The Utility of Creativity

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   A.Villarasaposted 11 years ago

   From a purely anthropological perspective, Hominid Creativity has been tied to measurable increase  in cranial capacity and  cerebral  mass/volume.  Brain size is what set us apart from our Hominid predecessors and our nearest living evolutionary kin----chimpanzees and bonobos, whose ancestors branched off from our lineage some six million years ago. Anthropologists, poring over 3-dimensional scans of ancient hominid skull  and examining the brains of chimps and bonobos, have shown how extensive the human brain have evolved over time.
   Anthroplogists are just now proposing theories about why and how and when the hominid brain started its ascent to the top of the natural world.
   I am positing that the appearance of modern humans (Homo Sapiens) sometime between 300,000 to 200,000 years ago on the earthly stage is the apex of that ascent because it  coincided with  beginning of  their ability to improve upon the creativity shown by their hominid precursors (however miniscule) on the survivalist scale. The more creative early  humans were in terms of  their survival skills, the more complex  the integrative connections  got  in their gray matter.
   Thus the utility of creativity because it is this creativity that has allowed our specie to survive and thrive in a very competitive  natural world.
   From the purely biblical narrative, could its timeline( from Adam and Eve) neatly fit the anthropological timeline of  whence creativity actually became a force of its own, allowing humans to be unshackled from the interventions of a Higher Force?

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      A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hasn't the biblical timeline been assessed at around 6000 years?

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         Jeramiposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         No it hasn't.  Our family tree has been traced back that far (according to the bible)
         On the first day God god said Let the world begin  and it was without form , then he said let there be light ;  and after this , the earth took form  and this was the first day     some time passes while all of this is going on  (millions of years) And then .. God stops by for a second day of creativity. He does his thing which is his second day.    And then a lot of time passes until he stops by yet a third time. Lets call this his third day. Don't matter what we call it?   This is all that the bible actually says.   The rest is interpretation.
         
              But you are right about six thousand years is all that has been recorded concerning the family tree of Adam and Eve.
         ....

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            A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Sorry Jerami, the Bible says nothing about that.

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               Jeramiposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               "IF" you were as smart as you think that you are ??? ...   You would read what it actually says; NO more OR NO less than what it says; you would not have come to the conclusions that you have!  What does it say not withstanding that which you have been taught that it says.
               Few people are able to do that!
               
                   I know that you are smart!    ...  now try to read what is actually written and not interject that which you were taught that your understanding "Should" be.   I know you can do it!     ""IF" you really try"
               
                   You are rebelling against the indoctrination that tells YOU what it says.
               
                 If you are able to read what is actually written (No more or less than what is written) you would see a different picture than the one that you think that you see!!!!!!!

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                  A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  It says 'days', Jerami, not millions of years.

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         A.Villarasaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         @ATM:
         I don't approach the biblical  Adam and Eve narrative literally , that is, I do not believe they were the first humans ever to walk this earth. Rather I approach their story allegorically/metaphorically. I think Adam and Eve could  personify allegorically, the first humans to ever invoke their creativity oustide of Divine Guidance or Intervention;  they were the first humans, again allegorically/metaphorically to ever think that their cerebral capacity for creation should and could be unhinged from and be totally devoid of  Divine intervention, extrapolation  and interpretation. Thus the story of them disobeying God's command not to "eat of the fruit of knowledge"; knowledge being emblematic of the source from whence creativity comes from.... creativity that does not flow from Divine Inspiration but from human introspection and intuition.
         If you are enamored of timelines(Adam and Eve starting at around 6,000 years ago) , then what I am suggesting is that human creativity started to blossom exponentially from around that time, as opposed to its relative dormancy during the hominid years.

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            Rad Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Humans have been expressing creativity on cave walls for at least 40,000 years.

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               A.Villarasaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               @Radman:
               Reading and understanding what is being said are obviously two different  things in your world.

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                  Rad Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  Reading and understanding are two different things in this world. What's you point.

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                     A.Villarasaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                     @RadMan:
                     
                     The point is,  timelines (be they anthropological or biblical) are relevant or  irrelevant  ONLY  in as  far as  they may support or debunk  one's  thoughtful (or thoughtless, for that matter) point of view. In the greater scheme of things i.e creation/evolution, what is thought provoking are the  whys, hows, and whens of  hominid progression from the totally un-creative to the fully creative specie. Empiric evidence point to the increasing cognitive abilities of hominids that spurred the increase in their cranial capacity/cerebral mass that then led to greater creativity, that then led to more integrated cognitive function, thus completing the circle.

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                        Rad Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                        The point is human brain capacity has remained unchanged for 200,000 years. Humans have been creative for at least 40,000 years. None of this lines up with the bibles 6000 years. Furthermore the success of humans is not in our creativity, it's in our ability to share that creativity when it happens.

