Logictivity

Logictivity is the name of the parent company of Jonar Nader's organisation. The word 'logictivity' was invented to describe a system of thinking.

For more information, please refer to the chapter called 'Achieving intellectual simpatico' in the book ‘How to Lose Friends and Infuriate People’.

In providing a brief explanation, Jonar says, ‘The “logic of creativity” and the “creativity of logic” is a study I call “Logictivity”. It is a term I've coined to describe a very complex discipline that requires a book all its own. Those who wish to develop their leadership skills need to develop both their logic and their creativity -- in equal doses and to equal proportions. Although each is powerful on its own, a lot of synergy can be created when both logic and creativity are used simultaneously. Synergy comes via the creation of a new substance. When logictivity is in play, it is altogether a different substance to its component parts.

‘A person who is 100 per cent creative, is only operating at a capacity of 50 per cent. A person who is 100 per cent logical, is only half as effective as is otherwise possible. A person who boasts to be one and not the other does not realise the synergy that both can bring. It is like having a television without a signal, or signals without a television. Claiming to be supremely creative may seem to be a colourful way to describe oneself, but it admits to a supreme ignorance of logic. And vice versa. To one who knows better, such a display of ignorance is greeted with as much contempt as the notion that reading is superior to writing, as if it were true that reading and writing can be mutually exclusive!

‘Logic says, “I'll believe it after I see it.” Whereas creativity says, ”I'll believe it then I'll see it.”

‘Logic asks, “What if?” Whereas creativity asks, “Wouldn't it be great if?”

‘Logic keeps your life on track, while creativity fuels it.

‘Logic and creativity are systems of learning. They are as important as learning to speak, or learning to walk. Some people possess very little creative or logical energy. Others tend to lean to one side or the other while many boast to be one and not the other.

‘The important thing to realise about logic and creativity is that both skills can be acquired.

‘Intellectual simpatico goes beyond “left brain and right brain” to recognise and use the brain as a whole -- not as an instrument comprising two halves.

‘The agonising and liberating aspect to logictivity is that it neither seeks to support nor oppose your existing assumptions. It does raise new thoughts and ideas that might go against your existing assumptions. It is this dilemma that you must be ready to accept if you wish to engage in logictivity. However, be warned that once you practise the processes of thinking 'logictively' you will be unable to return to the old method of thinking.’
 
Logic and creativity are systems of learning. They are as important as learning to speak, or learning to walk. Some people possess very little creative or logical energy. Others tend to lean to one side or the other, while many boast to be one and not the other. The important thing to realise about logic and creativity is that both skills can be acquired. This argument is about as true as the one that says that anyone can learn to ride a bicycle. The person who cannot yet ride a bicycle will not find it easy to learn, and might fall off several times during training. In the same way, a person learning the skills of logic and creativity might find it difficult at first, or might make mistakes that bruise emotionally, intellectually, or even physically.

Those who possess an over-abundance of creativity will find it just as difficult to learn about the structure of logic because people are not born ‘logical’ or ‘illogical’, nor are they born to be ‘creative’ or ‘uncreative’. You will never learn to ride a bicycle until you first have the desire to do so. A decision to take action must then be made. Third, the determination to ride is necessary to see you through. These three attributes alone are insufficient to give you the skills to ride a bicycle. However, they will prepare you for your development. Cycling requires special muscles, special co-ordination, hours of training and practice, balance, an understanding of the road rules, and a place to ride from and to. Learning to be logical or creative also requires the desire, decision, determination, and development. In the same way that a skill is never complete or whole, being logical or creative is a never-ending development. It is exciting that the more creative you become, the more you enjoy being creative; and the more logical you become, the more you enjoy being logical. But such enjoyment cannot reach a sustained level until the energy of both logic and creativity balance. That balance is what I call ‘logictivity’. Remember that logic and creativity are extremes. The mind swings between them. On the one side, logic acts as the science of reasoning, processing everything in binary — meaning that something is either true or false, up or down, possible or impossible. Computers are powerful logic machines because they work using binary systems. Logic is our understanding of what is possible and what is impossible. It relies on previous knowledge (hindsight). Logic starts to work against creativity when we introduce fear, confusion, and irrationality.

On the other side, creativity is about creating, making, inventing, crystallising, and going beyond the status quo; it brings into being that which was not there. This applies to our thoughts, ideas, actions, behaviours, attitudes, and imagination. The limits to creativity are lack of vision, lack of foresight, lack of understanding (or an imperfect understanding), and lack of knowledge (or an imperfect knowledge). In addition, logic itself can be a barrier to creativity, just as creativity can be a barrier to logic! Once you have developed both your logic and creativity, you can engage in logictivity — the ability to use both skills simultaneously (and at lightning speed) without having to be conscious of the rapid swing from one to the other. In fact, once you practise logictivity, you no longer need to swing from one to the other. A trapeze artist fights against gravity by swaying left and right. Eventually, a balance is found. Balance is calm, it does not fight against other forces. It is a new force. When you find the balance of logictivity, you also find a whole new thinking process. At first, logictivity requires a conscious effort. This is like asking you to tap your head with your left hand while rubbing your stomach with your right hand. Many people find this difficult at first. If they are able to control this motion, they can eventually do it without any conscious effort. The same applies to people learning to play the piano. At first, they find it a challenge to use both hands simultaneously to play a different set of notes. After much practice, the desired dexterity is achieved.

A new dimension to brain power Logictivity is definitely a complex (and worthwhile) skill to have. It adds a new dimension to your processing skills. It also makes you realise that those who are preoccupied with left-brain/right-brain development have far to go. Logictivity requires an open mind. An open mind hints at the possibility of changing one’s mind about certain issues. Changing one’s mind is the hardest thing to do in life. By listening with an open mind, we stand to learn something contrary to our long-held notions (assumptions). In general terms, we tend to go in search of what confirms our own position. We rarely volunteer to go in search of what might expose us to ideas that go against our own beliefs. Those who love tennis do not go in search of reasoning that opposes tennis. Instead, they seek new ways to attain new pleasures from tennis. Intellectual simpatico goes beyond ‘left brain and right brain’ to recognise and use the brain as a whole — not as an instrument comprising two halves. The agonising and liberating aspect to logictivity is that it seeks neither to support nor oppose your existing assumptions. It does raise new thoughts and ideas that might go against your existing assumptions. It is this dilemma that you must be ready to accept if you wish to engage in logictivity. However, be warned that once you practise the processes of thinking ‘logictively’ you will be unable to return to the old method of thinking.