Conclusion
This analysis has demonstrated the difficulties in viewing creativity in terms of personality or cognitive traits considered apart from products produced. The idea of creativity seems necessarily connected to that of actual creation, and so the claim that one can be creative without ever creating anything appears highly suspect, if not contradictory. This conclusion, however, casts doubt upon the attempt by contemporary educators to equate the fostering of creativity with the pursuit of personal growth and mental health. The interests of creativity are better served, I would claim, by the encouragement of high level achievement within particular disciplines and subject matters. In order to foster creativity, we must promote actual creating.
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Bailin, S. Can there be creativity without creation?. Interchange 15, 13–22 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01191861
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01191861