lateral thinking

Noun

Meaning

a heuristic for solving problems; you try to look at the problem from many angles instead of tackling it head-on

Source: WordNet

Synonyms

intuition improvisation meditation free association creative thinking association of ideas word association chain of thought fresh approach creative methods creative thoughts fresh thinking imaginative approach problem-solving heuristic intuitive reason

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Antonyms

common procedure classical technique common approach standard approach classical approach established practice

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Hypernyms

heuristic heuristic program heuristic rule

Examples

Lateral thinking... is the process of using information to bring about creativity and insight restructuring. Lateral thinking can be learned, practised and used. It is possible to acquire skill in it just as it is possible to acquire skill in mathematics. Edward de Bono

Vertical thinking is selection by exclusion. One works within a frame of reference and throws out what is not relevant. With lateral thinking one realizes that a pattern cannot be restructured from within itself but only as the result of some outside influence. Edward de Bono

The concept of lateral thinking is insight restructuring and this is brought about through the rearrangement of information. Edward de Bono

Creativity and lateral thinking have exactly the same basis as humour. Edward de Bono

Lateral thinking is concerned not with playing with the existing pieces but with seeking to change those very pieces. It is concerned with the perception part of thinking. This is where we organise the external world into the pieces we can then 'process'. Edward de Bono

With lateral thinking one goes on generating as many approaches as one can even after one has found a promising one. Edward de Bono

Close letter words and terms

lateral sulcus lateral surface lateral thinker lateral track lateral transfer lateral ventricle