Meaning and the Drive to Create in Science
Gregory Feist | San Jose State University
26/06/2025 12:00
Sala Descubre/Online Teams. Edificio 8E. Acceso J - 4ª Planta | Universitat Politècnica de València. 46022 Valencia
Abstract: In this talk, I will examine the large-scale motives behind the drive to scientifically explore our world. I propose a theory of scientific and creative motivation rooted in the evolution of the brain and its basic function to make sense of sensory experience and to develop internal models of the world. This core function of the brain, in short, is to make sense of or provide meaning for our experiences. Meaning exists at multiple levels, from the sensory to the existential. One existential problem that drives human creativity is mortality—knowing we have a limited amount of time. In short, there are two main drives behind science: meaning and mortality. The drive to science is simply an extension of the need to know, to understand our world. I end the talk by briefly reviewing some of my research that has begun to explore these questions through “origin stories”, that is, scientists’ own personal stories about what drove them to become scientists.
Bio: Gregory J. Feist, a Professor of Psychology at San Jose State University, obtained his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley in 1991. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his significant contributions in the fields of creativity, personality, and the psychology of science. Notable acknowledgments include the William James Book Prize in 2007, awarded by the Division of General Psychology (Division 1), American Psychological Association (APA), for his book titled "Psychology of Science and the Origins of the Scientific Mind." In 2003, Feist received the Article of the Year Award from the Journal of Research in Personality for his paper, co-authored with Frank Barron, titled "Predicting creativity from early to late adulthood: Intellect, potential, and personality." Furthermore, he was honored with the Early Career Award from the Division for Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts (Division 10) of APA.
He served as the founding president of the International Society for the Psychology of Science and Technology (2007-2012), the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Psychology of Science & Technology, and the co-editor of Handbook of Psychology of Science. He is also a co-author of several textbooks on Introduction to Psychology and Theories of Personality. Feist’s research focuses on the psychological factors that influence creative achievement and scientific talent. He is particularly interested in the personality traits, cognitive styles, motivational orientations, and developmental pathways of creative scientists and artists. Currently, he is conducting a longitudinal study of the finalists of the Westinghouse and Intel Science Talent Search to examine how they develop into successful scientists.
Personal webpage: https://drivetocreate.weebly.com/
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