The Whole Mind: The symphony of Left and right Brainer

Daniel H. Pink wrote a provocative book entitled, A Whole New Mind whereby he argues that in the future, the right-brainer will dominate and rule the world. There are several stages in history. 18 Century is an Agriculture age (farmers). In 19 century is Industrial Age (factory workers). In 20th century is Information Age (knowledge workers). And last, in 21th century is conceptual Age (creators and emphasizers). From 18-20 century, the left brainer dominate the age and as Pink argue, in 21 th century the right brainer will take the lead because they are more creative, and have a greater empathy. He mentioned our tendency to see things in contrasting pairs he said, "East versus West", "Mars versus Venus", "Logic versus emotion" and in most realms we do not pick side and according to Pink, this way of thinking is dangerous. Base on that line of thinking, Pink mentioned on how in our world today, he venture to conclude the right brainer will shine brighter. Pink choose a side. Right camp over the left.

Actually, Pink deliver a very good point. In the age of automation, machines proves they could replace the left brain. Today, computer robot can defeat the greatest grand master in chess battle! This issue has became massive in the polemic between GothamChess versus Dewa Kipas (Some argue, Dewa kipas cheated and used boot to defeat GothamChess. The truthfulness of this issue on whether Dewa Kipas using bot still vague). Moreover, according to Pink, the work such us doctor, computer programmers physicians will soon be replaced by AI, hence left brainer soon will be left behind. Thus, we need a whole new mind, a right brainer focus and development. Pink aptly picked an interesting angle on this issue nonetheless, he did not mentioned on how actually the threat of AI is equally applicable for Left-brainer as well. Let take this case out. Several Years ago, MIT has produced the robot arms that could play an instrument, like violin, arguably the most difficult instrument to be played! Moreover, many AI generator and applications that can help even amateur to be like a pro designers. Moreover, Sophia, the robots that crated by Hanson robotics has proven to be able to sing and even makes art! Sophia indeed had collaborated with Andrea Bonaceto, an Italian artist to create a digital artwork and it was sold with a high price of 688, 888 $. In the future, AI can do science and art in a very intense level. 

We can agree with Pink we often see things in pairs. However, in term of brain, left and right both are not separate realm by their own. Multiple parts of brain are working and functioning together.  Our brain is not two brains but one brain with two hemispheres, working all together at the same time. Like a symphony, if we like. So we cannot help, but think in pairs yet actually both are united and has no clear cut distinction. In fact, if we can only use one side of the brain we are paralyzed. We are indeed using both side of the brain. Even in creative project and conceptual things that is the part of right brainer, we need to use left brainer to communicate the idea logically. According to 2013 study from the University of Utah, brains scans that both activities of the brain are difficult to compartmentalized. Taking the brain scans of more than 1000 young people and divided different areas of the brain into 7000 regions to determine whether one side of the brain was more active and as the result, the "sidedness" of the brain left or right cannot be found. Actually, both left and right part of the brain are actually working together and made contribution in history as Leonard Shlain in his book Art & Physics had argued in his book, that both parts of the brain are compelling fit together for good. Einstein himself as claimed by many as the greatest left-brainer use art as an example and to explain the phenomenon of physics. Picasso, Newton, Da Vinci, Duchamp are champions of both art and science up to the point we cannot tell, which part of their brain was dominating in the whole process of thinking. Dr Jeff Anderson also conclude that people do not have a stronger left brain or stronger right brain, both are inter-connected which each other.

Strikingly, Pink himself presented himself as a Left brainer for whilst he presenting the prediction on how the right--brainer will rule the future, he actually showing the skills of left-brainer to support his case for right-brainer, yes, many rational argumentations presented in his books. Need Left brainer to create an awareness of the importance of the right brainer, isn't that quite puny? The conclusion that we can make is this. Whether left or right brainer, both capacities can rule the world in the future. The issue is not whether we are the left or right brainer but whether human, has used the most of their brain capacity, "the whole mind", so to speak, and be an expert in their field with their brain and even also knowledgeable in the areas which are not their own. The logical people can learn to be more creative and thinking conceptually. The creative person can be more logical and analytical. Human, need to developed both of their brain holistically. In Richard Hass book, The World, in the introduction he told a story on how he surprised than a very highly educated people from Stanford, only know his own field and ignoring other subjects, and ignore the history of their own nation. Probably for today, the same analogy would apply. The future is not belong to right brainer or left brainer but those who can make out the most of the left and right capacities of their own brain. To make it more clear, what matter is not the "dominance" of one part of the brain, but the "harmony" of the brain and eventually create a great symphony that will lead them to a shinning future.