Commonplace Books

Neurodiversity

“When you go out into the woods, and you look at trees, you see all these different trees. And some of them are bent, and some of them are straight, and some of them are evergreens, and some of them are whatever. And you look at the tree and you allow it. You see why it is the way it is. You sort of understand that it didn’t get enough light, and so it turned that way. And you don’t get all emotional about it. You just allow it. You appreciate the tree. The minute you get near humans, you lose all that. And you are constantly saying ‘You are too this, or I’m too this.’ That judgment mind comes in. And so I practice turning people into trees. Which means appreciating them just the way they are.”

― Ram Dass

“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open.”

― Martha Graham

Commonplacing

Commonplacing (a way to compile knowledge, usually by writing information into books) and the creation of Commonplace Books (manuscripts in which an individual collects material which have a common theme) can be a useful tool for organizing knowledge to support Combinatorial Creativity in today’s digital age of information overload.

“Combinatory play seems to be the essential feature in productive thought.” (Einstein)

Cognitive scientists’ research shows that creative thinking can come from connecting disparate ideas that wouldn’t otherwise cross paths - but we no longer teach students to use tools that would facilitate this cross pollination of ideas.

COMMUNIS

"Commonplace" is a translation of the Latin term locus communis (from Greek tópos koinós, see literary topos) which means "a general or common topic", such as a statement of proverbial wisdom. In this original sense, commonplace books were collections of such sayings, such as John Milton's example. Scholars now understand them to include manuscripts in which an individual collects material which have a common theme, such as ethics, or exploring several themes in one volume. Commonplace books are private collections of information, but they are not diaries or travelogues.

Commonplacing in Education

The purpose of commonplacing, for education and the development of critical/creative thinking, can be traced from as early as 65 AD when Seneca taught that gathering information was not enough – it must be transformed into something new. Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, his private notes to himself and his ideas on Stoic philosophy were one of the first Commonplace Books when it was published in 180 AD. Commonplace Books were the information-organizers of Early Modern Europe and were an important element of Renaissance education. They were used to improve memory, connect thoughts for new knowledge and could be consulted for speeches and written composition. Erasmus advised in De Copia (1512) “an abundant stock of quotations and mizims from classical texts be entered under various Lock (places) to assist in free-flowing oratory”

Constellation Thinking

Combinatorial Creativity

Neurodiversity

Commonplacing

Commonplacing

COMMUNIS

Commonplacing in Education