Self-transformation of personality in the creative process

Abstract

The phenomenon of human self-transformation in the process of generating entirely new meanings (e.g. the meanings that are not represented in the original concepts, even as an embryo) is considered. There is a methodological paradox: if some knowledge is absent in the previous level of representation, then how is it possible to produce something out of nothing? On the other hand, If if that knowledge is already present in some or other form at the previous stage, then it cannot be considered as entirely new one: it is rather the development of the something that already exists than the new entity that has never existed. It is shown that this paradox can be solved by means of the analysis of the nature of the sense and meanings in the context of the wholesome Human existence integrity. Such an analysis demonstrates that it is the researcher’s personality self-transforming, his/her shift away from the position of an outside observer in relation to the existing problem and in the transition to identification with it that plays a key role in the process of new meanings generating. The fundamental difficulties are revealed that are inherent to any attempt to represent non-dual holistic phenomena of insight thinking by such means of fundamental dual analysis tools as categorical thinking and natural language. Due to their focus on the sustainable, reproducible, universal in human practice, they are not very effective as a tool for creating or describing the unique. The investigation has been implemented in the framework of the state project «Epistemology of creativity: cognitive and socio-cultural dimensions».