You can't but appreciate Gardner's contribution to our understanding of intelligence. Otherwise many of us would be considered as 'not clever enough' in many fields of life, or only the ones with logical/mathematical mind would be regarded as intelligent but the others as only skilled/talented. Maybe still there is the question remaining here. What's intelligence, what's talent?
It's difficult to decide which of levers is the most important but I think everything stands on knowledge. All the others can be built on knowledge, even spiritual development. Environment or changing environment (including people and culture in it) can be also mind-opening.
Whatever lever may change your mind is to be discussed but without practice it is bound to stay burden or at best limited. Any change without practice is not a real one, may be something on the surface.
What he has done is great and unique. Now it is time to focus on tools and techniques. Many people can understand themselves that data, real world events, rewards etc. can change people's minds but without putting into action nobody changes as almost everybody knows reading is very important but only minority of people do it continuously. In fact, as one of my friends told me on the phone today 'the more you work and achieve something, the more you want to do so'.
Action sometimes brings change, change sometimes brings people into action.
To my mind,all the skills/talents in different fields are important and it is impossible to rank them.Because,people with different properties make a society complete,perfect.Can you imagine what a society would be if it was consisted of people with the same capabilities?I think, this is one of the phenomenals which make the world an interesting and wonderful place.
YanıtlaSilChanging minds happens quite differently in societies with low education level,many tabus than the ones with educated,intellectual people and no tabus but scientific,cultural values come first.In the first group countries, you can't change people's minds even if you prove that the new thing will make their lives better,easier,richer.But, one day, they suddenly start to think differently and take action immediately!Because, someone redefines the concepts and provoke them to take action against the existing regime, the leader who managed them for many years.They think that everything will be completely different and all the problems will be settled when the leader goes.In other words, at that moment,they forget the realities of the country at all and think that someone will present them good things in a ready form. In the second group countries, changing minds is a continuous phonemena.People change, society change ,but not completely when they get up in a morning.They always improve themselves and as there are no tabus the new things are always welcome & are evaluated in a logical way.Changes are realized by dynamics of the society,not by someone else out of the country as it has recently happened in some North African Countries.
Dear Ibrahim,
YanıtlaSilI completely agree with you that any change starts from the action, and action is not possible without our will and understanding why the change is necessary and what goal will be reached.
Content of minds by Howard Gardner distinguishes concepts, stories, theories and skills – good push to take the action.
Tatiana
Mr. Ibrahim,
YanıtlaSilI liked very much your post. And I strongly agree with this post in general, especially saying “everything stands on knowledge” People want to be clear about what you are saying, see you know well what you are showing them, and most important to feel you are honest. “Environment or changing environment can be also mind-opening”. “Mind-opening” a well defined expression, I also believe that showing the world from different points of view, maybe they have never thought and seen things that way, can make people change their life.
Regards,
Erisa
Even me ,I liked your post very much mr Turan.You can look at the things around you in big range.The word,tabus is interesting.People sometimes are stuck on their beliefs.In this point of view,it is hard to change mind but nowadays people are more objective than before.When you compare to the old,now to change is easier.
YanıtlaSilIbrahim I agree with you about the book however it has to be considered the fact that such thing is easier to be said or explained that to be physically done.
YanıtlaSilHowever your summary and idea is good.
Regards