This week’s reading by Howard Gardner states that in order to thrive in this interconnected world, people will need to develop five minds. To further that point, Gardner claims that these five characteristics will indeed be for the greater good of society. These aforementioned minds include; the disciplined mind, the synthesizing mind, the creating mind, the respectful mind and the ethical, mind.

The Disciplined mind refers to the ability to think in ways associated with major scholarly disciplines such as history, math and science, and major professions like law, medicine, management, finance as well as the ability to apply oneself diligently, improving steadily and continuing beyond formal education. The synthesizing mind is able to select crucial information from the copious amounts available, arraying that information in ways that make sense to self and others. The creating mind is able to go beyond existing knowledge and synthesis to pose new questions, offer new solutions, fashion works that stretch existing genres or configure new ones. The respectful mind responds sympathetically and constructively to differences among individuals and among groups, seeking to understand and work with those who are different, extending beyond mere tolerance and political correctness. The Ethical mind is able to merge roles at work and as a citizen and act consistently with those conceptualizations, striving towards good work and good citizenship.

Education is the key to developing these five minds for the future, and while traditional forms of education will bear the burden of training young minds, parents, peers and the media also play an as important role in influencing and developing minds of tomorrow. Moreover, it is important to note that in a world that shows no signs of slowing down, no individual or organisation can afford to rest on his or her intellectual laurels. The future belongs to those that have made an active lifelong commitment to continue to learn. Gardner believes that in the workplace we should be seeking people who possess disciplined, synthesizing, creating, respectful and ethical minds, but should all continue to perennially develop all five minds ourselves.