to me - I had n ' t rehea rs ed get ti n g i n to p o s i ti on an d that w as w ha t s c ared me the m o s t. I o n ly ho p ed I w as n o t s ho w in g the an xi ety I felt an d tri ed to lo o k reas o n ably c o o l. The Exit So meho w I man ag ed to g et i n to p o s iti o n . No w I w as s i tti n g w i th le gs a- d an gli n g, 12 50 0 feet ab o v e the ea rth , c o ld ai r ru s hi n g p as t, abo u t to j u mp o u t o f a p erfec tly go o d ai rp lan e. I w as s o c ro s s w i th mys elf fo r p u tti n g my s elf i n s u c h an u nn ec es s ary
162 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN p o s i ti on , bu t the ti me had c o me. T h e mai n j u mp mas ter, n o w s i tti n g ti gh tly to my left, lo o k ed at me fo r p o s i ti v e ey e c on tac t. T he man o n my ri ght then d i d the s ame. W i th a thu mb s u p s i gn al w e began t he d ri ll: le an fo rw a rd lean bac k t he n fo rw ard agai n an d o u t o f the p lan e. The Fall I lo s t i t fo r t he fi rs t few s ec o n d s . T he s heer qu an ti ty o f n ew i n fo rmati o n bein g p res en ted to me mad e me b ro w n o u t. B u t then I s n app ed to agai n an d c o n tin u ed the d ri ll: c hec k the ho ri zo n .. . n o w , p o s i ti v e ey e c o n tac t w i th the j u mp mas ter o n my left. W o w ! Lo o k at hi s fac e. H is s k i n i s flap p in g an d rip p lin g j u s t li k e the as tro n au ts . I s u p p os e min e mu s t be d o i n g the s ame. H e lo o k s me ri ght i n the ey e an d ac k n o w led ges my c o ns c i ou sn es s w i th a g ri n an d a fri en d ly thu mbs u p s i gn . Dri ll: I then d o th e s ame w i th the m an o n my ri ght. H e mak es me fe el go o d w i th a fi rm ac k n o w led gmen t that I' m OK an d d o in g fi n e ... c hec k the alti meter - 10 0 0 feet ... an d then , rep eat the d ri l l, j u s t li k e I rehe ars ed i t. W ell, I j u s t c an ' t ad eq u ately exp lai n the th ri ll t hat c ame w i th k n o w i n g that I w as fly i n g thro u gh the ai r li k e a bi rd , tha t ev ery thi n g w as go i n g j u s t as p lann ed , that I w as i n c o n tro l an d .. . n o fear . A n d i t w as exqu i s i te. T he s u n w as s etti n g t o my lef t an d the c o lo u rs w ere v i bra ti n g i n thei r atmo s p heri c i n ten s i ty . U ltra blu es a n d p in k s an d s hafts o f s o lar las ers s tre ak i n g here an d there . A s I c o n ti n u ed the d ri lls the s heer ec s tas y o f fli ght bec am e a eu p ho ri c hi gh that bathed my w ho le bei n g rep lac i n g the c o ld p ani c that had been there o n ly s ec o n ds ago . A fte r 3 /4 o f a mi n u te o f free fli ght an d ap p ro ac hi n g 50 00 feet i t w as ti me to p o p my c hu te an d break fro m fo rm ati o n w i th my " gu ard i an an gels " . I fo u n d the s teel han d le o f th e ri p - c o rd w i th my r i ght han d as I ba lan c ed o u t by ho ld i n g my l eft han d s trai ght ahead , I p u lled th e ha n d le. W ho o s h! E v ery thi n g s u d d en ly c han ged . No t fly i n g .. han gi n g. No t f as t .. . s lo w . No t w atc hed .. . alo n e. A n d n o w I c o u ld s ee w hat I' d d o n e. W o w ... I' d real ly d o n e i t an d I w as v ery p leas ed w i th my self. No w , the rad i o o n my s ho u ld er s trap began to c rac k le. T he gro u n d c o n tro ller began to gi v e the i n s tru c ti o n s fo r me to fly the c hu te to w ard s the lan d i n g zo n e. The Grin T he n ext few mi n u tes co n si s ted o f left tu rn s an d ri ght tu rn s an d 18 0 s as I man i p u lated the c o n tro ls o f the c hu te. F i n ally , p u ll bo th han d s d o wn and a s tall fo r
163 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN the lan d i n g. I lan d ed fi n e on bo th feet an d i t w as all o v er. A s my j u mp mas ters an d o thers r an to w ard s me y elli n g an d w ho o p i n g an d tak i n g p ho to grap hs , I be g an to feel my s elf gri n an d gri n an d gri n an d gri n . W hether the g ri n las ted fi v e d ay s o r o n ly fo u r i s a d etai l w hi c h w as n' t o ffi c i ally rec o rd ed . W hat w as rec o rd ed in my U SPA Lo g B o o k w as a rati n g o f " E xc ellen t" an d rec o mmen d ati o n to the n ex t j u mp lev el, than k s to the s tra tegy o f ten rehea rs als ! PRR Pe rs o n al T rai n er: Pl an n i n g Y o u r Ow n Rehears al T here mu s t be s o methi n g c o mi n g u p fo r y o u s o o n that' s really i mp o rtan t f o r y o u to try an d get an exc ellen t res u lt fo r y ou rs elf. H ere' s a c han c e fo r y ou to u se PRR to p lan a rehea rs al an d i n c reas e y o u r c han c es o f getti n g the r es u lt y o u w an t.
PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR PRR
164 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
W ell, y o u ' v e re ac hed the en d o f thes e les s o n s i n the text: So ftwa re F o r Y o u r B ra i n. W ell d o n e! In SOT trai n i n g w here PR R i s the s ec ret w eap o n , the en d i s alw ays the begi n n i n g, s o I en c o u rage y o u to rew ard y o u rself fo r fi n i s hi n g thi s ro u n d an d to p lan y o u r c o mmen c emen t o f y o u r n ext ro u n d o f trai n i n g! " W ealth i s the p ro d u c t o f an i n di v i dual' s c ap ac i ty to thi nk ." ~ A yn R a nd " T hi n k an d gro w ri c h." ~ N a p o le o n Hi ll
Intellectual Capital Development (ICD) W ho are y o u ? A re y o u a p ro p ell er- hea d , a s c i en ti s t, a w o rk i n g mo ther , a re s earc her , an ac ad emi c , a s ex- w o rk er , an en g i n eer o r may be a s ales p ers o n o r a n ac to r? Perhap s y o u ' re i n bus i n es s o r s ti ll at s c ho o l o r an u nd ergrad u ate? A re y o u reti red , a p o li ti c i an , i n the med i a, the mi li tary o r a member o f a reli gi o u s o rd er? A re y o u a n eu ro - s u rgeo n o r p erhap s a c ro u p i er i n a c as i n o? The Boardroom Factor T he p o i n t i s thi s - w ho ev er y o u are , w hatev er y o u a re d o i n g, w herev e r y o u li v e i n to d ay ' s w o rld , y o u r li fe, y o u r o p ti on s an d y ou r fu tu re i s bei n g d etermi n ed - to d ay , to mo rro w an d ev ery d ay - i n o n e un i qu e en v i ro n men t ... the bo a rd ro o m . Mo re than ev e r befo re i n hi s to ry , d ec i s i on s that are bei n g mad e i n the bo ard ro o ms o f mu lti - n ati o n al c o rp o rati o n s to d ay are p ro d u c i n g the w o rld y o u w i ll li v e i n to mo rro w .
