Edward Debono proposes Palace of Thinking

Michael Bonello

Oct 16th 2008, 22:13

I would prefer we invest the actual money into our education system, seeing how all our education system does actually the opposite, destroys logical and creative thinking, and actually rewards people who can regurgitate what they are told in class.

Also I cannot understand how our university is not even considered, let alone ranked in the top 500 universities of the world. There it goes for the highly intelligent people... the centre of thinking should be actually the university, but the lack of research, thought and educational interest is absolutely at its peak at such an institution.

martin portelli

Oct 16th 2008, 14:55

Why do you lay the world's woes at Edward Debono's door ? Yes, the human brain may be hardwired for creativity but it doesn't mean everyone employs it equally well.
Cultural and political practices that reward mediocrity and punish creativity are learnt and transmitted.
In Malta, this culture is transmitted, employed and upheld in our schools, university, civil service, industry, parliament, the press, the arts etc. Changing such perceptions requires concentrated effort if you want to achieve a change in habit, in the meantime our children stagnate in a culture that has enshrined mediocrity in an unassailable palace. We have a fortress mentality that safeguards mediocrity against any likely assault from creativity. Do our children get anything in schools (private, independent or public) with regards critical and creative thinking skills, of course they don't. So much for doing philosophy with children, Maltese children are left out in the mediocre wilderness .Children shouldn't start thinking at sixteen they are hardwired to do that as early as we allow them to, instead we kill creativity in the cradle. Presenting them with only one or the most two alternatives to every quandary can’t really be helping Maltese society hone its problem solving skills.

Anna Farrugia

Oct 16th 2008, 10:59

Dear Mr Debono Like most Maltese I am proud of you and your work but unlke most I would be open to discussion with regard to the project - of course I am not in a position to offer and funds or a Palace but maybe a well read Palace owner will be happy for you to use a couple of rooms as as starter and an evolved government may wish to discuss scholarships and free training spaces for its citizens who may be interested in improving themselves. This will no doubt benefit any country's competitiveness both directly and indirectly. I wish you every success with your vision and look forward to the privelege of visiting your Palace of Thinking wherever that may be in the world.......

Brian Camilleri

Oct 16th 2008, 08:34

Palace of Thinking ?? A few years ago Edward Debono was given a building where he opened his World Centre for New Thinking ?? What has come of it....NOTHING. I had great respect for Dr DeBono until I noticed that he just keeps repeating himself ( including his real life success stories which must be at least 15 years old) and is now more concerned about his ego than with actually coming up with real practical suggestion to the problems our country faces at the moment. Thinking Ambassadors? Yeah , right - as if you need a palace to think!! The world best thinkers and innovators live normal lives and do not need bombastic premises or imposing and iconic structures. I would also like to see documentary evidence of how far this project has got in Spain, Latvia or Italy. If it is such a good idea, why have they not acted on it.
And what does Dr Debono have in store for his World Centre of New Thinking which he opened a few years ago - can he confirm any ONE good idea that has emerged from that?
I don't think so.

A Camilleri

Oct 15th 2008, 22:55

We'll .... erm... think about it.

Olina Tretyak

Oct 15th 2008, 21:08

The Palace of Thinking in Malta... Brilliant idea!

I would also propose the Room of Common Sense in Mount Carmel Hospital.

Edward Caruana Galizia

Oct 15th 2008, 19:51

That sounds like a great thing i think. but i just hope that this Palace will be built to look good and not some beige and pink marble monstrosity or some " modern" ugly spaceship with not real beauty to it. i mean i would hate to see malta's landscape dominated by some huge pile of tacky architecture.

Luke Gatt

Oct 15th 2008, 17:31

If i had the money i would build one so at least this country full of .................. people who can not think for themselves can benefit form this project.

