Experimental and Conceptual Innovators in the Sciences
The Cases of Darwin and Einstein
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 11253151 |
|---|---|
| Authors | David W Galenson (University of Chicago, corresponding author), Clayne L Pope (National Bureau of Economic Research) |
| Year | 2013 |
| Volume | 46 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 102-112 |
| Publication date | 2013-04-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Historical Methods A Journal of Quantitative and Interdisciplinary History (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0161-5440 • E-ISSN: 1940-1906 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/01615440.2012.719427 |
| OpenAlex | W2041378635 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 11 |
During the past decade, analyses of artistic creativity have demonstrated the contrast in creative life cycles between experimental old masters and conceptual young geniuses. This article extends the analysis to scientists. Charles Darwin was a great experimental innovator, who spent decades accumulating evidence on evolution and its mechanisms, and made his greatest contributions late in his career. In contrast, Albert Einstein was a great conceptual innovator, who made discoveries through highly abstract reasoning, and made his greatest contributions early in his career. The careers of these two great scientists are thus consistent with the thesis that, as in the arts, conceptual creativity is associated with youth, but experimental creativity increases with age
Aesthetics · Art · Charles darwin · Conceptual framework · Creativity · Darwin (ADL · Darwinism · Developmental psychology · Einstein · Entrepreneurship · Epistemology · Genius · Innovator · Physics · Political science · Social science · Sociology · The arts · Visual arts · Aesthetic Perception and Analysis · Engineering · Law · Philosophy · Philosophy and History of Science · Psychology · scientometrics and bibliometrics research · Social Psychology
| Citations per year | 0.1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2016 - 2016 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |