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Where Good Ideas Come from

In: Computers and Technology

Submitted By timmyn
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Introduction

Where Good Ideas come from. After viewing a video by Steven Johnson, he had a belief that good ideas began in 1650 when the first coffee house opened in Oxford named the Grand Café’. He used the notion that prior to the coffee house opening, people would use alcohol regularly which caused a block for creating good ideas. Because of this opening of the coffee house, people would gather and share ideas under a more sobering condition. As Steven Johnson stated, “It was a flowering of enlightenment.” People were not using alcohol as their depressant, but rather drinking coffee as a simulant which in turn equaled better ideas. There were discussions and debates on various topics. It was Kevin Dunbar who sought that ideas came from a conference room.

“People often credit their ideas to be individual “Eureka” moments.” But what is an idea? Are they an object or a concept? Or are they visionary thoughts within one’s mind? There are always different views to one word. An idea is a term which “I think, serves best to stand for whatsoever is the object of the understanding when a man thinks.” Or an idea is “an image or representation, often but not necessarily in the mind.” David Hume described an idea as an “impression.” Then Immanuel Kant’s definition says “ideas may not be completely realized.” There are so many ways to view one word that one person cannot be certain. I know I am certain in my idea. I am not a good writer.
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In Steven Johnson’s video, he uses a term called “The Slow Hunch.” It means that ideas tend to linger. Ideas take time to develop, sometimes years or even decades. In any case, he viewed an idea as a network. When all neurons fire in sync inside the brain. Although Rene Descartes defined an idea not necessarily coming from the mind, he did state “I think, therefore I am.” To me ideas are very important because they prove we

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