Conceptual spaces

Margaret A. Boden

pp. 235-243

in: Peter Meusburger, Joachim Funke, Edgar Wunder (eds), Milieus of creativity, Berlin, Springer, 2009

Abstract

Spaces exist in the mind as well as on land and sea. They cannot be seen, or traversed by ship or on foot, not even with seven-league boots. For they are abstract spaces, or styles of thinking. But although the geographer's methods of dealing with terrestrial space do not reliably apply to the conceptual realm, there are other methods with which to navigate, explore, and, occasionally, even transform them. In this sense, one has the advantage over the geographer: How many explorers of oceans and continents are able to change the nature of the territory they traverse?These mental spaces cover all domains of thought (and thoughtful action), from chemistry to choreography, from pottery to poetry. They enable us human beings to come up with ideas that are new, surprising, and valuable; they enable us to be creative.