165 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Po li ti c al s y s tems are bec o mi n g o bs o les c en t. W ar, an exten s i o n o f p o li ti c s, i s als o bec o mi n g les s v i ab le. T o d ay ' s w o rld i s bei n g p o w ered mo re by p ro fi t than by d o gma. In the 2 1s t c en tu ry , mo r e bat tles w i ll be fo u g ht i n bo ard ro o ms than o n all the battlefi e ld s o f hu man hi s to ry . W hether t hi s i s b etter o r w o rs e rema i n s to be s een bu t i t is a fac t that n e ed s to be u n d ers to o d . A s alw ay s , i f y o u d o n ' t do y o u r o w n thi n ki n g o thers w i ll d o i t fo r y o u . So w hat d o es all thi s mean to y o u? Ho w d o y ou fi t in ? W here d o y o u get to hav e an i n p u t? W hat c an y o u do ? W hat d o yo u n eed to kn o w ? W hat s k i lls d o y ou n eed to d ev elo p ? Let' s s tart at th e to p .. . Business Maps H o w d o es a Chi ef E xec u ti v e Offi c er ( CE O) mak e a s trate gi c bu s i n es s d eci s ion ? H o w d o es an exec u tiv e fo rm an o p in i o n on the balan c e betw een a retu rn o n an allo c ati o n o f res o u rc es an d the p o ten ti al ri s k i n v o lv ed ? H o w d o b an k ers o r i n v es to rs d eci d e to i n v es t thei r c ap i tal an d ho w d o they w ei gh u p the balan c e betw een the ho p ed fo r Retu rn On In v es tmen t ( ROI) an d the p o ss i ble lo s s o f thei r c ap i tal? H o w d o they ' s ee' a bu s i n es s ? On w hat bas i s i s thei r ' p erc ep ti o n ' o f t he bu s i n ess fo rmed ? H o w d o they get a m ap o f a b u s i n es s ? Medieval Measurement A mazi n gly , mo s t o f to d ay' s i n v es tmen t an d bu si n ess d ec i si o ns are s ti ll bas ed o n an i n v en ti on that has n o t y et b een u p d ated fo r o v er 50 0 y ears ! In Ven i c e i n 1494, F ra Lu c a Pac i o li i n v en ted d ou ble- en try bo o k k eep i n g and p u bli s hed the w o rld ' s fi rs t te xtbo o k o n ac c o u n ti n g p ri nc i p les and p rac ti c e. E v er s i n c e, thi s has been the b as i s o f in ves tmen t d ec i s i on s . Do u ble- en try bo o k k eep i n g s ho w s a map o f ho w mo n ey and go o d s flo w thro u gh a bu s i n es s .
T hi s allo w ed in v es to rs and bus i n es s p eo p le to 's ee' a bus in es s , ev alu ate ri s k and
166 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN retu rn an d then fo rm an o p i n i o n on whether o r n o t to mak e an i n v es tmen t. In tho s e d ay s , ev en o n thro u gh the i n d us tri al rev o lu ti o n , a bu s i n es s c o ns i s ted o f thi n gs . T hi n gs are tan gi bles li k e p ro p erty , bu i ld i n gs , i n v en to ri es , c as h in the ban k an d s o on . So the d o u b le- en try bo o k k eep i n g sy s tem s eemed li k e a u s efu l w ay o f o rgan i s i n g o n e' s v i ew o f the ebb an d flo w o f thes e tan gi bles an d o ne s i mp ly ac c ep ted thi s w ay o f lo o k i n g a t thi n g s an d then w en t o n to mak e o n e' s i n v es tmen t d ec i si o n . T hat w as then , thi s i s n o w . Si n c e the k n o w led ge an d in fo rmati o n rev o lu ti o n s , i t' s hard to i magi n e ho w y o u n g b u s i n es s p eo p le c o u ld be mi s led mo re than to be gi v en the i mp res s i o n that thi s i s w hat to d ay ' s bu si n es s es are s ti ll mad e u p o f - t an gi bles . Y et w e fi n d that i n b us i n es s c o lleges an d MB A p ro grams aro u n d the w o rld the med i ev al meas u remen t, the ' d o u ble- e n try ' v i ew o f a bu s i n ess , i s s ti ll bei n g tau ght as tho u gh i t w ere en o u gh. In the 1990 s w e alr ead y hav e c o mp u ters that c an d o u p to 40 bi lli o n c o mpu tati o n s a s ec o n d and w e are s ti ll u s i n g p re- New to n i an p hy si c s to mak e o u r bu s i n ess d ec i si o n s . In the n ext few y ears , thi s w i ll hav e to c han ge. Knowledge-Based Companies In
k n o w led ge- bas ed
c o mp an i es
w hat
d o es
the
trad i ti o n al
ac c o u n ti ng
s y s tem
c ap tu re? H ard ly an y thi n g. T he o ld ac c o un ti n g s ys tem i s bli nd to k n o w led ge- bas ed as s ets an d i s o ften li mi ted to j u s t c o n si d eri n g labo u r an d materi al c o s ts . In to d ay ' s fas tes t- gro w i n g, mark e tres p o n s iv e bu s i n es s es the c o s t c o mp on en ts o f man y p ro d u c ts are i n tellec tu al c ap i tal li k e R& D an d c u s to mer- s erv i c e. A s c lev er c o mp an i es i nc reas i n gly rec o gn i s e thei r i n tellec tu al as s ets , t hey w i ll i n c reas i n gly d i rec t thei r at ten ti o n to d ev elo p i n g tho s e as s ets . W hen i t c o mes to p ro d u c ti v i ty , tw o head s are alw ay s better than o n e an d that mean s n et w o rk i n g i n tran ets , extr an ets an d the In tern et .
In a rec en t ed i ti o n o f A rthu r A nd ers o n ' s Ou tlo o k magazi n e, p artn er Glo v er
167 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN F ergu s o n o f the fi rm' s Cen ter fo r S tra tegi c Res earc h i n Chi c ago w ri tes , " W e are n o w w i tn es s in g, i n to d ay ' s w o rld o f tec hn o lo gy - en han c ed c o mmerc e, t he emerg en c e o f a ri c h s tar - i n thi s c as e a n u mber: $3 .5 tri lli o n . T hat' s th e amo u n t d es c ri bi n g the en o rmo u s p ro fi ts w ai tin g fo r bu s i n ess es alo n g the u n iv ers al n etw o rk k n o w n as the “i n fo rmati o n hi ghw ay " . Perh ap s at n o ti me has tec hn o lo gy d o mi n ated the n ew s as i t has o f late. Maj o r o r gan i s ati o n s are j o ck ey in g fo r p o s i ti on s at the c as h flo w p oi n ts o n the u ni v ers al n etw o rk , an d thei r mergers an d o ther i n i ti ati v es hav e mo v ed the bu s i n es s p age to the f ro n t p age. " F ar- s eei n g en terp ri s es mu s t d ev elo p c o mp u ti n g an d c o mmu n ic ati o n s ap pli c ati o n s fu rthe r u p i n thei r b u s in es s p ro c esses , n o t j us t at the c o n s u mer in terfa c e. T hat' s w here th e go ld w i ll be fo u n d . O rgan i s ati o ns that rec o gn i s e the m agn i tu d e o f the c o mi n g c han ges an d ac t n o w to rethi n k thei r b as i c p ro c es s es , ac c es si n g the p o w er o f n ew tec hn o lo gi c al c ap ab i li ti es , w i ll mo v e s o far ahead s o qu i c k ly that they w i ll d o mi n ate thei r res p ec ti v e i n d us tri es w i thi n 10 y ears ." Intellectual Capital (IC) T hes e ' far- s eei n g en terp ri s es ' w i ll be exp lo i ti n g, man a gi n g an d meas u ri n g the p ri mary i n gred i en t o f thei r ec o n o mi c p erfo rman c e, t hei r i n tellec tu a l c ap i tal o r IC as i t i s n o w bein g c alled . T he i n tan gi ble IC as s ets o f i n fo rmati o n , k n o w led ge an d s k i ll w i ll be fo rma li s ed , c ap tu red an d lev e raged to p ro d u c e hi gh er- v alu ed as s et s , hi ghe r p erfo rman c e an d a mo re p ro fi tab le en terp ri s e. A ls o , hi - tec h man u fac tu ri n g c o mp an ies o f to d ay an d to mo rro w w i ll d eri v e mo s t o f thei r v alu e- ad d ed fro m k n o w led ge an d s k i ll. T hi s w i ll hav e to be ac c o un table. T ho s e bu s i n es s es that are n o t ac c o u n ti n g fo r thei r I C as s ets w i ll b e u n d er- v alu ed an d lef t behi n d . T ho s e that d o w i ll mo re th an d o u ble thei r as s ets an d mo v e ahead . ICD and Investing in People T QM w as the b u zzw o rd o f the n i n eties - T o tal Qu ali ty Man agemen t. T he bu zzw o rd fo r the n ex t d ec ad e, rep l ac i n g T QM, i s ICD - In tel lec tu al Cap i tal Dev elo p m en t. In bu s i n es s , p eo p le are n o w bec o mi ng mo re i mp o rtan t than mo n ey . IC i s bec o mi n g the mo s t v alu able as s et o f man y co rp o rati o n s . IC ac c o u n ti n g is ho w a mo d ern bu s i n es s gets a mo re ac c u rate v i ew of i ts p eop le as s ets w hen k n o w led ge is i ts c hi ef res o u rc e.
