:Creativity in George Herbert Mead

Abstract

George Herbert Mead was undoubtedly one of America’s most creative social theorists, and his emphasis on temporality, emergence, process, and novelty place creativity at the core of his perspective. Thus, the 1969 symposium that this volume resulted from adopted a fitting standpoint from which to address Mead’s social philosophy. The introduction by Gunter, the featured essay by Miller, and the subsequent responses to Miller’s discussion which constitute nearly one-half o f the volume ambitiously attempt to explicate the place of creativity in the work of Mead. Due to the complexity and density of Mead’s legacy, it is often difficult for the novice to apprehend concepts and positions that are fundamental to an adequate understanding of Mead’s work. Segments of this volume provide succinct discussions of some difficult concepts and as a consequence could aid the comprehension of more intricate primary material and its interpretations. Gunter’s introductory statement provides a clear summary of the social nature of symbols, the relational and processual nature of mind and self, and the importance of role taking. The discussion of social behaviorism, as Mead used it, also has merit. A point in favor of that particular discussion is that it distinguishes Mead’s behavioristic standpoint from the “Off with their heads” behaviorism advocated by Watson. This is commendable in that the two positions are often equated, despite the fact that Mead explicitly rejected Watson’s psychological reductionism. Miller’s essay, which is the nucleus of the volume, also provides a compact and succinct discussion of central but intricate and complicated features of Mead’s work. In the beginning of his essay, he addresses the centrality of the social act. His discussion of the principle of sociality, which is an essential part of Mead’s theory, is particularly well stated and could serve as a foundation for grasping more elaborated and complete discussions of this focal concept.