Chapter 5 - Dimension IV: Protection of Vulnerable Versions

Summary

One of the unsolved problems of creativity science is whether Darwin can explain Darwin. This problem has usually been approached via Campbell’s theory of spontaneous generation and blind selection. But this ignores the fact that natural selection is strongly constrained by parsimony and the build-up of increasing complexity over time. Darwin’s theory of how n-creativity is possible is basically a constraint theory but a very complex (Five-factor) one according to Ernst Mayr. Among these factors is speciation processes by geographical isolation of interbreeding species. But speciation processes are merely a special case of protection. All newly born life forms are vulnerable at the start and need to be protected to survive. This chapter looks at how such vulnerable versions are protected in cultural forms of creativity. It identifies five factors: geographical and intellectual migration, organizational and collegial forms of secrecy and the critical role of support systems.