168 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Su p p o s e y o u are an i n v es to r. Y o u c an fo rm a mo re u s efu l an d rea li s ti c p erc ep ti o n o f c o mp an i es li k e Mi c ro s o ft by ac c ou n ti n g fo r thei r ' s o ft' IC as s ets than you c an by merely ac c o u n ti n g fo r thei r ' ha rd ' as s ets li k e thei r o f fi c e bu i ld i n gs , c as h an d eq u i p men t. F A C T:
T he v alu e o f the tan gi ble ( mo n ey ) as s ets on to d ay 's balan c e s heet i s exc eed ed man y ti mes by the v alu e o f the IC ( p eo p le) as s ets o f th e en terp ri s e.
F A C T: T he i n tellec tu al c ap i tal o f th e en terp ri s e i s the raw m ateri a l f ro m w hi c h all fi n an c i al res u lts are d eri v ed . F A C T: T he i n tell ec tu al c ap i tal o w n e d by the en te rp ri s e c an be meas u red , man aged an d
d ev elo p ed
alo n g wi th the fi nan c i al c ap i tal an d tan gi ble as s ets
c u rren tly rec o rd ed o n the bal an c e s heet o f the en terp ri s e. ICD and Reward A s i mp le w ay to d ev elo p in tellec tu al c ap i tal i s to us e the p o w er o f rew ard . It i s w ell k n o w n i n bu si n ess that mo s t p eo p le' s p ro d u c ti vi ty tak es a qu an tu m leap when they are r ew ard ed i n s o me w ay . T rai n ers k n o w that y o u trai n a ho rs e by rew a rd i n g the d es i red behav i o u rs , ev en w i th j u s t a cu be o f s u gar. A rew ard n eed n o t alw ay s b e a lu mp o f s u gar bu t ev en a s i n gle lu mp o f s u gar i s fa r better than n o thi n g at a ll. A rew ard i s an y thin g that i s p erc ei v ed as s u ch by the p ers o n bei n g rew ard ed . It may be a w i n k o r a s mi le. A p at o r a han d s hak e. It may b e a k o o k abu rra s tamp o n a w o rk bo o k o r an aftern o o n o ff w o rk . A ro u n d o f ap p lau s e, a s p ec i al p laqu e, a ri bbo n , a med al, a ti tle, o r ev en a k i n gd o m may be a rew ard fo r man y p eo p le. A rew ard may b e fo r o n e' s o w n s elf, fo r an o ther , o r fo r t he s y s tem. F o r c en tu ri es , i n ad d i ti on to go ld an d lan d , many hav e us ed ho no u rs , ti tles an d ran k as rew a rd s es p ec i ally i n the fi eld o f mi li tary trai n i n g, bat tle e xp eri en c e an d c hi v alry , li k e the famo u s K n i ghts o f Malta . W hen o n e ri s k s d eath, o n e ri s k s the v ery an n i hi lati o n o f o n e's o w n s elf. T o d o thi s o n e n eed s a v ery p o ten t rew ard .
169 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
F o r s o me, g reat w eal th i s the u lti mat e rew a rd . F o r o thers , th e rec o gn i ti o n o f o n e' s p eers has great v alu e. F o r o the rs , t he p ro mi s e o f an i mmo rtal s elf w as the mo s t i rres i s ti ble rew ard o f all , an d o n e fo r w hi c h d eath had s eemed a fai r p ri c e t o p ay . Rewarding and Results No thi n g gets bet ter res u lts than r ew a rd i n g. A s a man ager , w hat y o u rew a r d i s w hat y o u get. W hatev e r g ets rew a rd ed , gets d o n e! In bu s in es s , i f y ou rew ard y o u r c u s to mers w i th b etter s e rv i c e than y o u r c o mp eti to r, y o u r c u s to mers w i ll re w ard y o u w i th thei r b u s i n es s . In p ers o n al re lati o n s hi p s , man y p eop le p refe r p artn e rs w ho r ew ard the m to tho s e w ho d o n o t. Mo s t c hi ld ren p refer ad u lts w ho rew ard th em. Mo s t s en i o r exec u ti v es w o rk hard er fo r rew ard s , t han they d o fo r fo o d an d s helter . In s c i en c e, Sk i n n er, Pav lo v , Mas lo w , J ames , Ga llu p an d o the rs hav e d emo n s trated , i n hun d red s o f exp eri men ts , the p ro d u c ti v e po w er o f rew ard . If y o u w an t res u lts , gi v e rew a rd s . If y o u w an t t en ti mes mo re res u lts , gi v e ten ti mes bette r rew ard s . B etter i s n o t alw ay s q u an ti ty . Reward Power A s w i th mo s t i n s tru men ts o f p o w er there are tw o s i d es to th e p o w er o f rew a rd : gi v i n g an d rec ei v in g. So me p eo p le hav e d i ffi c u lty w i th rec ei v i n g a rew ard fo r thei r effo rts o r th e y may be embarr as s ed at the p ro s p ec t o f r ec ei v i n g s p eci al rec o gn i ti o n . I hav e n o ti c ed thi s mo re i n A us trali a than i n the U S an d i t may hav e s o methi n g to d o w i th the A u s trali an p hen o men on kn o w n as the T all Po p p y Sy n d ro me w hi c h i s the habi t s o me Lazy Cri ti c s hav e o f " k n o c ki n g" p eop le w ho s ti c k thei r head abo v e the c ro w d . Tall Poppies T he Lazy Cri ti c s ' p as ti me o f b eli ttli n g the e ffo r ts o f o the rs mu s t s u rely a ffec t o u r n ati o n al p ro d uc ti v i ty . If w e are u n c o mfo rtable w i th rew ard i n g o ther p eo p le's attemp ts at c lev ern es s then w e c a n n o t exp ec t o thers to hav e a go . T hi s PT V s y nd ro me i s an un w an ted hin d ran c e to the d ev elo p men t o f o u r i n tellec tu al c ap i tal an d o u r go al o f b ei n g k n o w n as T he Clev er Co u n try .
170 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
F o r, i f w e are i n s ec u re ab o u t o u r p eers ' reac ti o n to o u r o w n attemp ts at c lev ern es s then w e c an n o t real ly b e e xp ec ted to try to o o ften . Is thi s w hat w e w an t ? Is n ' t i s better to be a t all p o p p y than a li ttle w eed ? T o s u mmari s e y o u r tr ai n i n g to d ate , belo w i s a fu ll p a ge o f the c o d e ( y o u c an p ri n t o u t as a ' p o s ter' , i f y o u w i s h) . T he c o d e o f the SOT b r ai n s o ftw are:
SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR
SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR
171 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR SDNT CVSTOBVS QRH PRR
172 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
What is the idea of 'Australia'? A u s trali a i s the n ame gi v en to a c lev er i d ea - c reated betw een the p eo p l e o f New So u th W ales , Vi c to ri a, So u th A us trali a, Qu een s lan d , T as man i a, an d W es tern A u s trali a - to u ni te i n o n e fed erati o n u n d er the Co n s ti tu ti on o f the Co mmo n w ealth o f A u s trali a. Who created Australia? On J u ly 5, 190 0 , A u s trali a w as legally c reat ed by an Ac t o f the W es tmi n s ter Parli am en t k n o w n as the Co mmo nw ealth o f A u s trali a Co n s ti tu ti o n Ac t. T he A c t w as p ro c lai med to c o mmen c e o n J anu ary 1, 190 1. A t that ti me, the p o p u lati o n o f A us trali a w as u nd er fo u r mi lli o n and c on sis ted o f a n u mber o f c o lo n i es w hi c h rega rd ed thems elv es as B ri ti s h. T hi s A c t w as the en d res u lt o f a v i s i o n w hi c h b egan fi fty y ears ear li er i n the s elf- go v e rn i n g c o lo ni es . T he Co n s ti tu ti o n o f A u s trali a i s als o i n tern ati o n ally re gard ed as o n e o f th e c lev eres t agree men ts ev er d es i gn ed . I t w as c ra fted i n A u s trali a by o u r o w n p eo p le. It w as a p ro d u c t, n o t o f w ar n o r o f rev o lu ti o n , bu t o f man y y ears o f bu s in es s dis c u ss i on , p o li ti c al d ebate, le gal a rgu men t an d p eac efu l re feren d u m. T he n o ti o n o f an A u s trali an fed er ati o n en j o y ed mu c h di s cu s si o n amo n g the p eo p le o f the c o lo n i es c u lmi n ati n g i n a Co n sti tu ti o n al Co n v en ti o n w hi c h w as held. i n 18 9 1 to d ebate t he i d ea. Dele gat es to thi s fi rs t Co n v en ti o n w ere ap p o i n ted . E ac h o f the c o lo n i al p arli amen ts s en t thei r rep res en tati v es to the meeti n g i n Sy d n ey . T he Co n v en ti o n w as c hai red b y the Premi er o f New So u th W ales , Si r H en r y Park es . T he p ro d u c t o f thi s fi rs t Co n v en ti o n w as a d raft o f a B i ll fo r a Co n s ti tu ti o n . T hi s B i ll w as d rafted w i th the help , amon g o thers , o f Si r Samu el Gri ffi th , P remi er o f Qu een s lan d , w ho late r b ec ame th e F i rs t Chi ef J u s ti c e o f the H i gh Co u rt o f A u s trali a.
