Scott Alexander argues that creativity comes from mining external sources of 'noise' or 'disruption' rather than just thinking hard.
Longer summary
Scott Alexander explores the concept of creativity as a resource that needs to be mined from external sources of 'noise' or 'disruption'. He argues that creativity isn't just about thinking hard, but about finding ways to break out of our usual thought patterns. The post discusses various sources of this 'noise', including misunderstandings, cross-cultural studies, historical perspectives, and conversations with smart people who hold opposing views. Scott emphasizes the importance of seeking out these sources of disruption to expand our concept space and generate new ideas.
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