Scientific Evening Dedicated to the Concept of Creativity

The event will feature a guest lecture by Christian Nimtz, professor of philosophy at Bielefeld University, Germany, entitled “Conceptual Pluralism about Creativity”, examining the concept of creativity and its various definitions from the perspective of the philosophy of language.

As Nimtz points out: “There apparently is no single concept of creativity. Concepts of creativity seems rather to abound, and the term ‘creative’ is used in a plethora of slightly varying meanings.

In my talk, I survey the conceptual space of creativity. I argue that the variation in concepts we find across this space is not erratic but rather systematic. Taking a page from the philosophy of language, I consider three linguistic mechanisms apt to create alterations in the meaning of ‘creative’ – (1) conceptual differentiation, (2) semantic adjustment, and (3) dimensional variation.

I argue that these mechanisms neatly account for much of the topology we find in the conceptual space of creativity. They also dissolve a number of puzzles about our use of ‘creative’, and our intuitions about creativity."

Summary of Nimtz's lectures and CV.

At the scientific evening, Mārcis Auziņš, professor at the Department of Physics of the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of Latvia, will also give a presentation entitled “Creativity in Natural Sciences".

Prof. Auziņš want to emphasize that the natural sciences, truly groundbreaking ideas also arise when researchers go beyond established frameworks and dare to think differently. Creativity here is shown not only through inventive combinations but also by the courage to cross boundaries and develop entirely new approaches to understanding the world.

Summary of Auziņš' lectures and CV.

The event is organized in cooperation with the Interdisciplinary Center for German Studies at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Latvia, Riga and The Baltic-German University Liaison Office.