University 4.0: What Type of Thinking is Coming? (Part II)

The study is framed by the concepts of 1) “university – cognitive institute” and
\n2) “generations of university”. Within different generations, the types of thinking (mindsets)
\nthat were generated and used in universities are considered (in pre-industrial society –
\nscholastic, in industrial society – research, in post-industrial society – entrepreneurial). To
\ncharacterize the mindset, a methodological scheme “object – manner – intention” is used:
\nThinking at the University 1.0: object – Divine order, its metaphysical foundations; manner –
\npositing mental entities, constructing reasoning; intention – understanding authoritative
\ntexts and creating a consistent doctrine (a common field of meanings).
\nThinking in University 2.0: object – Nature (objects, processes, laws); manner – building
\nmodels, creating ideal objects, mental experimentation, hypothesizing; intention – creating
\ntheories (ontologies of nature), setting tasks for observations and experiments, creating
\nfoundations for production technologies and projects (industrial civilization).
\nThinking in University 3.0: object – Activity (subjects, actions, technologies, environments,
\nopportunities); manner – analyzing possibilities based on multi-subject models, planning of
\ninnovations; focusing on entrepreneurial schemes that configure the participants, creating
\nthe basis for new social and production practices.
\nThinking in University 4.0: object – The world of thinking and practices (subjects,
\nprinciples, norms, foundations and boundaries of various thoughts and practices); manner –
\nmethodological reflection, positing and transforming the foundations of thoughts and
\npractices; focusing on projects and technologies for collective and hybrid intelligences
\n(cognitive civilization), new ways and means of thinking, social relations and institutions,
\nnew socio-anthropological experience.
\nThe hypothesis that university of the future (cognitive civilization) will cultivate
\nmethodological thinking (“thinking about thinking”), and that its target will be in generating
\ncollective and hybrid (with AI participation) intelligence, as well as in developing compliant
\ntechnologies for their work is substantiated. It will generate a new agenda for the society
\nand create plans and precedents for new practices.
\nPart II of the article presents the characteristics of the types of thinking that will be generated
\nand reproduced by second, third and fourth generation universities