Ever wonder where truly original creative thought originates? Some of the best thinkers in history have striven for a lifetime to master multiple and diverse disciplines in the sciences and arts, and were themselves originators of profound and revolutionary mental concepts. Benjamin Franklin used this method, and utilized a finely developed creative thought process leading to a lifetime filled with huge accomplishments in such diverse areas as business, science, civil governance, and politics.
Uniting mental models from separate intellectual disciplines in the arts and sciences creates a latticework of understanding which helps to disambiguate complex problems and permit insightful decisions. Having these mental tools at your disposal allows one to see the interconnectedness of multiple areas, thereby creating superior intellectual results. Successful latticework thinking is akin to the scientific phenomenon referred to as emergence. Essentially, emergence refers to the manner in which patterns arise from the combination of multiple but seemingly unrelated areas.
Some of today's most successful business people use latticework thinking to attain disambiguation and therefore superior intellectual results. Charlie Munger, Warren Buffet's partner, is a big advocate of latticework thinking and has said that this is the key to his success in business and investing. Indeed, one of his favorite sayings is: "To a man armed only with a hammer, everything looks like a nail."
Uniting mental models from separate intellectual disciplines in the arts and sciences creates a latticework of understanding which helps to disambiguate complex problems and permit insightful decisions. Having these mental tools at your disposal allows one to see the interconnectedness of multiple areas, thereby creating superior intellectual results. Successful latticework thinking is akin to the scientific phenomenon referred to as emergence. Essentially, emergence refers to the manner in which patterns arise from the combination of multiple but seemingly unrelated areas.
Some of today's most successful business people use latticework thinking to attain disambiguation and therefore superior intellectual results. Charlie Munger, Warren Buffet's partner, is a big advocate of latticework thinking and has said that this is the key to his success in business and investing. Indeed, one of his favorite sayings is: "To a man armed only with a hammer, everything looks like a nail."
Mastering divergent mental models allows one to avoid the limitations of the "man with a hammer" conundrum. Disciples of latticework thinking commit to a lifelong process of learning and discovery in the arts and sciences. Those interested in pursuing latticework thinking would be wise to to start by reviewing the biography of those who have successfully applied it, such as Munger and Benjamin Franklin.
If you view yourself as a thinker, latticework thinking is worth thinking about.
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