Elements Supporting Creativity Irene M. Pepperberg Brandeis and Harvard Universities June 24, 2010.
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Elements Supporting Creativity Irene M. Pepperberg Brandeis and Harvard Universities June 24, 2010
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Transcript of Elements Supporting Creativity Irene M. Pepperberg Brandeis and Harvard Universities June 24, 2010.
Elements Supporting Creativity
Irene M. Pepperberg
Brandeis and Harvard Universities
June 24, 2010
About me…
Switched from a PhD in chemical physics to
animal behavior
Switched when the term ‘avian cognition’ was an
oxymoron
Creativity arises from a confluence of
events, situations and issues
No clear roadmap exists, but rather
helpful suggestions
the Greek philosopher, Heraclitus
Not much new since….
The only thing creative in several centuries has been how the various
gurus have packaged their sell
My package for academics:
● General “Smarts”
●A Prepared Mind
●Lack of Indoctrination
●Persistence/Passion
●Freedom
General “Smarts”
● Avoid destroying childhood curiosity
● Daydreaming is good
● To some extent, creativity or is not present
“Yesterday, today was tomorrow”
Beyond some point, skip teaching to the test
Exposure is good, overscheduling is not; students can’t THINK
Facts are good, but it’s what you do with them that matters
1
A Prepared Mind
●Need to learn lots about a topic
●Switching fields brings novel approaches
●Need to learn about tangentially related topics
Articles, seminars, books, conferences, questions
ANYTHING that might be relevant; different views
Brainstorming is good
2
Lack of
Indoctrination
●Haven’t learned something is impossible
●Be willing to hear divergent expert opinions
●Believe your common sense
Ferster’s apes
Modeling techniques vs. trial-and-error
Defense clarifies ideas
3
Persistence/Passion
●Illegitimi non carborundum
●If one creative idea fails, keep going
● Accept the fallow periods—like a field, the mind may need to rest
A lot to be said for platitudes about spaghetti on walls and Edison’s “99% perspiration”
4
Freeeeedom
●Maslow—cognitive release—brain relieved from worries can be used creatively
***
Lab animals are ‘smarter’ because they don’t worry about getting food or shelter
●Relieve brain from trivia, too
You didn’t get a PhD to make airline reservations
Media Lab, Radcliffe Fellow, dot.com campuses, jogging
Incentives, not punishments
And not to work any 80 hrs/wk we wish
5
Freeeeedom ***5
Why is it I get my best ideas in the morning while I'm shaving? - Albert Einstein
If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk.
- Raymond Inmon, philosopher
But if I can then manage to relax properly (for a few minutes or, if necessary, for days or months), I find
that in certain circumstances at an unexpected moment, such as in the morning when I wake, I get
an inspiration that more or less answers the problems concerned. – C.F. Weizsäcker, physicst
None of these alone is enough
They must all come together….
Intersection of:
General “smarts”
Prepared mind
Lack of indoctrinatio
n
Freedom
Persistence/Passion
Questions?
Comments?
