Masculine & Feminine, Left- & Right-Brained Thinking Compared
An intentionally simplistic model of a complex topic
The following diagram represents schematically the complex polar opposites of two different views of the world, while simultaneously acknowledging recent neuroscience research that dismisses the simplistic misconceptions that the left hemisphere of the brain is hard-nosed, logical and male while the right hemisphere is dreamy, sensitive and female.
“Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful” — George Box
The hope is that this model falls into the useful category.
Notable Quotations
“In general terms, the left hemisphere yields narrow, focused attention, mainly for the purpose of getting and feeding. The right hemisphere yields a broad, vigilant attention, the purpose of which appears to be awareness of signals from the surroundings, especially of other creatures, who are potential predators or potential mates, foes, or friends.” — Iain McGilchrist speaking about left vs. right brain in animals, quoted in The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World
“Direct causation (left brain) is dealing with a problem via direct action. Systemic causation (right brain) recognizes that many problems arise from the system they are in and must be dealt with via systemic causation.” — George Lakoff, Professor of Cognitive Science and Linguistics at the University of California at Berkeley in Why Trump?
“Located in the left side of our brain is the masculine force. It is the part of us that is assertive, logical, analytical, doing, controlling, aggressive, striving, projecting, hard, organizing, rushing, thrusting, always pushing us to survive, and has its origin in our minds.
The right side of the brain is feminine or that which is creative, delicate, intuitive, nurturing, receptive, tender, surrendering, synthesizing, integrating, soft, feeling, and the part of us that “knows” without explanation. Its roots reach deep into the heart.
The feminine helps us to “be.” This form of energy softens the constant male-driven “doingness” of our lives, which has become part of our misguided and relentless efforts to survive in the material world.” From The Rising Feminine Energy.
Project 2030
You made it to the end! If you’re interested in helping us solve some of the planet’s grand challenges with our ambitious Project 2030, please check out the overview, and invite others to do the same.
Postcards from 2035
Have you come across Postcards from 2035? It’s a series of profoundly simple interlinking ideas describing life in a highly desirable society, where everything and everyone is advanced, happy, intelligent and problem-free. It’s a blueprint of the world we need to co-create. Here’s what that world could look like.