173 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN T hi s d raft led to fu rther d i s c u s si o n amo n g the c o lo n i es un ti l i t w as d ec id ed to ho ld a s ec o n d Co n v en ti o n . T he s ec o n d Cons ti tu ti o n al Co n v en ti on w as an exten ded o n e. I t w as held i n A d elai d e, Syd n ey an d Melbo u rn e o v er tw o y ears i n 18 97 and 18 98 . T hi s ti me the Deleg ates w ere elec ted by the p eo p le. T he d oc u men t p ro d u c ed at thi s Co n v en ti o n bec ame the n ew Co n s ti tuti o n an d man y featu res fro m the d ra ft o f the fi rs t Co n v en ti o n w ere i n c lud ed . T he d raft o f the Co n s ti tu ti o n w as then tak en to the p eop le. In 18 99, i t w as ap p ro v ed by p o p u lar refe ren d a eac h held i n New So u th W ales , Vi c to ri a , T as m an i a an d Qu een s lan d . New Zealan d , w hi c h w as rep res en ted at the fi rs t Co n v en ti o n , d i d n o t j o i n the F ed erati o n . W es tern A u s trali a v o ted to j o i n i n 190 0 . T hu s , the Co n s ti tu ti o n w as d es i gn ed, n o t at W es tmi n s ter bu t i n A u s trali a an d by o u r p eo p le. In the w o rd s o f the E lev en th Chi ef J u s ti c e o f the H i gh Co u rt, T h e H o n o u rable Mu rray Glees o n A C: " T he Co mmo n w ealth Co n s ti tu ti on w as no t d rafted by c i v i l s erv an ts i n Lo n do n , an d p res en ted to the c o lo n i es o n the b as i s that t hey c o u ld tak e i t o r leav e i t. Its te rms w ere hamme red o u t i n A u s trali a i n a p ro c es s o f p u bli c d ebate, an d p o li ti c al an d legal n ego ti ati o n , by the lead i n g fi gu res o f the d ay " . The Third Convention On e hu n d red y ears afte r the s ec o n d Co n v en ti o n a thi rd Co n v en ti o n w as held . Du ri n g F eb ru ary 1 998 , 1 52 d eleg ates fro m all o v e r A u s trali a met at O ld Pa rli amen t H o u s e in Can berra to d i sc u ss w hether to c han ge the Co n s ti tu ti o n s o that A u s trali a c o u ld bec o me a rep u bli c . F o r thi s Co n v en ti o n , half the d e leg ates w ere ap p o i n ted an d half w ere elec ted . Sev en ty - s i x o f the d elegates w ere el ec ted by the A us trali an p eo p le in a v o lu n tary p o s tal ballo t. T he o t her s ev en ty - s ix w ere ap p o i n ted by the Go v ern men t. T he d elegates c o me fro m ev ery Sta te an d T erri to ry an d had a wi d e d i vers i ty o f bac k gro u n d s an d in teres ts . T he thi r d Co n v en ti on w as c hai red by the Rt H o n Ian Si n c lai r MP, w i th t he H o n B ar ry J o n es A O MP as Dep u ty Chai rm an . D u ri n g the Co n v en ti o n the tw o mai n mod els fo r s elec ti n g a P res i d en t o f A u s trali a w ere d ebated : 1. ap p o i n ted , o r 2 . e lec ted . It w as fi n ally res o lv ed at the thi rd Co n v en ti on that a rep u bli c an mo del o f an ' ap p o in ted p res i d en t' be p u t to the p eo p le i n a c o ns ti tu ti o n al referen d u m.
174 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
On 5 No v emb er 19 99, A u s trali an v o t ers w ere as k ed : Do y o u a gre e w i th a p ro p o s ed law to alte r the c o n s ti tu ti o n to es tabli s h the Co mmo n w ealth o f A u s trali a as a Rep u bli c w i th the Qu een an d Go v ern o r- Gen eral bei n g rep lac ed by a Pres i d en t ap p o in ted by a tw o - thi rd s maj o ri ty o f members o f the Co mmo n w ealth Par li amen t? T he res u lt o f t he re fer en d u m w as " No" . The Clever Constitution T here are man y c lev er s ec ti o ns in the A u s trali an Con s ti tu ti on . Rec en t attemp ts to c han ge the c o n s ti tu ti o n w ere u n su c ces s fu l bec au s e to o man y Au s trali an s felt that the c han ges bei n g o ffe red w ere n o t as c lev er as the e xi s ti n g mo d el. T her e may be s o me better o p ti o n s p u t fo rw ard i n the fu tu re. A go o d examp le o f a c lev er s ec ti o n is Sec ti o n 116 o f the Co n s ti tu ti o n . T his Sec ti o n has d i rec tly led to the c reati o n o f o n e o f the mo d ern w o r ld ' s mo s t c u ltu rall y d i v ers e s o c i eti es . T he
las t
n ati o n al
c en s us
s ho ws
that
ther e
is
a
ri c h
d i v ersi ty
o f c u ltu res ,
p hi lo s o p hi es , i d eo lo gi es an d reli gi o n s i n A us trali a. A s an examp le o f o u r d i v ers i ty , let' s lo o k at the i d ea o f ' freed o m o f reli gi o n ' w hi c h has been a p ro blem fo r man y o ld er n ati o n s . What is the idea of 'Freedom of Religion' In A u s trali a, there are o v er 2 70 d i s ti n c t reli gi o u s gro u p s . Ov er 2 40 lan gu ages are s p o k en in A us trali an ho mes . T hi s i s ev i d enc e o f the c r eati v i ty , to l er an c e an d go o d w i ll o f o u r n ati o n an d mad e p o s si ble by Sec ti o n 116 w hi c h ensu res A LL RE LIGIO NS A RE E QU A L u n d er the L aw o f A u s trali a. I t es tabli s hes the la w that , i n A u s trali a, n o p arti c u lar re li gi o n i s the ' t ru e reli gi o n ' n o r i s an y o n e reli gi o n s u p eri o r to an y o ther reli gi o n an d s o w e c an hav e the i d ea o f ' freed o m o f re li gi o n ' . Sec ti o n 116- - F reed o m o f Reli gi o n - - o f o u r Co n s ti tu ti o n s ay s: " T he Co mmo n w ealth s hall n o t mak e an y law fo r es tabli s hi n g an y reli gi o n , o r fo r i mp o si n g any reli gi o u s o b s erv an c e, o r fo r p ro hi bi ti n g the free exerc i s e o f any reli gi o n , an d n o reli gi o u s tes t s hall be requ i red as a qu ali fi c ati o n fo r an y o ffi c e o r p u bli c tru s t u nd er the Co mmo n w ealth ."
