Phenomenology and the Creative Process

Phenomenology and the Creative Process explores the subject of creativity from a vast range of perspectives. While the emphasis is placed on fundamental ideas taken from phenomenological philosophy and its precursors, the book also engages with related issues from the fields of psychology, physics, narrative studies, art, literature, cognitive science and neuroscience.

Author Steven L. Bindeman’s objective is to employ an analysis of creativity from the dual perspectives of "identity" and "difference," in order to develop a pluralistic and open-ended understanding of the creative process. His central position is that while creativity can and should be studied as a physical, measurable phenomenon, we need to integrate quantitative studies with a phenomenological perspective that enables us to appreciate the distinctive experiential features of creative activities in order to fully appreciate the complex nature of the creative process.

Bindeman’s approach is important in that it recognizes the value of phenomenological studies without being afraid to draw insights from other fields of inquiry.This book thus offers unique analysis of creative individuals and works, applying insights from phenomenological philosophers to enrich our understanding of the creative processes of great artists, philosophers, and scientists.

Steven L. Bindeman was Professor of Philosophy and Department Chairperson at Strayer University until his retirement in 2010. He earned his Ph.D. from Duquesne University in 1980. His teaching experience reflects not only his interest in philosophy and psychology, but in film and media studies, science fiction, world music, and comparative religion. He has published articles on Heidegger, Wittgenstein, Levinas, the creative process, and silence. He is the author of three books: Heidegger and Wittgenstein: The Poetics of Silence (1981), The Antiphilosophers (Peter Lang, 2015), and Silence in Philosophy, Literature, and Art (2017).