The critical insight is that individual ideas relate to the larger ecosystem of ideas and individuals, creating conceptual niches that need to be filled by specific ideas. Similar to how evolution finds similar solutions for ecological puzzles, individuals naturally end up at similar ideas when embedded in a complex societal system. Creativity is not isolated within individual brains but emerges from people in relationship with each other and a sea of ideas.
In this series so far, we've applied complexity science to a whole range of systems, particularly those more obvious complex systems like economies or cities. In this episode, we're going to do something a little bit different and apply complexity science to something not so obvious: creativity.
To do that, we're joined again by Tyler Marghetis, Assistant Professor of Cognitive and Information Sciences at the University of California, Merced. Tyler has been on the show before to explore tipping points, and tipping points in jazz music. Today, he wants us to take our traditional approach to what makes someone creative, and pull the camera back. Instead of looking at creativity as what happens inside a person's brain, Tyler wants to explore what happens when we consider creativity through the context of society as a complex, cognitive system.
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This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.