Phil/Psych 447

Seminar in Cognitive Science

Week 9: Social Mechanisms for Creativity

Responses to Week 8 Questions

A. Molecular level

1. Why not convolution among molecules? Quantum computing. Ion channels.

MIM: consider all relevant levels, ignore irrelevant ones, and don't skip relevant ones: quantum minds, evolutionary psychology.

B. Neural level

2. How general is convolution? Other mechanisms. Vector transformations.

3. What are the outputs, e.g. in the demo? Decoding.

4. Are there enough neurons to do convolution generally? Will timing scale up?

5. Are there top-down processes too?

6. Does analogy need convolution to generate new ideas?

7. When does convolution take place?

C. Psychological level

8. How does convolution work with emotions? Show EMOCON. Feedback loop.

9. What is the role of consciousness? Emergence?

10. What about goal context? Motivation?

11. P-creativity or H-creativity?

D. Social level

12. Is convolution a social process? Collaboration

Discussion Questions for Watson: Who or What Creates?

1. What did you find confusing or hard to understand in this paper?
2. What are the social aspects of creativity? What are the situational factors?
3. Are intrapersonal contributions absolutely necessary for creativity?
4. Are Watson's definitions of creativity useful for understanding its social aspects?
5. Is Watson's concept map helpful for understanding creativity?
6. What is the difference between socially generated and socially constructed creative outcomes?
7. What kinds of collaboration are most effective in scientific, technological, social, and artistic innovation?
8. What social institutions foster creativity?
9. What are the cultural contributions to creativity?
10. What is a "group AHA!"?
11. How can groups be more (or less) creative than individuals?
12. Can a group be creative even if none of the individuals is?

Neural simulation demos

Phil/Psych 447

Paul Thagard

Computational Epistemology Laboratory.

This page updated Nov. 9, 2009