originality: illusion or very much alive?

[muchado22]

these days, originality is the key to success. but does it really exist? every "new" or original idea is most often prompted by the sight or thought of something that already exists. therefore, is the "new" idea still original? or is it merely an altered reproduction of what is already existent? to get deeper, can history be put in this category?

thoughts...

[Chester]

I would guess it's probably up to the observer and how attuned he or she is to the subtleties of the subject at hand, or how deep he or she wants to look. A snowflake is just another snowflake to one observer; a completely unique and original creation to another.

[jgweed]

f one were to consider thinking and knowledge as the inclusion of more and more perspectives, facts, and memory (individual and collective), then one could argue that novel ideas are the result of an insight that makes a new link between these clusters.
One might also, without being dogmatic about it, understand new ideas as the product of Hegel's triadic ( thesis, antithesis, and synthesis) in which two opposing ideas are contained in a third which somehow incorporates both even if negatively.

As communication has increased, we see that many novel ideas may be characterised as collective in origin. For example, one may point to the creation of computers and programming in which small increments of thinking were associated to make larger,then combined and recombined and dependent on technological advances themselves created by new ideas. Al Gore did not invent the Internet, but many contributors and their ideas, feeding one on another, did and changed the planet in which we live.

[blazeofglory]

We all are copycats and nothing else.

[NikolaiI]

"nothing is new, under the sun, all has been here since life begun"

however at the same time all is new, it is all, always new.

[R.A]

As I think, there is no originality at all... it's just a re-producing a certain idea... making it have another new context...maybe making for it a new shape, new name, or even new measures... but it will always be that "stolen" or "collected" from different contexts...

You may not have your ideas from great Scientist or philosophers, it may be simply your parents, and your family, friends..., etc. so the idea is not yours in origin, it's a "collective" one from different sources...but maybe one's way of dealing and presenting the idea, or the mythodolgy you follow to present it is what can be "original"..

[NikolaiI]

As I think, there is no originality at all... it's just a re-producing a certain idea... making it have another new context...maybe making for it a new shape, new name, or even new measures... but it will always be that "stolen" or "collected" from different contexts...

You may not have your ideas from great Scientist or philosophers, it may be simply your parents, and your family, friends..., etc. so the idea is not yours in origin, it's a "collective" one from different sources...but maybe one's way of dealing and presenting the idea, or the mythodolgy you follow to present it is what can be "original"..

One question I have or an idea that is begging attention, is the question of time. Things will change in the next few days, in the next few centuries and millenia here on Earth, but is our understanding of time correct? We are here first, and then later there will be things here "after" us. But....I don't know...this would be my reason for saying that it isn't new. Time is our illusion.

[clumsy angelle]

I think originality exists. Somehow, there has to be something wonderful within our thoughts or emotions that needs to be unleashed. Yeah, originality can be one key to success. The world itself has witnessed a lot and it needs to refresh itself with new ideas, new perspectives:)

[R.A]

One question I have or an idea that is begging attention, is the question of time. Things will change in the next few days, in the next few centuries and millenia here on Earth, but is our understanding of time correct? We are here first, and then later there will be things here "after" us. But....I don't know...this would be my reason for saying that it isn't new. Time is our illusion.

mm, well.... Time is another problem concerning originality... I don't know if someone can trace anything back to a definit point of time?? Can we do this? also originality and time are related to finding a truth.... Since you belive that there is no ultimate truth, then you surely must believe that there is no origin for anything... mm, another question comes to my mind now which is, is human original??

[Judas130]

I would guess it's probably up to the observer and how attuned he or she is to the subtleties of the subject at hand, or how deep he or she wants to look. A snowflake is just another snowflake to one observer; a completely unique and original creation to another.

aye, also, Humans and their genetic make is individually unique. There will never be one person to come, and never has been before, and isn't at present who is the SAME as you. you are completely original.

Though i assume you're referring to art and literature and media etc.

[blazeofglory]

One question I have or an idea that is begging attention, is the question of time. Things will change in the next few days, in the next few centuries and millenia here on Earth, but is our understanding of time correct? We are here first, and then later there will be things here "after" us. But....I don't know...this would be my reason for saying that it isn't new. Time is our illusion.

Both time and space are illusions, and Nirvana happens on the realization of this eternal truth. This is what the Vedas say.