What is your definition of creativity?

The question was asked first on LinkedIn where other answers can be found. My answer was:

“Dear Lubna,

What is your definition of creativity? Strictly speaking, creativity is the activity of God whereby he makes something out of nothing. (See especially The Silence of St. Thomas by Josef Pieper.

When we humans "create," we are working with something or someone that already exists. In a previous question I asked, "What, if anything, does encountering beauty have to do with change management?", I suggested based on Etienne Gilson's book, The Arts of the Beautiful, that beauty is involved in a process of making "useless" objects that uplift our minds, hearts, souls and spirits, though not necessarily our pocket books, because of course we are more than just attachments to the machines of industrial production to which we are most often attached to at our jobs.

Now for your questions: a) Do you think that you can be creative even in a conventional job - whether on the job or up taking up a hobby? Yes, if the conventional job permits or encourages you to use your creative talents.

b) Do conventional jobs quash creativity? Most conventional jobs are not meant to be creative. They are meant to be productive and profitable.

c) How are you creative? I write screenplays, novels, questions for LinkedIn participants and answers to their questions, like this one, and my blog.

d) What is your definition of creativity? While some people see creativity is a form of problem solving, I do not.

When we ground ourselves transparently in the power that constitutes us (God for me and others), then the creative moment comes in the form of an insight into the then present situation that allows the individual the opporunity to assent to the insight provided (as an actual grace from God). See MOMENTS OF INSIGHT: THE EMERGENCE OF GREAT IDEAS IN THE LIVES OF CREATIVE MEN. (Paperback) by Maria Shrady. The author has in turn based her reports on Bernard Lonergan's Insight: A Study of Human Understanding.

Good question. John”

What do you think?

Please include your comment here or contact me to discuss.

Thanks.

John Darrouzet