The Act of Creation

The Act of Creation begins where this view ceases to be true. Koestler affirms that all creatures have the capacity for creative activity, frequently suppressed by the automatic routines of thought and behavior that dominate their lives. The study of psychology has offered little in the way of an explanation of the creative process, and Koestler suggests that we are at our most creative when rational thought is suspended - for example in dreams and trance-like states. Then the mind is capable of receiving inspiration and insight.

Taking humor as his starting point, Koestler examines what he terms 'bisociative' thinking - the creative leap made by the mind that gives rise to new and startling perceptions and glimpses of reality. From here he assesses the workings of the mind of the scientific or artistic genius. The general reader as well as the reader with a deeper knowledge of the topics covered will find this richly documented study of creativity both illuminating and compelling.

当这个观点不再正确时，创造的行为（The Act of Creation）就开始了。科斯勒（Koestler）肯定，所有的生物都有创造性活动的能力，但经常被主导他们生活的自动思维和行为常规所压制。心理学的研究几乎没有提供关于创造性过程的解释，科斯勒（Koestler）认为，当理性思维暂停时--例如在梦境和恍惚状态下，我们的创造力最强。然后，然后头脑就能够获得灵感和洞察力。

以幽默为出发点，科斯勒（Koestler）研究了他所说的 "双重性"（bisociative）思维--大脑的创造性飞跃，产生了对现实的新的、惊人的认知和瞥见。从这里他评估了科学或艺术天才的思维方式。普通读者以及对所涵盖的主题有更深入了解的读者，都会发现这本记录丰富的创造力研究报告既具有启发性，又令人信服。