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. This book will create awareness and tools to advance this concept.
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”
Commonplace books have a long tradition in women’s literature starting in Japan, 1002. The Pillow Book (枕草子, Makura no Sōshi) is a book of observations and musings recorded by Sei Shōnagon during her time as court lady to Empress Consort Teishi. In Europe, where women were excluded from formal higher education, they used the commonplace book to record intellectual references for self-education. Virginia Woolf educated herself by attending lectures and by reading her father’s library and commonplacing her ideas in notebooks.
While “ history is written by the victors and framed according to the prejudices and bias existing on their side.” (1891 Graham Vest) evidence about commonly held views on specific topics or the meanings of war could come from commonplace diaries and notebooks that soldiers from both sides used to record their thoughts.