Archimedes' Bathtub

by Perkins, David N.

• ISBN13: 9780393047950
• ISBN10: 0393047954
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-06-01
• Publisher: W W Norton & Co Inc

Summary

A brain-teasing, brain-pleasing look at the often-hidden mechanisms of innovation. From Archimedes' discovery of the principle of water displacement while taking a bath to Einstein's Theory of Relativity, from Brunelleschi's development of perspective drawing to the Impressionist revolution, from the taming of fire to the creation of the laser, "breakthrough thinking"--that is, a sudden, seemingly unaccountable moment of inspiration--has shaped and advanced civilization. But Nature invents, too--through evolutionary watersheds like vertebrate mammals and formerly grounded creatures making the leap to flight. How, then, does breakthrough thinking really work? What, if anything, does human invention have in common with biological evolution? In this sly tour de force of deep analysis and practical exercises, David Perkins explores the common logic behind breakthroughs across many fields, historical periods, and evolutionary epochs. Drawing on a rich knowledge of artificial intelligence and cognitive psychology, Perkins offers a uniquely integrative theory of how breakthroughs occur, along with dozens of delightful mind puzzles and illustrations that will have you quizzing whoever happens to be nearest.

Author Biography

David Perkins received his Ph.D. in mathematics and artificial intelligence from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Since 1971, Perkins has served as co-director of Project Zero, a research group at the Harvard Graduate School of Education

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
I. The Idea of Breakthrough Thinking	1	(88)
Thinking like Leonardo	3	(21)
From Sufi Tales to James Bond Thrillers	24	(20)
The Logic of Lucking Out	44	(23)
Is There a Science of Breakthrough Thinking?	67	(22)
II. The Art of Breakthrough Thinking	89	(76)
Thinking's Big Bang	91	(19)
Clues for the Clueless	110	(18)
Walking through Walls	128	(17)
Anything but That	145	(20)
III. Mind, Brain, and Breakthrough Thinking	165	(64)
Breakthroughs on Trial	167	(12)
Is There a Mental Overdrive?	179	(18)
Presence of Mind	197	(16)
Knowing Too Much and Forgetting Enough	213	(16)
IV. Does Nature Think?	229	(42)
Evolution Breaks Through	231	(21)
Blind Minds and Smart Evolution	252	(13)
Why We're Stuck with Breakthrough Thinking	265	(6)
Notes	271	(12)
Permissions	283	(2)
Index	285