Creativity is undoubtedly one of the most valued abilities today, both in the workplace and on a personal level. And it is a capacity that allows changes to occur with respect to the previous, for better or worse.
But… what is creativity? Can we think of someone who is to help us understand it? In order to answer this last question throughout this article let’s see examples of creativity many of them great geniuses and highly relevant historical figures whose abilities represented a change in different areas.
Before looking at some examples of creative people and how they have used said creativity, it is advisable to first establish what we can consider this concept implies.
In general, we can consider creativity as the cognitive capacity that allows us to create or generate novel and original ideas, thoughts or strategies which differ from the strategies or products existing until now or available in the environment and which, although they may be based on fragments of reality and experience, differ from the typical procedures that have been used until now or have been learned through experience. .
One of the elements on which this capacity is based is lateral thinking, that is, the ability to leave what has been established or learned throughout life to generate something new and different: generating possible and viable options even though they do not exist. are among those given to us in advance.
This capacity is one of the most relevant and valued at a social level, since allows the generation of new procedures, products and ways of doing that promote development and allow learning and improvement of the personal and sociocultural situation. In fact, having a high creative capacity is one of the main criteria required to consider that a person has traits of genius.
Once the concept of creativity is defined in a generic way, we can move on to see a series of eight examples of highly creative people and how they have applied their ability in different areas.
1. Leonardo Da Vinci
Without a doubt, in a list that talks about great examples of creativity, Leonardo Da Vinci cannot be missing, one of the historical figures and considered a genius whose creativity continues to amaze today. Leonardo da Vinci excels in many branches of arts and science: painting, sculpture, chemistry, medicine, mathematics and even physics were areas with which he dealt and in which he would be considered a genius.
Among many other contributions, we are going to mention a few: on a technological level, this genius He even developed ornithopter prototypes (its well-known flying machine with a similar appearance to current delta wings) and even submarines.
On an artistic level, some of his paintings are “La Mona Lisa” or “The Last Supper”, and on a medical level, his detailed descriptions and drawings of human anatomy stand out. All of this speaks to us of great creativity in multiple domains, something especially meritorious in the time in which he lived.
2.Charles Darwin
An example of a historical figure who has stood out for his ability to elaborate and synthesize one of the most relevant theories in the study of life and living beings: the theory of evolution.
Although today this theory is something we take for granted, at that time it represented a challenge to the majority beliefs regarding how we had appeared in the world, of a mystical-religious nature. Although his was not the only evolutionary theory (for example, Lamarck’s theory is also very well known), without a doubt its development and the studies that this man carried out are highly creative, original and different from what was mostly accepted at that time
Another great genius whose work has required high creativity, Albert Einstein is highly known as one of the most brilliant physicists of modernity. His studies on Brownian motion and especially the creation of the theory of relativity were not only brilliant but also represented a paradigm shift within the world of physics.
4. Nikola Tesla
Another great, highly creative genius, Nikola Tesla was an engineer and inventor and his contributions have helped change the world: just the alternating current motor (and the Tesla coil) and his theoretical studies linked to electromagnetic fields. they have changed technology that we have today.
We owe him and other great historical figures such as Thomas Edison much of the technological advances that led to the Second Industrial Revolution, including the popularization of the use of electrical energy.
5. Sigmund Freud
Although psychoanalysis is a theoretical movement that is often criticized and the subject of controversy, it is undoubtedly one of the most creative and original theories of the psyche and it represented a revolution thanks to which the science of psychology and psychiatry has greatly advanced.
Although his theory is often criticized for not being falsifiable or empirically verifiable, the truth is that it has helped a large number of people throughout history and has allowed the emergence of other theoretical currents.
The discovery of the unconscious and the theoretical development of psychic structures, the theories of psychosexual development and studies on hysteria were completely groundbreaking in their time, as was their treatment and interest in the sexual sphere and the study of drives and repressions ( It is necessary to remember that it was born in the Victorian era, in which there was a very high level of sexual repression and especially with regard to female sexuality).
Although he had to renounce himself in order to survive, Galileo Galilei was a man whose thought, although heir to some traditions and thoughts, had the courage and originality to break with Aristotelian theories and to propose heliocentrism at a time when This breakup could have meant execution. In fact, he is considered one of the fathers of modern astronomy, and his works were source of inspiration for the Copernicus Revolution and the development of other great scientific theories.
7. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Perhaps one of the areas in which creativity can be seen the most is within the arts. One of the most famous musicians of all time, His great creativity and genius were already visible from his earliest childhood and they would be so throughout their lives.
Even in his last years he managed to compose great works, despite being seriously ill and having lost popularity. Even the great Beethoven was inspired by him (another great creative genius, who even after losing his hearing continued to compose some highly relevant works).
8. Pablo Picasso
The art world also has a large number of highly creative geniuses. Among them we highlight some such as Salvador Dalí or Pablo Picasso. The latter was a co-founder of the pictorial style known as cubism, as well as one of the pioneers in the use of collage (along with Braque).
