Science fiction master Isaac Asimov explains "How do people create new ideas?"

ById-iom

Isaac AsimovWas counted as one of the world's top three science fiction writers, and "Three principles of robot engineering"Jumped out of the novel world and influenced reality robotics engineering in some cases. An essay that Asimov wrote in the Cold War period about "How do people get new ideas?" Is published at MIT Technology Review.

Isaac Asimov Asks, "How Do People Get New Ideas?"
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/531911/isaac-asimov-asks-how-do-people-get-new-ideas/

◆ Relationship common to several things
In the essay, Asimov says that in order to create new ideas it is necessary not only to become familiar with one specific field but also to find relationships among several events. For example, organized the theory of evolutionCharles DarwinYaAlfred WallaceObserve plants and animals and pay close attention to species changes due to the environment,Thomas Robert MalthusThe idea of ​​over-population and culling that was told in the "population argument" of Japan was also applied to the natural world. In other words, Asimov thought that not only knowledge on living organisms and species but also demographic knowledge was able to create a new idea of ​​"theory of evolution".

ByAftab Uzzaman

◆ People who create new ideas
Asimov said in an essay, "Although new ideas are initially regarded as irrational, they will be considered to be reasonable over time." People who produce wonderful ideas that influence the world seem to be strange people in terms of the general public, so they feel confident that their ideas can break through rationality and common sense about.

ByEgisto Sani

However, "strange people" is not a sufficient condition to create new ideas, but what seems to be important is that they do not stick to the values ​​that they own, although they exercise outstanding power in a certain field.

◆ Response to creative people & environment of meetings
What should other people do when encountering a person who creates innovative ideas? Asimov says, "In order to create ideas it is necessary to be alone. If other people are nearby, distracting the creativity of people who create innovative ideas and disturbing the thought process There is. "

However, sometimes by incorporating others' thinking, sometimes I think of something I could not think about before. This is "Asymov believes that rather than helping to come up with new ideas, being able to train thinking by being with others".

Also, in order to create new ideas in the place where many people like meetings participate, it seems that each person is required not to deny the opinions of others. When someone says an opinion at a meeting and another person takes a cold attitude towards that opinion, other people who have heard it get settled. Therefore, it is better to create a non-discriminatory environment, such as making a bright atmosphere, calling by name or saying jokes in a place like a meeting.

ByTEDx Amsterdam

For these reasons, Asimov says, "Dining at a house or restaurant at someone may be more productive than at a company's meeting."