The article discusses the nature of creativity and the origin of ideas, emphasizing that new concepts are often variations or reconfigurations of existing ones. It illustrates how many foundational thinkers in creativity are overlooked in modern discussions, suggesting a loss of lineage in the understanding of creative thought. The author highlights the importance of tracing the evolution of ideas through diffusion and polygenesis, proposing that recognizing the influences behind ideas can deepen our understanding of creativity and its development over time.
New ideas don't appear out of nowhere; they leave fingerprints.
To find better answers, trace where the questions began.
Ideas can travel, and ideas can emerge again and again.
What matters most isn't that an idea is brand new—but that it's newly meaningful.
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