Where do ideas come from?

Question

be serious,i do need a "rocket scientist" for this one.
ive gotten all the quipish answers already.

Answer 1

An excellent question! My answer is in two parts, and I believe there is truth in both parts.

The human brain is very good at pattern recognition and concept abstraction. We see some shapes and colors. It's not exactly the same as anything we have seen before. Almost instantly we recognize an instance of our concept of a tree. We are adept at problem solving. We see a stream we want to cross and begin searching the solution space for a satisfactory solution to this problem. If we find one we already know that meets our need, we apply it (a bridge, stepping stones...) but if we don't, then we begin applying our creativity. We calculate whether we can run fast enough and jump high enough to cross. We simultaneously process everything we know and bring to consciousness what might be applicable. Baking a roast at 350 degrees for 90 minutes doesn't apply, but we don't even realize we considered it. We emphasize things around us. We see a fallen tree trunk and recognize we could use it to solve our problem. That's an idea. We have trouble finding a mathematical solution to a physics problem. We postulate that these problems could be solved if the speed of light is constant, not relative to the observer. We have posed the theory of relativity.

The other part is summarized by the word 'inspiration' (put into place by a spirit). This could be the Spirit of God or a demonic, Satanic spirit. I know of no way to directly tell when this happens or where it came from. Therefore, we must test the idea against known truth and reality. The Bible teaches that God created man 'in His own image'. God is creative by nature, and has given man that same kind of creative capability. Some of that can be explained by what we know of the workings of the body and the mind (brain). Some cannot, and is best explained by the part of man that isn't body or mind, the spirit. This is why many say that no amount of technology will ever allow a computer to experience happiness or to love its mother.

When you use the tree trunk to cross the stream, mind and body seem to be an adequate explanation. When you pray for help, or contemplate where you came from, why you are here, or what is the meaning of life, you are going beyond body and mind.

Answer 2

I think you are using the word idea ambiguously.

One way to define idea is as a concept, as in the idea of a river. The ancients said that you do not step into the same river twice. The water flowing now was not here yesterday and will not be here tomorrow. Further, everyday the river changes ever so slightly as the soil moves about and the plants grow and die. The same area may be unrecognizable in a few years. And yet the area is recognized as a river. One explanation is that there is in our minds a working definition of river that we are applying, and since it matches with what we see, we conclude what we see is a river.

Another definition of idea is an original observation, or creative plan. This has to do with the workings of the mind, which digest what we perceive, is aware of what we need, and present the results of some evaluation. I will not say how the mind works, that is beyond our knowledge. But I will say such capacity exists, and that we all have seen it in action.

Answer 3

The foundation of our ideas is experience, our interaction with the physical world in which we exist. We create imaginary things from our experiences. The concept of winged horses comes from our real experiences with horses and winged animals. This is an empiricist view. There are those who have a rationalist view who believe we are born with “ideas.” But such a statement is a play on the word “idea.” If an idea is that which is constructed from experience then we need another word to describe that with which we are born. Once we put the word “idea” into both camps we are lost in confusion. This argument has been going on at least since Plato and Aristotle. Your question is important because currently you may find that this rationalist view is being taught in your school as it is in many schools in the country. One such example is the innateness hypothesis which permeates many texts and classes. Be alert and think for yourself.

Answer 4

Ideas are created by other ideas...

Your genetic information is an idea. It allows you to exist and come up with the idea for this question. The concept you might be drilling for is called the reverse entropy of information.
In this theory ideas become increasingly complex and organized and can be used to explain many things.

Answer 5

Ideas come from the mind. From the existing knowledge and creativity.

Answer 6

the main source of our idea is by what we are watching by eyes and then storied and processing in mind and later reiterative some of seance in dreaming