Book
As if by design: how creative behaviors really evolve
Cambridge University Press
2021
Appears in Recent Books by UI Authors
Abstract
"As you watch Michael Phelps swim the butterfly stroke, you marvel at the amazing coordination of his muscular arms, legs, and torso. These powerful motions seem to have been perfectly planned to outpace his rivals in what is the most demanding of all swimming strokes. What you may not appreciate is that the butterfly stroke was never planned. Nor, for decades following its debut, was it even an approved stroke in the Olympic Games. In this book, I'll explore the origin and evolution of the butterfly stroke and a variety of other behavioral innovations which, because of their striking suitability to the situation, appear to have been ingeniously and foresightfully designed. More often than not, however, these creative acts have actually arisen 'as if by design.' This revelation requires a much deeper dive into the histories of these innovations in order to gain a firmer grasp on the very nature of behavioral creativity. What emerges is an intricate web of causation involving three main factors: context, consequence, and coincidence. By concentrating on the process rather than the product of innovation, I hope to elevate behavior to its proper place-at the very center of creative human endeavor-for it is truly behavior that produces the innumerable innovations that have captivated thinkers' imagination. Those most splendid theories, goods, and gadgets would never have come into being without the behaviors of their inventors. This book thus stands apart from the majority of other discussions of creativity which stress 'genius' and 'foresight': two notions that do little more than to name what really needs to be explained"--Provided by publisher.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- As if by design: how creative behaviors really evolve
- Creators
- Edward A Wasserman
- Resource Type
- Book
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press; Cambridge, United Kingdom; New York, NY
- ISBN
- 9781108774895; 110877489X
- Number of pages
- xiii, 318 pages
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2021
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
- Record Identifier
- 9984103336902771
Metrics
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