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Therefore, learning the system of Engaged Intelligence will not have to do with a learning a particular subject matter, or applying a particular kind of intelligence. It will not have to do with becoming smarter I. Q. --wise--though that is likely to happen. Some would call what you are about to learn critical thinking skills. However, the Engaged Intelligence system provides you with much more than the ability to think critically. When you learn how to engage your intelligences, you will be able to think creatively as well as critically.
Both creative and critical thinking are vital to the production of effective values, goals, and solutions. Whenever we try to solve problems by applying creative thought without critical analysis, we put our proposed solutions at risk, regardless of how creative or well meaning they may be. We need the analysis skills of critical thinking to construct good solutions. On the other hand, without creative thinking, we are likely to end up with poorly formed goals and purposes. Poorly formed goals and purposes tend to be aesthetically displeasing or ethically questionable. In addition, they eventually lead to more problems down the road. (As one bumper sticker says: "SOLUTIONS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF PROBLEMS.")
Engaged Intelligence training helps you to develop skills for effectively identifying and solving problems--regardless of the sorts of problems they may be. As you progress through the exercises in this workbook-text, you will learn about the role of inference making in both formal and habitual thinking. You will also begin to develop an understanding of the different inference-making habits that you and others employ. You will experience the important influence of filters like "attitude" and "perspective" for making decisions about what to pay attention to. You will learn the skills of QUALIFICATION--allowing you to identify the qualities that matter in a particular situation, as well as those that do not. (Knowing what not to pay attention to is important, too.) You will learn to use the tools of ANALYSIS--which enable you to apply the tools of QUALIFICATION for developing purposes, plans, ideas, and solutions. You will learn the skills of INTERPRETATION--to help you figure out what someone else means--and how to make your own meanings clearer, as well.
In addition, upon mastery of these skills, you will be able to effectively engage any of your Intelligences in the course of identifying and solving all sorts of problems. At the same time as you are developing your powers for learning and critical thinking, you also increase your aesthetic and ethical awareness as well. Once you have completed the exercises in this workbook, you will have a mental template that will allow you to accurately define problems and to set up appropriate solutions--and the methods for testing these as well. What is more, you will know how to effectively evaluate these solutions with an eye toward refining, adjusting and maintaining them as necessary
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