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                           getitriteposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                           You are forgetting to utilize allegorical/metaphorical nonsense....

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                              Soul Man Dancerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                              Only 14 year old girls still use smiley faces for effect.

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                                 getitriteposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                 Thanks for that well researched and well thought out response. 
                                 
                                 

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                                    Soul Man Dancerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                    
                                    
                                    Bow wow!

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                                       Rad Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                       Oh, we can tell who the dogs are.

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                                          Soul Man Dancerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                          Is that a personal affront? A dog would not be more intelligent and well versed than you. I am.

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                                 Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                 I use smiley faces.

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                                    Soul Man Dancerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                    I am not going anywhere near that!   

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                                       Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                       lol

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                                    bBereanposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                    Do your parents know you are in an internet forum, young lady?

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                                       Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                       I go to great lengths to make sure they don't.

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                                          Soul Man Dancerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                          Don't tell them about me, either!

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                                             Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                             That I met a crazy man that I never talk to, who seems basically nice?
                                             Alright.

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                                                Cletus Jonesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                Deleted
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                                                   Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                   My apologies to all Cletus's everywhere, but I knew I didn't like you the minute I read your name... the pic aint helpin' much. The chicken thing was bad enough. I enjoy a bit of soul.

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                                                      Soul Man Dancerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                      Care to dance?

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                                                         Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                         I don't dance with strangers.

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                                                            Soul Man Dancerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                            Let's fuck then.

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                                                               Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                               I don't know how to farm.
                                                               gotta go.

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                                                                  Cletus Jonesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                                  Deleted
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                                                                     Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                                     I told you, Im not a fan of Cletus's... especially men over 40 who wear their hats sideways.

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                                                                        Soul Man Dancerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                                        I appreciate your astute discernment. The natural man knows how to farm. He farms long and hard, but he must also be slow, patient, and be gentle with the tender shoots. He plows deep, plants his seed and tastes the ripe fruit of his labor.

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                                                                           Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                                           quit it.

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                                                                              Soul Man Dancerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                                              Not until I reap the harvest!

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                                                                                 Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                                                 Good luck with that.

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                                                                                    Soul Man Dancerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                                                    I sure don't need you to accomplish that. I need no luck at all!

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                                                                                       Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                                                       Well ok then.

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                                                                                          Soul Man Dancerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                                                          Just OK?

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                                                                                             Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                                                             You sure run hot and cold.

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                                                                                                Soul Man Dancerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                                                                Uh, oh, I'll check it out. I usually don't, but you have me hooked. What a writer!

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                                                                                                   Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                                                                   Thanks!

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                                                                                                      Soul Man Dancerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                                                                      Dang, girl (maybe)! You deserve it.

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                                                                                                         Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                                                                         

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                                                                                                            Soul Man Dancerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                                                                            One day.

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                           A.Villarasaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                           @RadMan:
                           Which came first... the creativity? or the sharing of that creativity. If there is nothing to share in the first place would humans have advanced?
                           
                           Homo Sapiens have shown creativity well before your timeline of  40,000 years. The hominid specie, e.g. Homo erectus, etc.   (well before Homo Sapiens) have shown creativity, for example,  in the way they have creatively adjusted the design of  their tools for hunting more efficiently and effectively. The paintings on cave walls that you are referring to, show cognitive( and maybe artistic) abilities, that pre-dates those painting for 200,000 years.

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                              Soul Man Dancerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                              Let's also keep in mind that our actual understanding of these various stages of human development is sketchy. We find some security in settling on what science has been able to piece together as a definitive study. We haven't even scratched the surface.
                              
                              I believe that what is important for us today, regardless of how we attained it, is to harness and direct or creativity to improve every situation in our world. This can only be done in a peaceful, loving way if the creative energy is to reach its full potential.

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                                 A.Villarasaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                 @Soul Man:
                                 
                                 Agree totally with your post.

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                              Rad Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                              A guy invents a bow and arrow but doesn't share the invention... A guy invents a car but doesn't share the invention. A guy invents a plane and doesn't share the invention... Creativity is not an everyday thing. I doesn't happen often, but when it does we share or sell the information. If I'd never seen a house I'd be hard pressed to build one. The same with a car, boat plane or space station.

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                                 A.Villarasaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                 @RadMan:
                                 Your point is well taken... but sharing creativity for creativity's sake is not what is was  all about. It was  all about increasing the chances of  your kin/tribe/clan's survival. Now in our modern technological era, creativity is more related to or hinged on  personal ambition/satisfaction, monetary consideration and  worlwide acclaim.

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                                    Rad Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                    Correct, true creativity is rather rare, but when it does happen the idea is shared for money.

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      getitriteposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes.  If you wish it to be....yes.  Goddunnit.

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         A.Villarasaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         @getitrite:
         Your post is embematic of all that is wrong with the atheistic conceptualization and predisposition. All Goddunnit, (but didn't get-it-right ) rantings  and nothing else.

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