Joe Xuereb

Oct 15th 2008, 16:58

At the risk of sounding like I am repeating myself (hey! no problem. If it is worth saying, it is worth repeating). So, I believe that a Palace of Thinking in Malta would be, like the Akkademja tal-Malti, an Institution so heavy with an elitist rarified atmosphere that its function, if any, and by its very nature, would hardly begin to filter down to the man in the street. The man in the street would benefit solely from the prestige such an institution would bring. Funding such a project through taxes is a high price to pay for something they reap no direct benefit from. Malta is a small island and the people put a lot of store in prestige. This should not be exploited. I might have a different handle on this issue if I were convinced that the Maltese as a sovereign people had the maturity and insights to use lateral thinking for problem solving with equanimity (and there are tremendous implications there). I do not know this for a fact and am hardly in a position to know from where I stand. Nevertheless, my views are clear.

Dr. David Pollina

Oct 15th 2008, 16:56

@I Galea you missed the entire point. @Chris Ripard / David Ursula GOT it.

The point is not to digress into discussions about drugs or illegal immigration (nor even your gracious benevolence), but rather as a comment on the 'creativity' of thinking in Malta in general - in point the usual LACK thereof. It is this sad state of affairs which makes the proposal so laughable.

We have problems here even coming up with creative names for things - much less the things themselves. I.e. the several "Sphynx". Or how about a national example - "Smart Island / City". Great project, not 'creative', doesn't have to be, but the name was copied from Singapore. Are we to 'think' that a 'Palace of Thinking' would have instead have helped Malta to seize the opportunity to create something... well... 'creative' ???

Hmmmmmmm... Don't rush me.... I'm THINKING..5021734022101.

Chris Ripard

Oct 15th 2008, 16:19

I take (one of) my (six) hat(s) off to Dr De Bono - he tells the world something it already knows (how to think creatively) and makes mega-bucks doing it. There's a word for this but the Editor will probably not allow it.

With all his Creative Thinking Tools, centres, courses etc., the world has a climate change disaster, a financial disaster, religious fanatic distasters, energy supply disasters etc.

I, for one, think Dr De Bono deserves a lot less than he's got already. But whoever said life was fair? Please do not back this project, which serves no other purpose than the self-glorification of an individual who doesn't need it.

David Ursula

Oct 15th 2008, 16:09

strange that a 'Palace of Thinking' should be proposed in Malta, a Country that many consider isolated, insular and narrow and ultra conservative in its thinking.

John Borg

Oct 15th 2008, 15:53

As long as Debono wants to pay for all of this, sure go ahead...

Joe Xuereb

Oct 15th 2008, 15:38

I greatly admire Dr. De Bono and his work. His propolsal to locate a 'Palace of Thinking' in Malta is most exciting. However, this brand of thinking already has a strong footing in Spain and Italy where radical thinking is by now a tradition even among 'non-thinkers-Jose-Giuseppe-in-the-street'. True commitment to lateral thinking cannot be treated piecemeal, only choosing the bits that suit. Given the mindset of the majority of Maltese people and indeed the mindset of most people anywhere, such a Palace would end up being run by foreigners for foreigners, people who have challenged tradition mores or are prepared to. Malta would only benefit in being put on the map by the creation of such an institution. I believe that such benefit would start and stop just there. Malta's size hosting such a Think Tank would have enormus impact. Spain and Italy, having a much higher profile in such matters, would have a smaller impact. For all I know, a country like Hungary would be suited for such a Palace and France would certainly be a natural choice. I am not at all sure that at street level, Malta is ready to take on such an enormous endeavour,.

l Galea

Oct 15th 2008, 15:34

Dr. David Pollina
Khat and other substances are drug Dr Pollina, even though they might not have been so classified at the time of the offence.

Their importation shows beyond a shadow of doubt that the importer had the intention and took a risk to import substances which the importer wanted to be used as drugs by our youths. Do you defend such despicable people Dr Pollina?

Do you also expect us to house illegal immigrants in villas or hotels Dr Pollina?

Are you willing to put your money where your mouth is and pay for them?

They came here uninvited and unwanted, so they have to make do with what we can provide them with until they are, as everyone wants and hopes, repatriated.

Can some people be suffering from envy in attacking other peoples projects and moving to lateral subjects instead of lateral thinking?

Anthony Baldacchino

Oct 15th 2008, 15:27

Very Funny indeed Professor de Bono

David Pulis

Oct 15th 2008, 15:00

It should be noted that Prof. de Bono already has an institute at the University of Malta for 'Design and Development of the Mind' where creativity and innovation tools are taught. This step would be another bold move and vote of confidence in Malta to progress forward in an area that has seen demand growing exponentially.

