1. The Act of Creation by A. Koestler Notes by David E. Goldberg Systems & Entrepreneurial Engineering

2. Text Koestler, A. (1964). The act of creation. New York: Macmillan. Writer, journalist (1905-1983). Best known for Darkness at Noon (1940).

3. Organization B1: Art of Discovery & Discoveries of Art –Jester: Laughter, humor, types, & discovery. –Sage: –Artist: B2: Habit & Originality

4. Jester Humor involves different planes. Bisociation. Matrix: code of behavior governed by fixed rules. Laughter as emotional energy release.

5. Types of Humor Pun & witticism:single phonetic form & 2 meanings. Man & animal: Cartoon as humor. Impersonation: One as another. Child-Adult Parody: Trivial as exalted. Interpolation (filling a gap); extrapolation (following consequence).

6. Sage Bisociation in solving problems. Examples: –Gutenberg:playing cards, wood blocks, wine press = printing press. –Kepler: Holy spirit as lead to elliptical orbits. –Darwin: evolution plus breeding = evolution via natural selection

7. Unconscious Thought/Dreams As location for unblocking matrix. Poincare theories of recombination. Unconscious thought as necessary to the bisociative act.

8. Evolution of Science Foreshadowing of Kuhn. Fashions in science. Substitution of new theory for old. Differentiation and specialization a la species. Emotion and science:

9. Learning to Think Abstraction Discrimination Transfer Beauty of names.

10. Aspects of Thinking Multi-dimensionality: –Consciousness –Verbalization –Abstraction –Flexibility –Motivation –Realism –Outer vs. inner environment –Learning & performing –Routine & originality