John McCarthy
Computer Science Department
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305
jmc@cs.stanford.edu
http://www-formal.stanford.edu/jmc/
The idea is to chip a piece out of the problem of creativity by
defining a creative solution to a problem relative to the functions
and predicates used in posing the problem. The simplification comes
from not talking about the creativity of the problem solver but only
about the creativity of the solution.
Definition (informal): A solution to a problem is creative if it
involves concepts not present in statement of the problem and the
general knowledge surrounding it. Don't identify creativity with
difficulty although they are usually correlated.
Example: The mutilated checkerboard problem.
We also consider how to express concisely the idea of a solution.
Whether the expression is adequate is relative to the knowledge and
ability of the person or program to which the idea is expressed.