book.chapter The rigorous intellect

Cultivating disciplined thinking is essential for thriving in the future. It typically takes about a decade to become proficient in a profession or area of expertise. Without this investment of time and effort, individuals are often left dependent on the decisions of others. Professional education teaches systematic thinking and action within a field, equipping individuals to transition into other areas of interest later on. Howard Gardner emphasizes that those lacking discipline will struggle in demanding workplaces and be limited to menial tasks. Formal training in a discipline, such as science, law, architecture, or business management, provides students with background knowledge, mental habits, and patterns of behavior that are invaluable. Background knowledge is crucial for excelling in any field. Learning from predecessors takes time but also fosters appreciation for knowledge in other professions. Understanding the learning process in one discipline can aid in becoming proficient in another. Mental habits developed through professional standards involve structured thinking and problem-solving. Each profession has unique ways of thinking, and without understanding these, collaboration becomes difficult. Patterns of behavior in trained professionals are structured and ingrained through training. For example, scientists observe, hypothesize, experiment, and modify theories in a cyclical process. Other fields have equivalent behavior patterns resulting from professional training. Becoming trained isn't just about memorizing facts and formulas. It involves finding a mentor, investing time for genuine competence, studying the field from various perspectives, and gaining hands-on experience. This process requires time, qualified mentors, and practical experience to validate learning. Without investing in competence, one remains at the level of the unschooled, missing out on leveraging past progress. Mastering a discipline provides a foundation for success, even in different fields. It leads to a genuine understanding of the world and the importance of ongoing learning. Those who have mastered a discipline stay current with new knowledge and continue learning out of passion, not just for exams. Gardner states that the disciplined mind has mastered a way of thinking characteristic of a scholarly discipline, craft, or profession. It takes up to ten years to master a discipline, and the disciplined mind works steadily to improve skill and understanding. Without discipline, individuals are likely to follow others' orders. Achieving disciplinary understanding breeds a desire for more. Once one has understood a concept well, the appetite for deeper understanding grows, and the individual is likely to seek ever more satisfying intellectual nourishment. Gardner suggests that those who have tasted true understanding will not settle for superficial knowledge but will return repeatedly to deepen their intellectual engagement.