Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

Dealing with the phenomenon of creativity from the pragmatist viewpoint does not mean introducing yet another determinant of human action. The pragmatic interpretation puts forward a more profound thesis to the effect that creativity constitutes human action in its entirety. The argument for creativity is meant to suggest a paradigm shift in the study of action. Those features in action that traditionally have been thought of as most basic are seen to be less basic and less general from this perspective, although they do not lose all their relevance for the study of action.In short, the pragmatist interpretation argues for the creativity of action, rather than for the creativity of human individuals as such. Individuals may also be creative, but this is due to the creativity of their action rather than vice versa. As a happy dictum has recently expressed the matter, “Creative people are not dreamers. They do things” (Karlqvist 1997, p. 105). This principle in itself sets this approach apart from today's postmodern ways of thought that also make frequent use of the creativity term, but mean by it human visions rather than human doings. As noted, pragmatism understands creativity as an anthropological universal in human action, not as the gift of some exceptional individuals. Accordingly, the pragmatic interpretation maintains that whenever we do something, we exercise this universal ... log in or subscribe to read full text