Session 1

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Video Index

  • Discussion of the structure and format of the course - no lectures, structured like a graduate seminar.
  • Anecdotes regarding how ideas are transmitted and received, and how old ideas can seed new ones (i.e. creativity).
  • Discussion of professor's "Nature of Love" trilogy: difference between bestowal and appraisal.
  • The Harmony of Nature and Spirit: The nature of imagination, and the nature of idealization.
  • Beethoven as an example of "mad genius" - the idea of genius/creativity as a work or channel of God. Is God the only creative being in the universe?
  • Koestler's idea of creativity as a function of bisociation, yoking together different matrices. Role of the unconscious - is creativity a function of dreams?
  • Discussion of Three Philosophical Filmmakers.
  • How does time affect learning and the ability to teach? Discussion of Professor's teaching style.
  • "Mute and Inglorious Miltons" - how many geniuses go undiscovered? How many never had the opportunity to bring out their genius?
  • Course Administrativa - discussion of course times and dates, Professor's index card system.

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