Origins of Influential Thought
Falling
from the sky on a bright sunny day was the apple destined to spark one of the
greatest notions of mankind. A beautiful humble apple orchard is the setting
for this great event. Stepping upon this stage is young Sir. Isaac Newton, he
takes his place underneath an apple tree. He is pondering the wonders of nature
when suddenly his train of thought is interrupted. Dramatically descending from
the tree above an apple hits perfectly on the center of Newton’s head. At that
precise moment a realization comes to Newton; that whatever is pulling the
apple to the ground is the same force holding celestial planets together in
orbit (Gefter). Thus, an apple is attributed to inventing the birth of
Gravitational theory. Many in the right mindset would sit back for a moment and
say, “Wait the apple didn’t discover gravity?” This is one hundred percent
true. So, why has it been accidentally perceive that it was an apple that
caused this great idea? The answer lies in being aware of the false perception
that Newton had never before pondered the existence of an invisible force.
Rather, when the apple randomly fell previous knowledge is what allowed Newton
to receive the idea of gravity. That is just one example of a common
misconception made about the origins of great discoveries. Unintentionally the
misconceptions have been made, that big ideas easily come only to the naturally
intelligent from random thoughts. In reality big ideas can come to anyone who
has a personal drive to put forth effort by using specific techniques. Drawn
from the lives of great scientists and inventors, this essay will explore the
truth of where big ideas come from.
What
makes a person intelligent? Is it based on a person’s IQ score, or by how many
equations someone can solve in their head? By determining what makes a person
smart, it can be determined who is smart.
First, it’s important to clarify the differences between intelligence
and creativity. Intelligence is the ability to fill the mind with useful and
important information; there is no limit to gaining intelligence. Intelligence
is the act of learning whereas, “Creativity is the ability to connect
knowledge” (Jesper). Someone who is considered very creative may be seen as an
abstract thinker simply because; their mind has a stronger capacity to connect
information. Thus, creativity and intelligence are directly linked in the
process of generating ideas. On a scientific level the mind is constantly
working to solve problems. Inside the brain you have a left side for logic, and
a right side for imagination. Both sides have a creative storage location
called the Superior Temporal Gyrus. Within the white matter of the brain there
are dendroids pulling information into that portion of the brain. This allows
for new connections to be discovered from information kept throughout the brain
(Jesper). Being a muscle the brain must be strengthened by continuous exercise
through education. The more information the brain absorbs the faster it can
think or improve memory. This is the process of Neural Plasticity, or the
ability to grow (Krauss). Everyone has the natural innate capability to
strengthen the mind. Which makes intelligence a universal trait; meaning that
everyone can formulate ideas.
That
light bulb moment, where the solution suddenly presents itself, and all is made
clear is considered a burst of random thoughts. Just like when the apple landed
on Newton’s head all minds are capable of receiving incite at the unlikeliest
of times. Random thoughts in the mind occur when the mind wanders. A wandering
mind is caused by less resistance over the traveling thoughts through the
Frontal Lobe. Allowing for the mind to make more connections. Relaxing the mind
or shutting off the frontal lobe means that the mind is no longer controlling the
entering and exiting thoughts (Jesper). Daydreaming can be considered as a form
of letting the mind wander. Making more connections in the mind means that we
often can receive insight. This however, doesn’t occur frequently, or at least
it does not always create usable ideas. Random thoughts are purely based on
what you already know. So, to suggest that ideas only can occur randomly is
simply not logical. The mind must at times be encouraged to pursue ideas.
Meaning that if the mind is empty of any background knowledge solutions cannot
be created.
Now that it is understood as to where
ideas come from; it is now necessary to know how individuals increase the
availability of new ideas. In-vision a man anxiously pacing in a stuffy room.
He is dressed in a crumpled unbutton suit with a crooked tie. His hair is messy
from constantly caressing figures over his sweaty forehead. Eyes twitching,
pulse pounding, and brain straining, the man scribbles on papers. Failed
equations of crushed papers litter the floor. Pencil shavings and eraser bits
cover the top of an old worn desk. Days on end he repeats this process with
vigor to create his Theory of Relativity (Walter). This specifically depicts
the relentless efforts of Albert Einstein. Einstein is an excellent example of
the hard work it takes to generate an idea. His most famous theory of
relativity took eight years just to be solidified. It then took another two
years for it to be tested and verified by the scientific community (Walter). These
many years Einstein pushed forward amidst personal trails, and many failed
attempts. There are many who suggested that maybe Einstein’s brain was
physically bigger which made him somehow smarter. Years after Einstein’s death,
his brain was examined by scientists to test this theory. They discovered that
his mind was indeed larger and more developed in areas, but this does not mean
he was born this way. What’s amazing is not the fact that his brain was
physically bigger; it’s the fact that he made it bigger. He exercised his mind
so much that it literally expanded (Cort, How Smart Can We Get). Through
persistent rigorous labor, and many different strategies; Einstein was able to
push his mind to new limits of a capacity to produce ideas.