175 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Sec ti o n 116 allo w s all A u s trali an s to ben efi t fro m o u r g reat c o mmo n w ealth o f reli gi o - d i v ers i ty . J u s t to men ti o n a f ew : A u s trali an s s hare i n the lo n g, p r e- hi s to ri c ev o lu ti o n o f the A bo ri gi n al d reami ng, the w i s d o m gai n ed fro m the s u fferi n g o f J u d ai s m, the w armth o f the b ro th erh o o d o f Is lam, the c ha ri ty o f the Chri s ti an s w i th thei r lo v e o f Go d an d fel lo w hu man s bei n gs , the p eac e an d c o mpas s i o n o f B u d d his m, the p lu rali s m o f the H in du s , the T ao i s t res p ec t o f n atu re, the emp has i s o n relati o n s hi ps an d man n ers o f Con fu c i ani s m, the s o c i al j u s tic e o f Mar xi s m, the hu man i s t freed o m o f the li b erals , th e ho li s ti c ap p ro ac h o f the A fri c an s , the Si k hs w i th thei r hu mo u r an d s in c eri ty , an d , a gro w i n g n u mber o f A u s trali an s - abo v e 2 5% - w ho are fr ee to s tat e that they hav e n o reli gi o n at all . 'For we are young and free' W e hav e thes e an d man y o ther reli gi o u s sy s tems w hi c h are a p ri c eles s p art o f o u r a v as t treas u re o f i n tellec tu a l c ap i tal. A ll thes e d i v ers e reli gi o u s v alu es hav e thri v ed an d are c o mp ati ble i n an en v i ro n men t o f mu tu al r es p ec t an d freed o m. A s a y o u n g c o u n try , w e hav e been fo rtu n ate to ben efi t fro m the bi tter exp eri en c e o f man y o ld er c o u n tri es . W e hav e s een that i t i s o n ly w hen on e reli gi o n s eeks to imp o s e i ts au tho ri ty an d ri ghteo u s n es s o v er an other th at w e c an exp ec t the b ru tali ty an d the ho rro r o f reli gi o u s w ars an d c ru s ad es, the fatw ahs an d i n qu i si ti o ns , an d the fu ry o f the p ers ec u ti o n s that fo llo w . I b eli ev e Sec ti o n 11 6 i s a v ery c lev e r meme tha t has allo w ed A u s tra li a t o bec o me i n hab i ted by a free- thi n k in g, fri en d ly , d ec en t an d d emo c rati c c o mmonw ealth o f p eo p le an d gro w n by i mmi gran ts w ho are a ttr ac ted to thi s k i n d o f li fes ty le. A ltho u gh i t i s v ery s mall, A u s trali a i s a hi ghly ev o lv ed n ati on w here there i s a c o n s tan t di alo gu e betw een the go v e rn men t an d the p eo p le v i a the in dep en d en t med i a. A u s trali an s , li k e the P ac k ers an d the Mu rd o c hs , hav e been w o r ld l ead ers i n med i a an d bro ad c as t tec hn o lo gy fo r man y d ec ad es an d the A u s trali an mark et i s a hi ghly s o p hi s tic ated o n e. A c u rren t examp le o f thi s k i n d o f d i alo gu e i s the Go v ern men t' s p u bli c ed u c ati o n c amp ai gn ,
relati n g
to
the
te rro ri s t
threat .
T he
A u s trali an
Pri me
Mi n i s ter
an n o u nc ed , " T he p u rp o s e o f the c amp ai gn , w hi c h i s li k ely to las t fo r abo u t three mo n ths , i s to i n fo rm, re- as s u re an d en li s t the p u blic in lo o k in g o u t fo r A us trali a i n the hei ght en ed terro ri s t c i rc u ms tan c es i n w hic h w e n o w fin d o u rs elv es ."
176 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
B u t, A u s trali an s are n ei ther n ai v e n o r ar e they bli n d . A s w i th all n ati o n s , w e hav e s een the p rac ti s e fall s o mew hat s ho rt o f the i d eal. A u s trali a, li k e all n atio n s , c an reflec t o n i ts o w n s o rry his to ry o f p ers ec u ti o ns w hic h hav e i nc lu d ed the flo ggi n gs o f Iri s h c o n v i c ts , the ' p i g tai li n g' o f the Chi n es e, the th eft o f A bo ri gi n al c hi l d ren , the s c hi s m o f the Labo u r mo v emen t, the ru d en es s to w ard s Vi etn am Veteran s an d the W hi te A u s trali a Po li c y . So w hat then i s the qu in tes s en ti al ben efi t o f Sec ti o n 116? It i s , s i mp ly , freed o m o f c ho i c e. T hat mean s freed o m fo r y o u to c ho o s e, n o t fo r s o meo n e els e to mak e y o u r c ho i c es fo r y o u . The Clever Country In ad d i ti on to i ts freed o m, I hav e al w ay s tho u ght o f A us trali a as a c lev er c o u n try . W e ev en exp o rt c lev ern es s ! A u s trali a c o n ti n u es to gro w an d e xp o rt s o me o f the w o rld ' s bes t sc i en tis ts . In d eed , the Scho o l o f T hi n ki n g is bas ed i n Melbo u rn e an d i s d ai ly exp o rti n g thi n k in g les s o n s to any c o u n try o n the p lan et that i s i n terested . T here a re mo re s c i en ti s ts ali v e to d ay than all the s c i en ti s ts w ho ev er li v ed . In ev e ry s p here o f k n o w led ge, thes e s c i en ti s ts are qu es ti o n i n g, exp lo ri n g, exp eri men ti n g, res earc hi n g an d u p d ati n g w hat w e o nc e tho u ght to be tru e . A s a sc i en tis t, I w as tau ght tha t o l d tru ths are rep lac ed by n ew tru th s as n ew ev i d en c e bec o mes av ai lable. A s a hu man bei n g li v i n g in to d ay 's w o rld I d o n ' t n eed to be a s c i en ti s t to reali s e thi s o bv i o us fac t. T he w o rld i s fu l l o f d ai ly examp l es o f thi s p hen o men o n - the exp l o s i o n o f k n o w led ge, the i n fo rma ti o n rev o lu ti o n , the hi gh- tec h ad v an c es i n c y bermed i a, the s o p his ti c ati o n o f the mark etp lac e , p ro d u c ti v i ty i n c reas es in the w o rk p lac e, t he c han ges i n geo - p o li tic al s p heres o f in flu en c e, an d sp o rti n g rec o rd s c o n tin u e to be s hattered . Rep lac i n g o ld tru ths w i th n ew tru ths i s c alled thi n k in g. T o help p romo te thi s ac ti v i ty , I s tarted the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g ( SOT ) in New Y o rk i n 1979. SO T les s o n s hav e n o w reac hed o v er 50 mi lli o n p eo p le w o rld w i d e. In a U SA i r a rti c le, SOT w as o n c e d es c ri bed as " the Mc Do n ald s o f thi n k i n g" .
