From Chaos... Comes Order

Would you believe them if they said Freedom is Constraint? 

"Route to Creativity: Following Bliss or Dots?"  
1999-09-07 by NATALIE ANGIER from "New York Times" [http://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/07/science/route-to-creativity-following-bliss-or-dots.html]:
To the roster of favorite oxymo rons that includes ''jumbo shrimp,'' ''military intelligence'' and ''healthy tan,'' a new report proposes a tart addition: ''artistic freedom.''
By the reckoning of three Israeli researchers, nothing imprisons the mind more thoroughly, nothing stifles inventiveness and artistry more brutally, than too much freedom, too much wiggle room for the imagination. Instead, they argue, the real source of productive creativity may lie in art's supposed bugaboos: rules, structure, even the occasional editor or two.
In an essay in the current issue of the journal Science, Dr. Jacob Goldenberg, Dr. David Mazursky and Dr. Sorin Solomon of Hebrew University in Jerusalem describe an algorithm, or formula, for creating new advertisements that is surprisingly simple, yet unnervingly effective. When they fed the algorithm into a computer, it generated advertising concepts judged more original and appealing than equivalent advertisements spawned by a group of humans who were told, in essence, to ''follow their bliss.''
The computer program demonstrates graphically what many creative people know intuitively: the land of the imagination is a country like any other, with laws, rituals and a tireless police corps that must be obeyed if one hopes to retain citizenship there.
Creativity, by this measure, is not some mystical, inchoate process, beyond analysis and delineation, but rather is composed of a series of distinct subroutines, which can be rallied repeatedly to churn out ideas that seem the opposite of routine.
The notion of creative thinking as amenable to parsing and replication is both cheering and disheartening: cheering because it means that just about anybody can learn to do it at least passably well, and disheartening for showing, once again, that even genius is so much meat in motion.
For their part, the researchers were interested less in philosophical matters than in practicality, in coming up with better techniques for stimulating creative thinking. They focused on advertising as a business that demands chronic novelty.
In their report, they describe experiments in which they deconstructed renowned advertisements and found that they often followed specific formulas, which they term templates. One of the commonest templates they found is the so-called replacement template.
For example, they considered a Nike ad, in which a group of firemen are standing around in a rescue pose, looking up as though someone was about to jump from a burning building into their net. In lieu of a net is a giant Nike sneaker, with copy boasting of how the new Nike walking shoes are ''very safe places to land.''
In this advertisement, the sneaker replaces an object whose most salient characteristic is ''cushioning.'' Indeed, the life net cushions a person from death itself.
Similarly, a series for Bally shoes shows various objects that symbolize freedom -- a beach, clouds in the sky -- in the shape of a foot, the implication being that the wearing of Bally shoes frees the wearer from cares, the rat race, bunions.
The researchers then translated principles of the replacement template into a simple program, and had a computer create a concepts designed to pitch different products. The computer did not generate real ads with all the visual flourishes, but simply came up with descriptions.
The researchers also asked people outside advertising and untrained in the replacement algorithm or other creativity techniques, to generate hypothetical ads for the same products. When shown to judges, both advertising professionals and outsiders, the advertisements from the computer were invariably ranked higher in creativity and originality than those from the laypeople. In fact, the computer's ads were rated with genuine ones from major magazines, and virtually on par with ones that had won major awards.
In one case, the computer, asked to design a campaign promoting the coming of the World Cup tennis tournament to Jerusalem, conceived of the notion of picturing a domed mosque with the texture of a tennis ball. The untrained humans could come up with nothing more thrilling than an image of the ancient walls of Jerusalem and ad copy announcing the tournament.
When asked to hawk the on-time performance of an airline, the computer program suggested an image of a cuckoo clock, with the emerging cuckoo in the shape of a plane. A human proposal: a picture of a family running through the airport while one of the parents screams: ''Let's run, this airline is right on time.'' (And no O. J. Simpson in sight!)