Dr. David Pollina

Oct 15th 2008, 14:40

@I Galea, thank you for making my point so clearly :-)

I suppose it really also depends upon how one defines 'creativity'. Our esteemed Attorney General's brief in defence of spring hunting to the ECJ was most certainly 'creative'. Keeping tourists who import legal substances in prison on pending drug charges, instead of apologising is 'creative'. Housing migrants in flamable tents is surely 'creative' (well, perhaps only for Norman).

I really should join this new institution rather than scoff at it. Perhaps then, I'd be 'creative' too and open a chain of pastizzi shops named "the NEW Sphinx"...

R.Borg

Oct 15th 2008, 14:15

GREAT IDEA MR ZAMMIT. I completely agree with you that a suitable use should be found for this jewel of a landmark!!!!!

Lawrence Bonello

Oct 15th 2008, 13:23

Creativity did you say??? Maybe one is referring to the various Gawdenz, Becky, Barbeque, Song for Europe etc. that is dished out on local media!! Some creativity!!!!!
Give me a break!!!!

Joseph V. Grech

Oct 15th 2008, 13:21

I look forward to having Professor Debono, who is recognised as a great Lateral Thinker, sit down quietly and think with a view to putting forward practical suggestions that will solve Malta's long standing problems. It is strange to note that nothing has been forthcoming from him in this respect. He has written prolifically but his writings, as far as I know, do not contribute to ease our woes. Until he actually does that I am inclined to take his proposal as just another high-flung, impractical suggestion.

Ramon Casha

Oct 15th 2008, 12:17

Great idea. However, if this palace is to be built using public funds, then it must serve as more than a platform for Dr. DeBono's methods, books and ideas.

l Galea

Oct 15th 2008, 11:56

@Dr. David Pollina
Do you think that Professor Debono who is well-known all over the world needs to?
Do you consider yourself to be one of those whom you classified as are copying perhaps, delusions of adequacy certainly, but creativity?

Chris Zammit

Oct 15th 2008, 11:52

This would be an ideal use for Fort St.Elmo.

In the past year local architecture students were assigned this site for their thesis project. After reading about the ‘Palace of creative Thinking’ in the Sunday Circle and discussing with Edward Debono's reps here in Malta, one of the groups has come to the conclusion that the mentioned Fort would be perfect for such a use.

It's about time that who ever responsible start taking care of such an important jewel.

J. Tonna

Oct 15th 2008, 11:51

Probably what is keeping the government from doing is lack of funds. Any volunteer???

Manuel Mifsud

Oct 15th 2008, 11:48

I know foreigners who often visit Malta to attend one of the interesting lectures by Prof Debono on lateral thinking. These lectures are attended by several Maltese and foreigners alike.

I hope that this innovative idea is taken by the authorities and next year we'll see the "Palace of Thinking" functioning with the appointment of the first "Thinking Ambassadors" representing other countries. Hopefully, the first Head of this Creative Think Tank of the world will be Professor Edward Debono himself.

Tonio Azzopardi

Oct 15th 2008, 11:46

How about locating the ‘Palace of Thinking’ at or within the ‘Old Opera House’ site.

If this building is rebuilt in some way that it would retain the old façade features whilst providing a fusion of old and new architectural fittings, it will surely be ‘an imposing and an iconic structure’ fit for creative thinkers.

Numerous proposals and ideas have been suggested about this site, surely adding this scope does not hurt…at least I am trying to be creative!

Dr. David Pollina

Oct 15th 2008, 11:37

Hmmmm... Malta the most creative in the world??? Professor Debono needs to get out into the world more - copying perhaps, delusions of adequacy certainly, but creativity? Hardly. Well, at least if Malta doesn't want the title (and iconic palace with ambassadors), Latvia, Spain or Italy are there to accept... all - like Malta - veritable pillars of creativity...

M. Buhagiar

Oct 15th 2008, 11:20

A truly brilliant idea. I hope this proposal is taken up seriously by the authorities concerned.