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This article looks at the different strengths and weaknesses of analytical and intuitive thinking, which combined can be called holistic thinking. Since thought is by nature invisible and abstract, the article uses an analogy as a representation: the anatomy of the cornea.

In the very center of the cornea there are grouped cone cells, which have the function of focusing on distant or near objects. Surrounding the cones are the more numerous rods that provide peripheral vision. If the cone cells deteriorate, when one tries to focus on an object, it disappears; a black spot in the center. But if you lose peripheral vision, even if you retain the ability to focus, it’s like looking at the world one speck at a time through the focused beam of a flashlight. It is much easier to move around with just peripheral vision than just focused vision.

This analogy can be compelling when it comes to persuading lawyers that analysis is not the whole universe of thought. Lawyers are taught to specialize in analytical thinking. They can do this to such an extent that they dismiss intuition as “sensitive.” That term betrays the ignorance of the fact that just as the cones are surrounded by more numerous rods, the penetrating power of analytical thought is only possible thanks to the provision of context provided by the intuitive. If you don’t have an intuition of where to look, you can’t focus the focused analysis beam on the right target.

Analytical thinking is historically quite recent, while intuitive thinking has been the main possession of humanity since the beginning of time. As far as Western civilization is concerned, the classical Greeks “invented” analytical thought; the Romans built really straight roads with it, the Middle Ages lost it, and the Enlightenment rediscovered it. We can partly attribute the triumphs and dangers of our modern civilization to the relative imbalance in the importance given to analytical versus intuitive skills over the past four hundred years. The current dysfunction of the legal system is also partly a consequence of this imbalance. The broad mission of mediation may be to restore balance, because we are now at a time when the dangers threaten to outweigh the triumphs. Overly analytical people are largely “blind”; what our society needs is people who can “think” with a whole eye, which is called holistic thinking; only those who are not in touch with feelings call it ‘sensitive touch’.

Analytical thinking is powerful. It is focused, sharp, linear, deals with one thing at a time, contains time, is deconstructive, contains no perspective, is subject to disorientation, is brain-centered, and tends towards the abstract. Analytical thinking is efficient under the following conditions: sufficient time, relatively static conditions, a clear differentiation between the observer and the observed. It is more suited to dealing with complexities and works best when there are established criteria for the analysis (eg rules of law). It is necessary when an explanation is required, the best option is sought and it can be taught in the classroom to beginners.

Intuitive thinking has contrasting qualities: it is not focused, it is not linear, it does not contain “time”, it sees many things at once, it sees the big picture, it contains perspective, it is centered in the heart, it is oriented in space and time and tends to the real or concrete. Intuition comes into play where analytical thinking is inadequate: under time pressure, where conditions are dynamic, where the differentiation between observer and observed is unclear. It works best when the observer is experienced in the particular situation, is difficult to teach in the classroom, avoids searching for the ‘best’ option in favor of the ‘viable’, and is prepared to act on feelings or hunches when explanations are not forthcoming. enough. necessary or there is no time for them. Intuition is experience translated by expertise to produce rapid action.

Intuition is limited when the task is complex and uncertain, when the observer lacks experience, or when the observation is distorted by bias or fixed ideas. Its weakness is a tendency to produce a fixed attitude or mindset that ignores new data; that is why the analytical thinking of the Enlightenment was so revolutionary. Intuition is ineffective at predicting the stock market, or discovering that the heart is a pump, or dissecting a legal issue.

When analytical and intuitive skills are combined, the result is ‘holistic’. In order to reach agreements and resolutions, it is necessary to move people from a mentality of rights/obligations/win-lose to a mentality of needs/interests/mutual gain, which is what mediation is about; this requires holistic thinking skills.

ANALYTICAL

Weather

Static

Linear

One thing

small picture

In focus

Deliberative

no perspective

classroom taught

Goal

Better option

Necessary when explanation is required

deconstructive

object differentiation

Objective/subjective differentiation

brain-focused

disorientated

Summary

historically new

Lawyers

INTUITIVE

There is no time

Dynamic

non linear

many things

big picture

not focused

Instant

Perspective

taught experience

Subjective

Viable option

Necessary when action is required

Constructive

pattern matching

No clear objective/subjective

heart centered

oriented

Concrete

historically old

firemen

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