Creativity is the ability to form novel and valuable ideas or works using the imagination. Products of creativity may be intangible (e.g., an idea, a scientific theory, a literary work, a musical composition, or a joke) or a physical object (e.g., an invention, a dish or meal, an item of jewelry, a costume, or a painting). Creativity may also describe the ability to find new solutions to problems, or new methods of performing a task or reaching a goal. Creativity therefore enables people to solve problems in new or innovative ways.
Most ancient cultures, including Ancient Greece, Ancient China, and Ancient India, lacked the concept of creativity, seeing art as a form of discovery, rather than a form of creation. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, creativity was seen as the sole province of God, and human creativity was considered an expression of God's work; the modern conception of creativity came about during the Renaissance, influenced by humanist ideas.
Scholarly interest in creativity is found in a number of disciplines, primarily psychology, business studies, and cognitive science; however, it is also present in education, the humanities (including philosophy and the arts), theology, and the social sciences (such as sociology, linguistics, and economics), as well as engineering, technology, and mathematics. Subjects of study include the relationships between creativity and general intelligence, personality, neural processes, and mental health; the potential for fostering creativity through education, training, and organizational practices; the factors that determine how creativity is evaluated and perceived; and the fostering of creativity for national economic benefit. According to Harvard Business School, creativity benefits business by encouraging innovation, boosting productivity, enabling adaptability, and fostering growth.
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