177 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
I hav e s o me ti mes been ac c u s ed by the i n tellec tu al eli te fo r " s elli n g thi n k in g to the mas s es " . I tak e i t as a c o mp li men t si n c e I c ann o t thi n k o f a better thi n g to s ell. SOT , n o w the la rges t s c ho o l i n the w o rld , t eac hes n o t w hat to thi n k bu t H OW to thi n k - thin k in g as a s ki ll - an d p ro v id es d ai ly thin k in g les s o ns to any o n e, an y p lac e, an y ti me. SOT ' s mi s si o n has alw ay s b een to get ' thi n k in g' tau ght to k i d s at s c ho o l b y p lac i n g ' thi n k in g' o n the c u rri c u lu m as a s c ho o l s u bj ec t. A t fi rs t, the re w as qu i t e a lo t o f res i s tan c e to this p ro po s al. B u t i t di d rec ei v e w on d erfu l s up p o rt fro m so me v ery s p ec i al p eo p le li k e my men to r, Pro fes s o r Geo rg e Gal lu p ( fo u n d er o f the Ga llu p Po ll at P ri n c eto n ) , w ho o n c e en c ou raged me by telli n g me , " I beli ev e y o u r w o rk i n teac hi n g p eo p le to thi n k may be the mo s t i mp o rtan t thi n g go i n g o n i n the w o rld to d ay ." E v en tu ally , after ten y ears o f ru n n i ng aro u n d the U S fro m New Y o rk to plac es li k e W as hi n gto n , Dallas , San F ran c i sc o , Pu erto Ri c o etc etc an d bac k to New Yo rk agai n talk i n g to p aren ts , te ac hers , legi s lat o rs , the med i a, bu s i n ess an d o thers , w e met w i th grea t s u c c es s . In the mi d - ei ghti es ' teac hin g thi n k ing' bec ame a n ati o n w id e fad in U S ed uc ati o n led by med i a arti c les i n tw o o f A meri c a' s mo s t in flu en ti al p u bli c ati on s: 1. a c ov er s to ry I gav e to the Re ad ers Di ges t , an d 2 . a lead s to ry abo u t o u r p ro j ec t i n the New Y o rk T i mes , " T EA CH ING T O T H INK : A NEW E MPH A SIS A T SCH OOLS A ND COLLE GE S" ( J an 9, 198 3 ) . On retu rn i n g to A u s trali a i n the Bi - c en tenn i al y ear, I lau n c hed the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k in g ( SOT ) at a m eeti n g o f 70 0 o f A u s trali a' s mu n i c ip al an d fed eral s ta tes p eo p le i n Can b erra, 3 0 May 198 8 . T o c o mmemo rate thi s I p res en ted the G o v ern o rGen eral H i s E xc ellen c y Si r Ni n i an Step hen A K , GCMB , GCV O, K B E w i th hi s o w n SOT B rai n u s ers K i t and then aw ard ed to the H o n o u rable Ro bert J L H aw k e A K , the Pri me Mi n i s ter o f A u s trali a, a fo rmer Rho d es Sc ho lar , a s p ec i al c erti fi c ate ap p o in ti n g hi m as ' A us trali a' s Nu mber On e B rai n u s er' to s y mbo li s e the v as t p o ten ti al i n tu rn in g- o n the p o w er o f A u s trali a' s 16 mi lli o n brai n s . Later , o n 8 Ma rc h 1 990 , i n B ri s ban e, A u s trali a' s Nu mber On e B rai n u s er, Pri me
178 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN Mi n i s ter H aw k e, d ec reed : No lo n ger c o n ten t to be j u s t the lu c k y c o u n try , A u s trali a mu s t n o w bec o me the c lev er c o u n try . Si n c e bri n gin g SOT to A us trali a, I ha v e w o rk ed a s i mi lar c amp ai gn to the o n e I u s ed i n the U S, to u ri n g A u s trali a gi v i n g lec tu res an d w o rk i n g the med i a to s ee that A u s trali an k i ds are tau ght to thi n k fo r thems elv es . T he be tter w ay to d o thi s i s to hav e " thi n k in g" p u t o n the c o re c u rri c u lu m as a s c ho o l su bj ec t. T hen k i ds w i ll learn that k n o w i n g H OW to thi n k is ev ery bi t as i mp o rtan t as k n o wi n g w hat to th i n k . In 199 5, the H o u s e o f Rep r es en tati v es Stan d i n g Co mmi ttee o n In d u s try , Sc i en c e an d T ec hn o lo gy i n v i ted the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g to ad v is e o n ho w A us trali a c an fu rther d ev elo p i ts " i nn o v ati o n c u ltu re" . Par t o f o u r s u bmi s s i on to the Pa rli amen t s ai d as fo llo w s : " Dev elo p i n g an i nn o v ati o n c u ltu re i n A u s trali a i s the grea tes t s tra tegi c ho p e fo r o u r p ro d u c ti v e fu tu re i n thi s ec on o mi c regi o n . T he bi gges t o bs tac le w e fac e i n d oi n g thi s i s the c u ltu ral lac k o f v alu e w e p lac e o n ' thi n ki n g an d i nn o v ati o n ' c omp ared to the v alu e w e p lac e o n bei n g ' ri ght' an d d efen d i n g o u r p oi n t- o f- vi ew . T hi s i s his to ri c ally d u e to the i mp o r tati o n o f o u r ed u c ati o n s y s tem fro m E u ro p e. Si n c e the c hu rc h d es i gn ed o u r E u ro p ean ed u c ati o n s ys tem i n the mi d d le ages , the trad i ti o n al fo c u s o f ed u c ati on has been o n teac hi n g c hi ld ren w hat to thin k . T o d ate, w e hav e n o t had an equ al b alan c e gi v en to teac hi n g o u r c hi ld ren ho w to thi n k . Gen erally , thi s has ten d ed to p ro d u c e a c u ltu re w hi c h, li k e o ther E u ro p ean c u ltu res , feels i t i s mo re i mp o rtan t to b e ' ri ght' than to be a thi n k er, to exp eri men t, to mak e mi s tak es , to d i s c o v er, to tak e ri s k s , to i n n o v ate! T he mi s s i on o f the Sc ho o l o f T hin ki n g i s als o to s ee that thi n k in g i s tau ght i n A u s trali an s c ho o ls as a c o re c u rri c u lum s u bj ec t. T o d ay , ev ery o n e i s talk i n g ab o u t th e hu man brai n . It' s the n ew fro n ti e r. In the i n c reas i n gly c o mp eti ti v e glo b al bu s i n es s theatre, w o rld c las s c o rp o rat i o n s are reali s i n g that the c lev e rn es s o f thei r emp lo y ees - thei r brai n p o w er - is the u lti mate c o rp o rate as s et. T here i s a n ew tren d to w ard s d ev elo p i n g, man agi n g an d meas u ri n g the ' i n tellec tu al c ap i tal' o f the c o rp o r ate en terp ri s e. A s a s en i o r IB M exec u ti v e s ai d , " Ou r mo s t v alu ab le c o rp o ra te as s ets go ho me at 5p m an d are n o t ev en rec o rd ed o n the balan c e s heet" . T he Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g beli ev es the mo s t s u c c es s fu l an d s ec u re ro u te to an ' i nn o v ati o n c u ltu re' o r a ' c lev er c oun try ' is to p u t thi nk i n g as a s k i ll o n the c o re c u rri c u lu m o f the ed u c ati o n s ys tem. If a c hi ld go es to s c ho o l fo r ten o r m o re y ears an d n ev er has a thi n k i n g le s s o n , that c hi ld c an be fo rgi v en fo r ge tti n g the i mp res s i o n that thi n k in g i s n o t as i mpo rtan t as k n o w in g thi n gs . T hey feel that bei n g ' ri ght' an d d efen d in g o n e' s vi ew p o int i s mo re i mp o rtan t than es c ap in g fro m o n e' s v i ew p o in t to fi nd an ev en better o n e - the c o gn i ti v e p ro c ess w e c all i n n o v ati on .
179 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
On the o the r h an d , i f a c hi ld rec ei v es regu lar d eli bera te t rai n i n g i n thi n k in g s k i lls , i f ' thi n k in g' has a p lac e o n the c u r ri c u lu m, then tha t c hi ld s ees a v alu e b ei n g p lac ed o n ' thi n ki n g.' T hat s o c i ety has s ho w n i t v alu es thi n k i n g an d has p o si ti o n ed i ts elf as hav i n g an i nn o v ati o n cu ltu re." ( E X T RA CT F ROM) - SU B MISS IO N T O T H E H OU SE OF RE PRE SE N T A T IVE S ST A NDING COM MIT T E E ON I NDU ST RY , SC IE NCE A ND T E C H NOLOGY RE GA RDING T H E COM MIT T E E ' S IN QU IRY INT O IN NOVA T IO N I N A U ST RA LIA B Y DR. M ICH A E L H E W IT T - GLE E SON, F OU NDE R & PRI NCI PA L T H E SCH OOL OF T H INK ING - 1 F E B RU A RY 1995 A s a res u lt, i t h as n o w b ec o me go v er n men t p o li c y to i n tro d uc e ' teac hi n g thi n k i n g' i n to all s c ho o ls an d teac her c o lleges i n Au s trali a an d T erri to ri es ( s ee Parli amen t o f the Co mmo n w ealth o f A u s trali a - Stan d i n g Co mmi ttee Rep o rt o n In n o v ati o n , No v ember 199 5) . It i s a v e ry ho p efu l thi n g that fu tu re A u s trali an k i d s w i ll be tau ght n o t j u s t to ge t the ' ri ght' an s w ers an d to d efen d ' T he T ru th' , bu t als o H OW to fi n d n ew tru ths an d to thi n k fo r thems elv es . A n y w ay , en o u gh o f the d ru m- beati n g an d o n w i th the s ho w .
180 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
T hi s i s the las t o f the Sp eed T hi n k ers Co u rs e ( ST C) o f d ai ly les s o n s w hi c h co mp ri s es the text o f thi s e- bo o k So ftwa re Fo r Y o u r B rai n w hi c h as yo u hav e s een has c o n tai n ed a lo t o f rep eti ti o n . T hes e rep eti ti o n s p ro v i d ed y ou w ith mu lti p le o p p o rtu n i ti es to i n c reas e y o u r u n d ers tan d in g an d ap p li c ati o n o f the SD N T C VSTOB V S QR H PR R brai n s o ftw are s o let' s hav e an o ther lo o k at ho w y o u n o w rate y o u r o w n brai n p o w er. INST RU CT IO NS: A n s w er eac h o f the fo llo w i n g qu es ti o ns , s c o ri n g ei ther 3 , 2 , 1, o r 0 p o i n ts fo r eac h an s w er d ep en di n g o n y ou r o bj ec ti v e es ti mate o f ho w o ften y o u ac tu ally d o w hat i s s tated . U s e y o u r bes t gu es s o f the fo llo w i n g c ri te ri a fo r s c o ri n g: 3 - 90 % OF T H E T IME ( n early alw ay s) 2 - 70 % OF T H E T IME ( mo s tly ) 1 - 40 % OF T H E T IME ( o ften ) 0 - 10 % OF T H E T IME ( hard ly ev er)
My j u d gemen ts o f i d eas are bas ed o n the v alu e o f t he i d ea rathe r than o n my emo ti o n s at the ti me.
