Recommended Reading: The Philosophy of Creativity

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In a blog post for the Scientific American , Scott Barry Kaufman, scientific director of The Imagination Institute and a researcher in the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, introduced his collection of essays on The Philosophy of Creativity .

In a blog post for the Scientific American, Scott Barry Kaufman, scientific director of The Imagination Institute and a researcher in the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, introduced his collection of essays on The Philosophy of Creativity.

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While the philosophy of creativity is a little-explored subject, interest in the psychology of creativity has been rising sharply since the 1950s, and is now a robust field supported by ongoing scientific research.

While the philosophy of creativity is a little-explored subject, interest in the psychology of creativity has been rising sharply since the 1950s, and is now a robust field supported by ongoing scientific research.

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In his post, which is excerpted from the book, Kaufman explains why the study of creativity must take an interdisciplinary approach, with contributions from both “scientifically-minded philosophers and philosophically-minded scientists.” His collection of essays shows how such a joining of disciplines can enrich our understanding of creativity.

In his post, which is excerpted from the book, Kaufman explains why the study of creativity must take an interdisciplinary approach, with contributions from both “scientifically-minded philosophers and philosophically-minded scientists.” His collection of essays shows how such a joining of disciplines can enrich our understanding of creativity.

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Kaufman gives an overview of each essay, raising fundamental questions asked by each essayist about the creative process. In particular, Kaufman lingers over parts of the essays that explore the “architectural features” common to both everyday innovation and “genius-level creativity”; the idea, debunked by psychologists Roy Baumeister, Brandon Schmeichel, and C. Nathan DeWall, that rational thought inhibits creativity; why humans are innately driven to hone their creativity; and new discussions on the teachability of creativity.

Kaufman gives an overview of each essay, raising fundamental questions asked by each essayist about the creative process. In particular, Kaufman lingers over parts of the essays that explore the “architectural features” common to both everyday innovation and “genius-level creativity”; the idea, debunked by psychologists Roy Baumeister, Brandon Schmeichel, and C. Nathan DeWall, that rational thought inhibits creativity; why humans are innately driven to hone their creativity; and new discussions on the teachability of creativity.

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The essays in Kaufman’s collection are rooted firmly in scientific research. But by choosing to call attention to philosophy’s role in the study of creativity, Kaufman sends the message that thoughtful dialog on the subject can also result in important discoveries about this uniquely human quality.

The essays in Kaufman’s collection are rooted firmly in scientific research. But by choosing to call attention to philosophy’s role in the study of creativity, Kaufman sends the message that thoughtful dialog on the subject can also result in important discoveries about this uniquely human quality.