Value

Edward de Bono’s Message

Two people looking out of different windows may sometimes see the same thing. Categories are not always distinct boxes separate from each other.  In my book ‘Six Value Medals’ I lay out six types of value.  These are distinct types.  Yet, in certain circumstances, something may be seen differently.  This may mean that something falls into two value categories or that different people see it differently.

For practical purposes this does not matter since the purpose of the framework is to direct attention and make a full value scan possible.  Once you have seen the values you choose to use them as you wish.  The important point is getting to see the values in the first place.  This is not easy if we regard values with the usual vagueness.

As I have mentioned before, ‘value sensitivity’ is a key part of creative thinking. Without it creativity is unlikely to prove useful.  Being different for the sake of being different is not creativity but ‘crazytivity’.