Immanuel Kant and Business Strategy: why you need to be a critical thinker in business

Of recent I took up an interest in a German philosopher of the late 18th century: Immanuel Kant. His much acclaimed paper; "what is enligthenment?" is a beautiful piece encouraging readers to think for themselves. I found this particular excerpt beautiful and pertinent:

"Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-incurred immaturity. Immaturity
is the inability to use one's own understanding without the guidance of another.
This immaturity is self-incurred if its cause is not lack of understanding, but
lack of resolution and courage to use it without the guidance of another. The
motto of enlightenment is therefore: Sapere aude! Have courage to use your own
understanding!"

I had a lively discussion with an acquaintance on critique yesterday. It was actually about whether we need critique at all? And I believe "yes" and a big one at that. We need critique everywhere. Critique is what makes the world a better place. Critique makes new and better products and critique is definitely a key component of business success. Critique provides you with great questions and makes you:

• A better business thinker: what if?
• A better innovator: how about?
• And a better designer: why not?

I think as I explain below you need those question to build great companies, products and services.