Dr. Goldenberg and Dr. Mazursky, who are in the school of business, and Dr. Solomon, of the physics department, designed the program to counter a hoary principle in creativity theory that the most original ideas are born of utter freedom, a shifting of paradigms, a circling of the square, a streaming of consciousness, a squelching of the internal editor. Instead, they argue, their work on templates indicates that constraining options and focusing thought in a specific, rigorous and discerning direction may yield comparatively fresher results.
''To suspend criticism and think any idea is possible or good may ultimately be destructive to creativity,'' said Dr. Goldenberg. The researchers emphasized that their work has scant relevance to the science of artificial intelligence, and that they have no interest in proving computers to be potentially more creative than humans, HAL with a beret and ponytail. Instead, they are seeking to mimic the way people solve problems or create ideas, and then describe the process thematically. When taught the algorithms, they said, lay humans will match and often outperform the machine.
''Humans can criticize themselves, and computers can't,'' said Dr. Mazursky. ''As Oscar Wilde said, imagination is imitative -- the real innovation lies in criticism.''
The researchers also said that the algorithms they designed for advertising would not necessarily work outside the domain of advertising.
''We are not studying just creativity, but creativity in specific contexts,'' said Dr. Mazursky.
Some people in the creativity business found the new paper enlightening and amusing, and said it jibed with the premises of their approach to changing the mind's light bulb.
''Limits can be powerful motivator,'' said Roger von Oech, a creativity consultant for businesses and author of the best seller ''A Whack on the Side of the Head,'' published in its third edition last year by Warner Books. ''If you're given a really tight deadline and a small budget, you'll probably be more resourceful than if you have a ton of time and a limitless budget. Skyscrapers weren't invented by people with a lot of land, but by those who had to figure out how to build more offices on tight and incredibly expensive real estate.''
Mr. von Oech paraphrased Stephen Sondheim, who said that if someone asked him to write a song about the sea, he would be at sea himself; but ask him to write a ballad about a woman in a red dress in a lounge at three in the morning and falling off the bar stool in drunken sorrow, and he is inspired.
Mr. von Oech says that in his corporate seminars and training sessions, he gives his clients very specific tasks. Most of them are centered on humor, his belief being that, as he puts, ''there's a close relationship between the ha-ha of humor and the ah-ha of discovery.'' For example, he asks people to come up with offbeat mottoes for themselves or their companies, and he has stimulated some beauties. From the Bank of America group: ''Bank of America: Where you're never alone until you need a loan.'' From Microsoft: ''We're arrogant, and we should be.''
But other creativity researchers called the new Science paper something of an artful dodge. ''It wasn't very profound, and it didn't thrill me,'' said Dr. Mark A. Runco, editor of Creativity Research Journal and a professor of child and adolescent studies at California State University in Fullerton. ''For one thing, I'm not sure it was a fair test. Who are these judges of creativity? People aren't very good at judging creative ideas. Not even creative people are good at it.''
The poet Goethe, Dr. Runco pointed out, thought his study of optics to be his most important contribution to humanity, but today people read his poetry, not his science papers. Beethoven judged as his greatest composition a piece of music that practically nobody listens to anymore.
Nor was it fair to have given the human subjects complete freedom without any structure or template, he said. ''I can't think of anyone who would think that a completely open task or environment would be most conducive to creativity,'' Dr. Runco said. Instead, he explained, most researchers in creativity studies are seeking to understand the balance and interdynamics between structure and openness.
Joyce Wycoff, the founder of Innovation Network, a professional association of creativity consultants, and author of ''Mind Mapping'' (Putnam, 1991), believes the key to creativity is ''structure, but structure with permeability.'' Another essential factor, she said, is energy. ''People are never out of ideas,'' she said, ''but they may run out of energy.'' And in this arena, alas, the computer will always have us beat.

