Serendipity and creativity are both broad, widely disputed, and yet consistently popular concepts, relevant to understanding the positive aspects of our daily lives and even human progress in the arts and sciences. The chapters in this book reflects a variety of theoretical and practical approaches to serendipity in various domains, including creative problem solving, sculpture, writing, theatre and design. Chapter authors address issues such as the nature of the 'prepared mind', the role of accidents, serendipity as a skill or way of engaging with the world and, indeed, how serendipity works as a concept and in practice in relation to the dynamic flow of the creative system. Those who wish to explore the nature of chance in art and creativity, as well as in their daily lives, will find much to ponder in these pages. Wendy Ross is a Senior Lecturer at London Metropolitan University. Her main topic of research is the role of material serendipity in higher cognitive processes such as insight problem solving and creativity.

Samantha Copeland is an Assistant Professor in Ethics and Philosophy of Technology, at Delft University of Technology, and founding Co-Chair of the Serendipity Society. She works on ethical issues in transformative contexts, such as resilience planning and engineering, the development and application of emerging medical technologies, and transdisciplinary research.

Autorentext

Wendy Ross is a Senior Lecturer at London Metropolitan University. Her main topic of research is the role of material serendipity in higher cognitive processes such as insight problem solving and creativity.

Samantha Copeland is an Assistant Professor in Ethics and Philosophy of Technology, at Delft University of Technology, and founding Co-Chair of the Serendipity Society. She works on ethical issues in transformative contexts, such as resilience planning and engineering, the development and application of emerging medical technologies, and transdisciplinary research.   

Inhalt

Chapter 1: On Creativity and Serendipity.- Chapter 2: What's 'Inside' the Prepared Mind? Not Things, But Relations.- Chapter 3: Metis and the Art of Serendipity.- Chapter 4: Heteroscalar Serendipity and the Importance of Accidents.- Chapter 5: Space for the Unexpected, Serendipity in Immersive Theatre.- Chapter 6: Fostering Creative Opportunities by Embracing the Accidental within Practices of Making.- Chapter 7: Briefing for a Systemic Dissolution of Serendipity.- Chapter 8: Accident and Serendipity in Music Composition, Improvisation and Performance Art.- Chapter 9: The Anableps Guide to Serendipity: Intentional serendipity as creative encounter a decolonized, literary perspective.- Chapter 10: The Pleasure of Not Knowing and the Importance of Serendipity in Contemporary Art Practice.- Chapter 11: Problem solving, Incubation and Serendipity.- Chapter 12: Serendipity and Creativity in the Arts and Sciences: A Combinatorial Analysis.