I j u d ge i d eas n o t j us t as go o d o r bad ; bu t als o as i n teres ti n g; i f they c an lead o n to better i d eas .
I c o n s i d er all fac to rs i n a s i tu ati o n befo re c ho o s i n g, d ec i d in g o r p lan n in g. I c o n s i d er all fac to rs fi rs t , befo r e p i c k i n g o u t the o n es that mat ter mo s t .
181 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
W hen I c reate a ru le I s ee to i t th at i t i s c learly u n d ers to o d an d p o ss i ble to o bey .
I try to s ee t he p u rp o s e o f ru les I hav e to o bey , ev en i f I d o n ' t li k e the ru les .
I lo o k at c o n s equ en c es o f my d eci s i ons o r ac ti o ns n o t o n ly as they affec t me bu t als o as they affec t o ther p eo p l e.
I lo o k at a w i d e r an ge o f p o s s i ble c o ns equ en c es befo re d ec i d in g w hi c h c on s equ enc es to bo ther abo u t.
On the w ay to a fi n al o bj ec ti v e I es tab li s h a c hai n o f s maller o bj ec ti v es eac h o n e fo llo w i n g o n fro m the p rev i o u s o n e. T he o bj ec ti v es I s et are n ear en o u gh , real en o u gh an d p o s si ble en o u gh fo r me to real ly try t o reac h them . In p lan n in g, I k n o w exac tly w hat I w a n t to ac hi ev e.
I k eep my p lan s as si mp le an d di rec t as p o s si ble.
I k n o w exac tly w hy I hav e c ho s en s o methi n g as a p ri o ri ty .
W hi le mo s t p eo p le lo o k fo r alt ern ati v es w hen they are n o t s ati s fi ed ; I lo o k fo r them d eli bera tely ev en w hen I am s ati s fi ed . I am abl e to te ll my s elf th e rea l re as o n behi n d a d eci s i on I mak e.
B efo re mak i n g a d ec i s i o n , I c o n si d er the fac to rs , lo o k at
182 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
the c o n s eq u en c es , get c lea r abo u t th e o bj ec ti v es , as s es s the p ri o ri ti es , an d s earc h fo r p o s s i ble altern ati v es .
I am ab le to s ee the o ther p ers o n ' s p oi n t- o f- v i ew w hether I agre e w i th i t o r n o t.
I am abl e to s p ell o u t the d i ff eren c es an d s i mi lari ti es betw een d i fferen t v i ew p o i n ts .
TOTA L SC O R E.
Interpretation T hi s i s n o t a s c i en ti fi c tes t. It' s j u s t an au d i t o r c hec k li s t to help y o u tak e s to c k o f y o u r thi n k in g, that' s all! A trai n ed thi n k er c an d i rec t hi s o r her thi n k i n g an d us e i t i n a d eli berate man n er to p ro d u c e an effec t. T o a t rai n ed an d s ki lled thi n k er, thi n k i n g i s a to o l that c an b e u s ed at w i ll an d the u s e o f thi s to o l i s p rac ti c al. T hi s abi li ty to u s e ' thin k in g as a s k i ll' i s the s o rt o f thi n k i n g abi li ty that i s requ i red to ge t thi n gs DONE .
If y o u r to tal s c o re i n thi s tes t w as betw een 5 1 an d 60 p o i n ts , y o u alread y p o s s es s su p eri o r brai n p o w er.
If y o u s c o red betw een 3 1 an d 50 p o in ts , y o u hav e better than av erage brai n p o w er.
If y o u s c o red betw een 0 an d 3 0 , y ou p o ss es s n o add i ti o n al brai np o w er o ther th an the n atu ra l thi n k i n g abi li ty that mo s t p eo p le hav e. R e c o rd you r sc o re he re : H o w d o es thi s s c o re c o mp are w i th y ou r s c o re at the b egi n n i n g o f y o u trai ni n g?
183 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
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w w w .s c ho o lo fthi n k in g.o rg by a w i d e r an ge o f tho u s an d s o f thi n k ers i n mo re than 40 c o u n tri es . T he c o n s tan t s tream o f feed b ac k rep li es I get f ro m thes e man y i n d i vi d u als reflec ts a d i v ers i ty o f u nd ers tan d in gs o f thes e l es s o ns , as y o u w o u ld exp ec t. F o r examp le, th ere w i ll b e tho s e w ho hav e had an un d ers tan d in g o f the les s o n s s i mi lar to y o u r u n d ers tan di n g an d , o f c o u rs e, o thers w ho d i d n o t s hare y o u r u n d ers tan d in g at all, bu t hav e had qu i te a d i fferen t o r ev en c o n trary v i ew . A ltho u gh the les s o n I s en d ou t to eac h i nd i v id u al thi n k er eac h d ay i s the s ame fo r ev ery o n e, i t' s mo s t i n teres ti n g to wi tn es s the d i v ers i ty o f feed bac k res p ons es w hic h reflec t the abo v e- men ti o n ed w i d e ran ge o f p o s s i ble u n d ers tan d in gs o f thes e les s o n s . I d o harv es t the ri c h array o f c o mmen ts that trai n ees s en d me w hi c h I u se to k eep thes e les s o n s ev o lv in g i n the Darw i n i an s en s e. T hi s help s to mak e the Sp eed T hi n k ers Co u rs e a s elf- ed uc ati n g, i n telli gen t s y s tem. I ho p e y o u ' v e fo u nd i t u s efu l. T he p u rp o s e o f the SOT trai n in g w as to get y o u to thin k mo re abo u t y o u r bu s in es s o r c are er , ev e ry d ay . A ltho u gh the re p eti ti o n an d d ai ly p rac ti s e is o ften te d i o u s fo r tho s e n o t u s ed to trai ni n g, i t i s sati s fy i n g to me to s ee ho w many small an d s o meti mes d ramati c c han ges to thei r c areer ac ti v i ti es as a res u lt. F R EE: If y o u w i s h to hav e free trai n i n g there are th ree o p ti o n s :
1. F RE E : Y o u c an d o the o n li n e v ers i o n o f thi s Sp eed T hi n k ers Co u rs e ( ST C) n o w o r at an y ti me i n the fu tu re. J u s t lo gi n an d en ro l at
184 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN w w w .s c ho o lo fthi n k in g.o rg
2. F RE E : If y o u thi n k they w o u ld fi n d i t u s efu l, y o u c an o ffer the Sp eed T hi n k ers Co u rs e ( ST C) that y o u h av e j u s t c o mp leted , to fami ly o r fri en d s o r s c ho o lmates o r bu s i n ess c olleagu es . If y o u are i n ter es ted , y o u c an v i s i t my New Sell Co ac hi n g s erv i c e w her e I p ro v i d e d ai ly c o ac hi n g i n New Sell to help bu s i n es s members to mu lti p ly thei r s ales by ten – go to www .ne ws e llc o a c hi ng .c o m W hen the s c hed u le p ermi ts , I als o d o ev en ts an d pu bli c app earan c es an d des i gn i nho u s e p ro grams fo r c o rp o r ate c li en ts fo r fees .
W e try to k eep thi n gs as s i mp le as p os s i ble, s o that' s bas i c ally i t!