Insights into public research into psychic abilities

"Psychic: Discovering Your Psychic Potential and What To Do with It"
Hosted by Craig Weiler and David Metcalfe, 6 Sessions, Starting January 15
[http://evolverlearninglab.com/products/psi], from "Evolver Learning Lab" [onlinelearning@evolver.net]:
Explore your psychic potential with leading researchers in the field of parapsychology and anomalistic science.
Despite what debunkers would have you believe, many respected scholars, scientists and researchers feel that we’ve moved beyond proving that psi exists. Now it's time to start thinking about how to integrate psychic functioning into our daily lives. Are you ready to learn to live with psi?
How can you access your psychic potential?
What can you do to make your intuitions more reliable?
How can you use your psychic potential in everyday life?
If psychic potential exists in everyone, why do skeptics say there’s nothing to it?
In this unique course, you will reach a deeper understanding of your own psychic potential, discover what makes the psychic experience distinct, and benefit from the experiences of researchers and high functioning psychics who have paved the way for a new paradigm in consciousness.
Craig Weiler, of the Weiler Psi Blog, and David Metcalfe, Reality Sandwich contributing editor and “Psi in the News” columnist, have gathered together some of the leading thinkers in the field of of Parapsychology and Anomalistic Science to help you understand, integrate and learn to use the most recent research in this new frontier of psi. They include:
* James Carpenter, president of the Parapsychological Association and author of the groundbreaking theory of psi, "First Sight"
* Julie Beischel, PhD. Co-Founder and Director of Research at the Windbridge Institute, whose work investigates the therapeutic value of mediumship and the mysteries of discarnate communication
* Dan Booth Cohen and Emily Volden, pioneers of Systemic Constellations, a new form of therapy that assumes that consciousness is nonlocal
* Chris Carter, author of the authoritative book, "Science and Psychic Phenomena: The Fall of the House of Skeptics"
* William Bengston, author of “Energy Cure,” his memoir of researching hands-on healing in a rigorous, scientific environment
Through in-depth discussions of the latest findings, we’ll clear up the misunderstandings that have arisen due to the skeptical sub-culture’s tenacious efforts to defend an outdated understanding of science. In this course, you will discover what contemporary research has to say about the physiology, psychology and social importance of psi experiences and how that applies directly to you and your daily life!
You’ll gain a better understanding of your own psychic potential by discovering exciting new theories on how psi really works.
You will be part of the discussion, able to ask your questions on camera, just like a Skype call. If you happen to miss a live session, you can view a video recording at any time. These sessions will be filled with provocative information, clear instruction, and practical advice from teachers who are among the world's leading experts in their respective fields.
Learn about:
* Working therapeutic programs that utilize psychic intuition and theories of non-local consciousness
* Fascinating experiments in non-invasive healing techniques
* War stories from the battle to keep research on psi objective to foster scientific progress
* Insights into the characteristics of high functioning psychics
* Research that explores the reality and social function of mediumship.
Join Craig, David and their guests, and explore what it means to live in a world where psychic abilities are a fact. Gain a new sense of human potential from some of the leading figures on the forefront of the next scientific and social revolution.
Over 5 weekly sessions, you will gain an essential grounding in all aspects of psychic ability. This is a fascinating way to gain a deeper understanding of the complex processes that allow you to navigate beyond space and time.

SCHEDULE -
January 15: "First Sight" Theory of Psi
Guest: James Carpenter

Psychic ability has always been deeply mysterious, often producing counter-intuitive and some seemingly contradictory results in the laboratory. Even people with psychic ability often find it difficult to explain how it comes about, and nearly impossible to figure out what exactly is going on.
Join James Carpenter in exploring the groundbreaking theory of psychic ability from his book, “First Sight.” In this session you’ll be introduced to his meticulous research and important concepts that get to the heart of what psychic ability is.
“First Sight” refers to the theory that psychic ability is “on” all the time but that it is not necessarily used during ordinary thought processes. Different factors, such as level of ambiguity, personality type, mode of thinking and type of problem being addressed all affect whether a person is likely to access their psychic ability. It is a complex but intuitive process, one that Jim has worked out in fascinating detail.
James Carpenter, PhD, is a clinical psychologist (Board Certified, ABPP) and parapsychologist. He has over 30 years of active experience as a psychotherapist, educator and researcher. His involvement in parapsychology dates back to his undergraduate days at Duke in the mid-'60's when he became associated with the Parapsychology Laboratory there. He has published numerous articles and book chapters since.

