Lateral Thinking versus Inductive Logic
De Bono distinguishes lateral thinking from inductive logic: induction aims at reasonable inferences, while lateral thinking can use deliberate provocation to disrupt a familiar pattern and generate alternatives.
THE IDEA
Is Lateral Thinking the Same as Inductive Logic?
This argument is based on the distinction between deductive and inductive logic. The assumption is that anything which is different from deductive logic must be the same as anything else which is also different from deductive logic. There is some resemblance between inductive logic and lateral thinking in that both work from outside the framework instead of from within it. Even so, lateral thinking can work from within the framework in order to bring about repatterning by such processes as reversal, distortion, query, turning upside down, etc. Inductive logic is essentially reasonable: one tries just as hard to be right as in deductive logic. Lateral thinking however can be deliberately and self-consciously unreasonable in order to provoke a new pattern. Both inductive and deductive logic are concerned with concept forming. Lateral thinking is more concerned with concept breaking, with provocation and disruption in order to allow the mind to restructure patterns.
When to use it
Generating innovative product ideas by reversing existing assumptions.
Breaking out of a mental rut by using random stimuli.
Challenging a long-standing company policy by asking 'What if we did the opposite?'
Using provocation to disrupt fixed patterns in strategic planning.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Provocation Technique
In a brainstorming session, a team deliberately suggests the opposite of a tried-and-true assumption, such as 'What if customers didn't need to pay?' to spark new business models.
Reversal of Process
A chef upends a standard recipe by cooking ingredients in reverse order, leading to an unexpected flavor combination.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
Can you think of a situation where being deliberately unreasonable led to a creative solution?
How does lateral thinking differ from traditional logical approaches in your own problem-solving?
What can deliberate provocation contribute to an idea that reasoning from existing observations might miss?
Often confused with
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Lateral Thinking A Textbook of Creativity (Edward de Bono)