185 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
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A s a s p eci al bo n u s ,here' s w hat they s ay abo u t thi n k in g … MA R C U S A U R ELIU S ~ A man ' s li fe i s w hat hi s tho u ghts mak e o f i t. C H A R LES R EA D E ~ So w a tho u g ht, an d y o u reap an ac t . So w an ac t an d y o u reap a habi t . So w a hab i t, an d y o u reap a c harac te r. So w a c harac te r an d y o u reap a d es ti n y . MA R K (N e w Te s ta m e nt 9; 23) ~ If tho u c an s t beli ev e, a ll thi n gs ar e p o s s i ble to hi m that beli ev eth . R A LPH WA LD O EMER SON ~ A man i s w hat he thi n k s ab ou t all d ay lo n g. TIMO TH Y D WIGH T ~ T he hap p i es t p ers o n i s the p ers o n w ho thi n k s the mo s t i n teres ti n g tho u ghts . R A LPH WA LD O EMER SON ~ Co n c en trati o n i s the s ec ret o f s tren gth i n p o li ti cs , i n w ar, i n trad e an d in the man agemen t o f al l hu man affai rs . A R ISTOTLE ~ T he s o u l n ev er thi n k s w i tho u t a men tal p i c tu re. CARL JUNG ~ T he d ebt w e o w e to the p l ay o f i magi n ati o n i s in c alc u lable. A LB ER T EIN STEIN ~ Imagi n ati o n i s mo re i mp o rtan t than k n o w led ge. K U R T VON N EGU T J R ~ W e are w hat w e i ma gi n e o u rs elv es to be. MU H A MMA D – W ho are the lea rn ed ? T ho s e w ho p rac ti s e w hat they k n o w . EA R L N IGH TIN GA LE ~ W e bec o me w hat w e thi n k abo u t. J P GU ILD F OR D ~ T o li v e i s to hav e p ro b lems , an d to s o lv e p ro blems i s to gro w i n tellec tu al ly .
186 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN A LB ER T EIN STEIN ~ T o rai s e n ew qu es ti o ns , n ew p o ss i bili ti es , to rega rd o ld p ro blems fro m a n ew an gle requ i res a c reati v e i magi n ati o n an d mark s the real ad v an c es i n s c i en ce. D OU GLA S A D A MS ~ In telli gen c e i s the abi li ty to s ee many p oi n ts o f v i ew w i tho u t go i n g c o mpletely bo n k ers . B EN J A MIN D ISR A ELI ~ E v ery thi n g c o mes i f a man wi ll o n ly w ai t. I hav e bro u ght my s elf by lo n g med i tati o n to the c o n vi c ti o n that a hu man bei n g w i th a s ettled p u rp os e mu s t ac c o mp li s h i t; that n o thi n g c an res is t a w i ll that w i ll s tak e ev en exis ten c e fo r i ts fu lfi lmen t. WILLIA M J A MES ~ Rep eated tho u ghts w ear a k i n d o f p sy c hi c gro o v e i n the mi n d . T he gro o v e gets d eep er w i th eac h rep eti ti o n . …… T he grea tes t d i s c o v ery o f my gen erati o n is that hu man bei n gs c an alter t hei r li v es by alteri n g thei r atti tu d es o f mi n d … W e n eed o n ly , i n c o ld b o o d , ac t as tho u gh the thi n g i n qu es ti o n w ere real an d it w i ll bec o me i n falli b ly real by gro w i n g in to s u c h a c on n ec ti on wi th o u r li fe that i t w i ll bec o me real. It w i ll b ec o me s o k n i t w i th habi t an d emo ti o n that o u r in teres ts in i t w i ll be tho s e that c ha rac teri s e bel i ef … If y o u o n ly c are en o u gh fo r a res u lt y o u w i ll almo s t c ertai n ly attai n i t. TH E 14TH D A LA I LA MA ~ Do n ' t w o rry ! If y o u hav e a p ro bl em an d i t i s fi xable, then t here i s n o n eed to w o rry abo u t i t. A n d , i f y o u hav e a p r o blem an d i t i s n o t fi xable t hen the re i s n o n eed to w o rry ab o u t i t ei ther . W o r ry c an n ev er help an y thi n g. WILLIA M SH A K ESPEA R E ~ Ou r d o u bts are trai to rs an d mak e u s lo s e the go o d w e o ft mi ght w i n by feari n g to attemp t. ED WA R D D E B ON O ~ T he mo re i n tel li gen t a p e rs o n i s the les s li k ely they ar e to be a go o d th i n k er. T hi s is bec au s e they ten d to us e their thi n k i n g effo rt to d efen d thei r p o in t- o fv i ew rather th an to es c ap e fro m i t, s o they o ften get trap p ed by thei r o w n c lev ern es s . R EN E D ESC A R TES ~ It i s n o t en o u gh to hav e a go o d mi n d . T he mai n thi n g i s to u s e i t w ell. C IC ER O ~ Memo ry i s the tr eas u ry an d gu ard i an o f all t hi n gs . GEOR GE B ER N A R D SH A W ~ Peo p le are alw ay s blami n g c i rc u ms tan c es fo r w hat they are. I d o n ' t believ e i n c i rc u ms tan c es . T he p eo p le w ho g et o n i n thi s w o rld are the p eo p le w ho get u p an d lo o k fo r the c i rc u ms tan c es they w an t an d i f they c an ' t fin d them … mak e them! MA R Y B A K ER ED D Y ~ T he ti me fo r t hi n k ers has c o me.
187 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN N OR MA N VIN C EN T PEA LE ~ T hi s i s on e o f the greates t law s o f the u n i v ers e. F erv en tly d o I w is h I had d i s c ov ered i t as a y o un g man , bu t i t came to me mu c h later i n li fe and I fou n d i t to be o n e o f my g reat es t d i s c o v eri es . A n d the Great Law s i mp ly s tated i s th i s : If y o u thi n k in n egati v e terms y o u w i ll get n egati v e res u lts . If y o u thi n k i n p o s i ti v e terms y o u wi ll get p o s i ti v e res u lts . TH E 14TH D A LA I LA MA ~ T hi n k ! T hi n k! T hin k ! … Prac ti s e! Prac ti s e! Prac ti s e! EPIC TETU S ~ If y o u w an t to d o s o methi n g, mak e a habi t o f i t; i f y o u w an t n o t to d o s o methi n g, refr ai n fro m d o i n g i t. GEOR GE H ER B ER T ~ If the b rai n s o w s n o t c o rn , i t p lan ts thi s tles . ER IC B IEN STOC K ~ Chan ge y o u r thi n k i n g an d all els e w i ll fo llo w . A LB ER T EIN STEIN ~ No amo u n t o f exp eri men tati o n c an ever p ro v e me ri ght; a s in gle exp eri men t c an p ro v e me w ro n g. N A POLEON H ILL ~ W hat the mi n d c an c o nc ei v e an d beli ev e, i t c an ac hi ev e. GEOR GE ELIO T ~ T he s tro n ges t p ri n c i p le o f gro w th li es i n hu man c hoi c e. R OGER VON OEC H ~ Creati v e thi n k i n g may si mp ly mean the reali za ti o n that there' s n o p arti c u lar v i rtu e i n d o in g thi n gs the w ay they hav e alw ay s been d o n e. LIN U S PA U LIN G ~ T he bes t w ay to get a go o d i d ea i s to g et a lo t o f i d eas . H ER A C LITU S ~ If y o u d o n o t exp ec t the u n exp ec ted y o u w i ll n o t fi n d i t. MIC H A EL H EWITT- GLEE SON ~ T he Cu rren t Vi ew o f the Si tu ati o n ( CVS) c an n ev er be equ al to the B etter Vi ew o f the Si tu ati o n ( B VS) . A B VS c an be t en ti mes better than a CVS . T he CVS to B VS meme w o rk s li k e y eas t hi d d en in d o u gh u n ti l i t ri s es .
188 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BRAIN
Wo u ld y o u li k e to hav e a Ce rt if i ca t e o f C o m p le t i o n o f y o u r Sp eed T hi n kers d ai ly trai n i n g w i th the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g o v er the p as t fi v e w eek s ? T he c erti fi c ate p ro mi n en tly d i s p lays ou r mo tto : N EMO N A SC ITU R SA PIEN S A R TI F EX. No - o ne is bo r n a s kil l e d t h inke r . Co mp leti o n Qu es ti o n: H av e y o u read the les s o n s i n this c o urs e? Y o u r an s w er: Y E S/NO If Y E S, emai l me ( Mi c hael @s c ho o lo ft hi n k in g.o rg) s ay i n g exac tly ho w y o u w an t y o u r n ame to ap p ear o n the c er ti fi c ate an d I w i ll fo rw ard y o u r c er ti fi c ate as a p d f fi le by emai l to y o u w i th the c o mp li men ts o f the Sc ho o l o f T hi n k i n g. T ak e c are o f y o u r b r ai n ! Cheers , Mi c hael
189 Copyright Michael Hewitt-Gleeson © 2004