January 22: The Energy Cure
Guest: William Bengston

William Bengston’s studies on healing mice with incurable cancer was nothing short of amazing. Here was laboratory proof of miraculous healing. And some of the healers were skeptics!
Join William Bengston as he talks about how he came to be a healer and shares some tidbits about his technique. In this session you’ll be introduced to his research, some of the obstacles along the way and the remarkable results he’s achieved.
Bill's "Energy Cure” is as fascinating for what it doesn’t cure as what it does. Not everything can be healed, which gives some fascinating insights into the mind/body connection. His clinical observations over the course of years of healing have led him to conclusions that are sure to provide food for thought.
William Bengston is a professor of sociology at St. Josephs College in New York, U.S.A. He received his Ph.D. from Fordham University, New York, in 1980. His "day job" areas of specialization include research methods and statistics. He has publications in the Journal of Scientific Exploration, the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, and Explore. In addition, he has lectured widely throughout the United States and Europe. Bill has been a member of the Society for Scientific Exploration (SSE) since 1999, and currently serves as President of the organization.

January 29: Systemic Constellations
Guests, Dan Booth Cohen, with Emily Volden

Dan Booth Cohen and Emily Volden are practitioners of Systemic Constellations. This approach to therapy uses non-local consciousness to understand relationships, past and present, both damaging and beneficial and use that information for healing and well being. The constellation refers to ourselves, our relations and our ancestors, (some of whom may be in the distant past) all of whom have had a role in shaping who we are. We may be carrying the emotional burdens of slavery or war generations later, or be carrying on a tradition of healing that extends back hundreds of years within the family.
Join Dan and Emily as they present this unique system that has proved useful in helping thousands of people. By understanding how we are connected to so many people in so many ways, we can expand our understanding of what our non-local consciousness is really like, and what the ramifications of it are. This helps us understand our own experiences better, which reduces second guessing of our psi experiences. It makes them more “real.”
Dr. Dan Booth Cohen has been involved in Constellation work since 2000. He is certified as a facilitator and trainer by the German Association for Systemic Constellations (DGfS). He has published numerous articles and book chapters about Constellations. Among these are Family Constellations: An Innovative Systemic Phenomenological Group Process From Germany (2006).

February 5: Dealing with Skepticism
Guest: Chris Carter

There have always been skeptics and there always will be skeptics. Like it or not, they are the part of the big picture. We encounter them in our daily lives and we encounter them on line; they are quoted in newspapers and they rule Wikipedia. They can also be found in the sciences poisoning the well against research in parapsychology. Who are these people and why do they spend so much time and effort denying something so obvious?
Understanding skeptics can clear away the negativity that they generate and free us to no longer be disturbed by them. It is not enough to simply avoid them, we have to understand why they do what they do and learn to gracefully rebut them. The era of the skeptic is fast drawing to a close and we all need to do our part to speed that process up.
Not all skeptics are the same. They are people and people are complicated. But there is definitely a personality profile and they also have pressure group organizations and their own set of salacious scandals. It’s eye opening to see how the skeptics operate. Join Chris as we explore what makes a person a skeptic and how to deal with it when you encounter it.
Chris Carter received his undergraduate and master's degrees from the University of Oxford. The author of Parapsychology and the Skeptics, Science and the Psychic Phenomena: The Fall of the House of Skeptics, and Science and the Near Death Experience. Carter is originally from Canada and currently lives in Venezuela.

