Phillip Mcclain's Key Ideas from A Synthesizing Mind
by Howard Gardner

There are 5 minds vital for cognition - respectful, ethical, disciplined, creating and synthesizing.

Respectful and ethical govern social interactions. Disciplined, creating and synthesizing describe thinking and learning.

You need discipline to master a domain before meaningful synthesis or creativity.

Synthesizing means taking in information then organizing it usefully for yourself and others.

Psychology doesn’t really explain this: You synthesize using your own favored intelligences.

• Asking good questions and articulating reasons are crucial.
• Metaphorical thinking helps capture connections.

• Synthesis varies - from conventional textbook summaries to original ideas advancing knowledge.
• “Hedgehog” syntheses make one grand point while “fox-like” syntheses embrace plurality.
• Synthesis requires artistry in structure, arrangement and communication.
• Data constraints distinguish it from pure art.

Synthesizers exhibit wide curiosity, ask good questions, have broad knowledge, read widely, collect information, oscillate between wandering and focus, and connect concepts across disciplines.

Consider your nature, goals, and favored intelligences to evaluate synthesizing abilities.

• Synthesis encompasses everything from school assignments to original ideas advancing knowledge.
• Some syntheses make one key point while others delight in plurality.
• Data constraints and communication artistry distinguish synthesis from pure creation.