Comments on: The Myth of the Tabula Rasa http://www.redchurch.com/quantum/2006/07/28/the-myth-of-the-tabula-rasa/ Infinite Possibilities Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:10:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Galeno http://www.redchurch.com/quantum/2006/07/28/the-myth-of-the-tabula-rasa/comment-page-1/#comment-16645 Galeno Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:54:48 +0000 http://www.redchurch.com/quantum/2006/07/28/the-myth-of-the-tabula-rasa/#comment-16645 It's been now four years since you wrote this article. And I am just lucky to have read it now. I was looking for more information about tabula rasa, thinking about the concept. The link with the writer's block also occurred to me. Last night I was lost in the wikipedia labyrinth, particularly because I found the concept of Qualia (which I never heard before). Your article is incredible. I intend to translate it to my language and pass on to some friends. Thank you. It’s been now four years since you wrote this article. And I am just lucky to have read it now. I was looking for more information about tabula rasa, thinking about the concept. The link with the writer’s block also occurred to me.

Last night I was lost in the wikipedia labyrinth, particularly because I found the concept of Qualia (which I never heard before).

Your article is incredible. I intend to translate it to my language and pass on to some friends.

Thank you.

]]> By: Eric http://www.redchurch.com/quantum/2006/07/28/the-myth-of-the-tabula-rasa/comment-page-1/#comment-16357 Eric Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:15:58 +0000 http://www.redchurch.com/quantum/2006/07/28/the-myth-of-the-tabula-rasa/#comment-16357 James, How is it a straw man as it applies to creativity? Although it's been 3 years since I wrote this, I think the main point that creativity doesn't start with nothing, it starts with a whole lot of things -- intuitions, ideas, likes, dislikes, biases, environment and other predeterminations, etc. Just like human life. Short story: Creativity is somewhat (although not completely) deterministic. If your fav fantasy is vampires you're probably going to write about vampires, in which case there is no blank slate because it's impossible to completely avoid all pre-existing notions of what a vampire is and arrive at the "truly original vampire story" in an absolute sense. If nothing exists, then either nothing or everything is possible. I find these ideas, while tempting because they feel liberating, are also misleading because they have little to do with the mechanics of how things like life or creativity actually function. James,

How is it a straw man as it applies to creativity?

Although it’s been 3 years since I wrote this, I think the main point that creativity doesn’t start with nothing, it starts with a whole lot of things — intuitions, ideas, likes, dislikes, biases, environment and other predeterminations, etc.

Just like human life.

Short story: Creativity is somewhat (although not completely) deterministic. If your fav fantasy is vampires you’re probably going to write about vampires, in which case there is no blank slate because it’s impossible to completely avoid all pre-existing notions of what a vampire is and arrive at the “truly original vampire story” in an absolute sense.

If nothing exists, then either nothing or everything is possible. I find these ideas, while tempting because they feel liberating, are also misleading because they have little to do with the mechanics of how things like life or creativity actually function.

]]> By: James Hughes http://www.redchurch.com/quantum/2006/07/28/the-myth-of-the-tabula-rasa/comment-page-1/#comment-16356 James Hughes Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:56:15 +0000 http://www.redchurch.com/quantum/2006/07/28/the-myth-of-the-tabula-rasa/#comment-16356 You make a straw man of tabula rasa. The theory applies to knowledge only, not the nature of the mind. The mind does have a specific nature which is determined by genetics. It has a specific method of acquiring knowledge, namely integration and differentiation. The theory states that at birth, the mind has no content. You make a straw man of tabula rasa. The theory applies to knowledge only, not the nature of the mind. The mind does have a specific nature which is determined by genetics. It has a specific method of acquiring knowledge, namely integration and differentiation.

The theory states that at birth, the mind has no content.

]]> By: Jak http://www.redchurch.com/quantum/2006/07/28/the-myth-of-the-tabula-rasa/comment-page-1/#comment-9603 Jak Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:57:07 +0000 http://www.redchurch.com/quantum/2006/07/28/the-myth-of-the-tabula-rasa/#comment-9603 wow this gives me an entire different perspective on my writing and my drawing. this was a well written article and i plan on showing it to a few friends. hopefully it will help them like it did me. wow this gives me an entire different perspective on my writing and my drawing. this was a well written article and i plan on showing it to a few friends. hopefully it will help them like it did me.

]]> By: Eric http://www.redchurch.com/quantum/2006/07/28/the-myth-of-the-tabula-rasa/comment-page-1/#comment-240 Eric Tue, 01 Aug 2006 22:00:30 +0000 http://www.redchurch.com/quantum/2006/07/28/the-myth-of-the-tabula-rasa/#comment-240 Maybe I should have just called the article 'Myth of the Blank Slate.' Occasionally I find myself wrapped up in The Nothing, which dampens most if not all creativity because good (or anything, really) can't come out of it. I'm not sure if people are willing to put up with the longer posts, so thanks for reading. Maybe I should have just called the article ‘Myth of the Blank Slate.’

Occasionally I find myself wrapped up in The Nothing, which dampens most if not all creativity because good (or anything, really) can’t come out of it.

I’m not sure if people are willing to put up with the longer posts, so thanks for reading.

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