February 12: The Message of Mediumship
Guest: Julie Beischel

One of the most contested areas of anomalistic science is the realm of mediumship -- particularly claims of communicating with those who have died. Since the dawn of civilization, mediums have played decisive roles in the cultural conversation, yet the process of mediumship remains unclear and uncertain. The pioneering and controversial work of Dr. Gary Schwartz has caused some scientists to recognize that mediumship may hold the key to a deeper understanding of human consciousness and how relationships often affect us beyond the veil of death.
Is there any way to verify mediumistic claims? Is there any therapeutic value to mediumship and potential after-life communications? How can we assess a ‘good’ medium from a ‘bad’ medium when we don’t even know, really, what mediums are doing?
Julie Beischel’s work with the Windbridge Institute has sought to answer these questions, and to open up new areas of inquiry into this perplexing phenomena. Join us as we discover what we know, and don’t know about mediumship, and how these understandings can help us to better understand our own relationship to mortality.
Julie Beischel, PhD, Co-Founder and Director of Research at the Windbridge Institute, holds a BS in Environmental Sciences (1996) from Northern Arizona University and a PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology with a minor in Microbiology and Immunology (2003) from the University of Arizona (UA). Dr. Beischel served as the William James Post-doctoral Fellow in Mediumship and Survival Research and Co-Director of the VERITAS Research Program at the UA. When the funding for mediumship research at the UA ended and that research program closed, Dr. Beischel moved the research and the screening and training of prospective research mediums to the Windbridge Institute in January of 2008.

February 19: The Psychic Personality
Featuring Co-Host Craig Weiler

When we think of psychic ability, we normally think of professional psychics, but the truth is that many people are psychic who have never given a reading, done a healing or a remote viewing. Most people who are psychic just have occasional experiences that indicate that something is different about them. They are right. Depending on the measure you use, there is roughly between one and three truly psychic person for every hundred people.
It is amazingly helpful to understand the personality traits that go along with being psychic. I have received hundreds of comments on my blog from people whose lives were improved by understanding what was going on and how they were different.
Psychic ability is not distributed randomly in the population. Some people are way more psychic than others and certain personality traits contribute more to psychic ability than others. The traits that make people psychic also affect their outlook on life and their ability to choose certain careers, their love life, their ability to make friends and a host of other things.
Some of the traits psychic people are likely to have are being highly sensitive to emotions, environmental factors and physical stimuli. Being an intuitive, feeling person as measured on the Myer Briggs Type Index. Being introverted, not liking crowds, avoiding confrontation, creativity and many many more.
Join Craig as he presents the research of the handful of scientists who have explored this topic. He will also touch on how this changes the debate and the social implications of having and identifying psychic personality types.


About Our Hosts -
Craig Weiler is a writer, speaker and longtime blogger on the science, the skepticism and the psychics. A graduate of U.C. Berkeley, Craig is finishing his book on the TED controversy while running his small successful construction business.
Craig is a psychic person, but easily absorbs and writes about science and social issues as well as spiritual ones. Plain spoken and straightforward from years of experience at running a business as well as public speaking, Craig takes the complicated details and presents them in an understandable fashion. Craig has had an eclectic mix of interests over the years including acting, filmmaking, painting and writing and also built his own house.
Craig began his spiritual path during the New Age movement, teaching and practicing psychic healing, but found that it wasn’t a good enough business. He does not follow any particular teachings, rather he explores a very westernized mixture of science and spirituality.


David Metcalfe is a researcher, writer and multimedia artist focusing on the interstices of art, culture, and consciousness. He is a contributing editor for Reality Sandwich, The Revealer, the online journal of NYU’s Center for Religion and Media, and The Daily Grail. He writes regularly for Evolutionary Landscapes, Alarm Magazine, Modern Mythology, Disinfo.com, The Teeming Brain and his own blog The Eyeless Owl. His writing has been featured in The Immanence of Myth (Weaponized 2011), Chromatic: The Crossroads of Color & Music (Alarm Press, 2011) and Exploring the Edge Realms of Consciousness (North Atlantic/Evolver Editions 2012). Metcalfe is an Associate with Phoenix Rising Digital Academy, and is currently co-hosting The Art of Transformations study group with support from the International Alchemy Guild.