Principle of Suspended Judgement
Delaying judgment and evaluation lets you explore the potential usefulness of ideas, even when they seem flawed or incorrect. This encourages creativity and lateral thinking.
THE IDEA
Practical application
The principle of suspended judgement has been discussed. The practical application of this principle needs outlining for it is not much use accepting the principle but never applying it. In practice the principle leads to the following behaviour:
- One does not rush to judge or evaluate an idea. One does not regard judgement or evaluation as the most important thing that can be done to an idea. One prefers exploration.
- Some ideas are obviously wrong even when no attempt at judgement is made. In such cases one shifts attention from why it is wrong to how it can be useful.
- Even if one knows that an idea must eventually be thrown out one delays that moment in order to extract as much usefulness from the idea as possible.
- Instead of forcing an idea in the direction which judgement indicates, one follows along behind it.
A bucket with holes cannot carry much water. One could reject it out of hand. Or one could see how far it could carry how much water. In spite of the holes it may be very useful for bringing about a certain effect.
When to use it
Brainstorming sessions where ideas are initially generated without criticism.
Product design when evaluating unconventional features that may serve hidden needs.
Conflict resolution where understanding opposing viewpoints before judging reduces bias.
Scientific hypothesis formation, allowing speculative ideas to be explored before rigorous testing.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
The bucket with holes
A bucket with holes is typically rejected for carrying water. But by suspending judgement, one might explore its usefulness—it could still carry some water, or be used to create a controlled leak, or serve as a sieve. The focus shifts from why it is wrong to how it can be useful.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
Recall a time you immediately dismissed an idea. How might you have explored its potential instead?
What would change in your decision-making if you deliberately delayed judgment for 24 hours?
Think of a ‘flawed’ solution to a problem—how could you transform its weakness into an advantage?
Often confused with
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Lateral Thinking A Textbook of Creativity (Edward de Bono)