Following
along the lines of the idea, “that what you do determines who you become”
(Halsman). The conclusion can be made that the habits of character or academic
study determine what ideas one will create. Some characteristics found in
intelligent people include: accepting consequences to problems and learning from
mistakes. One cannot progress with an idea if one is not willing to accept past
failures. Progress can also be achieved by admitting you don’t have all the
answers. Great idealists are incredibly resourceful and able to reason well.
This makes an individual more adaptable, creative, and a good problem solver
(Halsman). Another way to increase ideas is by using thought experiments or
brainstorming. Thought experiments allow the thinker to ponder many
possibilities in different situations. Using the five senses, one can visually
hypothesize outcomes (Brown & Robert & Fehige, Yiftach). Einstein was
famous for his thought experiment about the free falling man. Imagining a man
falling from a building it occurred to Einstein that the man wouldn’t be
feeling his own weight. Instead he would experience the force of gravity
accelerating or in other words free fall. With this idea he was able to create
his Theory of Relativity (Einstein Thought Experiments). Another useful
technique to increase the availability of ideas is to relax the mind through
music. Einstein explained, “The theory of relativity occurred to me by
intuition, and music was the driving force behind that intuition.” Many
Practices have been used throughout history to better produce influential
thoughts.
Any
idea is virtually useless without a personal drive to pursue change. Ideas
after all are made in order to accomplish or solve a specific task. Without
determination to discover any great advancement in the world would never have
materialized. Louie Pasture is an amazing individual accredited with the invention
of three major medical discoveries. He established that germs are the major
source of what makes people sick. Created vaccines against rabies were first
introduced by him. Last of all he presented the system of Pasteurization which
is used in the food industry today. The nature of these great accomplishments
was motivated by the death of three of his daughters, to the typhoid fever.
After this great personal lost Pasture became passionate about finding cures to
terrifying diseases (Pasteur, Famous People). Society has been greatly affected
by this great man who used a hardship, to be the driving force behind the
solving how to heal and better the lives of others. Another strong driving
force of ideas is the need to answer a question. Galileo is an example of doing
whatever it takes to find the answer that is one completely true. The question
arose in Galileo’s mind, was the Earth the center of the universe? Through much
sky gazing though his special telescope. Galileo concluded that the Earth
rotates around the Sun. Many times his findings went against popular religious
beliefs which endanger his safety (Zax). He was passionate about discovering
truth which he knew would greatly benefit mankind.
Imagine
that apple before it fell from the tree. Before it fell it had to grow and
mature until it was ripe enough for its eventful harvest. Ideas are very
similar to this apple; just like the apple ideas have to develop and then fall
meteorically from our minds. All minds have the same potential to be filled
with knowledge. Knowledge which then builds into creative networks of possible
random ideas waiting for the right questions to be asked. This is shown within science
and the lives of famous intelligent people; who mastered the secrets of being
better prepared to produce ideas. Ideas
do not only easily come by chance to a certain group of people. Ideas are
created by everyone who labors for knowledge. While exploring big ideas a
pattern of determination, hard work, passion, and vast knowledge has fueled
some of the greatest intuitive thoughts.
Works
Cited
Brown, James Robert
and Fehige, Yiftach, "Thought Experiments", The Stanford Encyclopedia of
Philosophy (Fall 2014
Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL =
<http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2014/entries/thought-experiment/>.
Cort, Julia, prod. "How
Smart Can We Get?" NOVA ScienceNOW. WGBH Educational Foundation. 24
Oct. 2012. NOVA. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.
"Einstein Thought
Experiments." NOVA (1997): n. pag. 9 Sept. 1997. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.
Gefter, Amanda. "Newton's
Apple: The Real Story." Culture Lab (2010): 1-2. New Scientist.
Web. 28 Oct. 2015.
Jesper. "Inside Your Brain:
When You Get A Creative Idea." Web log post. Come To Know. N.p., 17
June 2013. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.
Krauss, Susan. "Building a
Better Brain: Strengthening Your Mental Muscle." (n.d.): n. pag. Psychology
Today. 6 Apr. 2010. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.
"Louis
Pasteur." 2015. The Famous People website. Oct 30 2015, 08:58
Tobak, Steve. "10 Behaviors
of Smart People." Entrepreneur 16 Apr. 2015: n. pag. Web. 28 Oct.
2015.
Walter, Isaacson. "How
Einstein Reinvented Reality." Scientific America 313.3 (2015):
38-45. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.
Zax,
David. "Galileo's Vision." Smithsonian. SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE,
Aug. 2009. Web. 30 Oct.
2015.
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