Creativity, Formula, and Constraint

Abstract This article identifies, explores, and resolves a tension between two common ideas about creativity. The first is that a project is less creative insofar as it adheres to a formula of some kind. The second is that a project’s being carried out within a set of constraints does not necessarily make it less creative. The tension arises from the fact that formulae and constraints operate in the same manner. They reduce the set of options for an agent undertaking some project. How could it be that reducing an agent’s options both does and does not make their project less creative? I resolve this tension by arguing that the first idea is false and should be replaced with the claim that a project is less creative insofar as the decisions that comprise it are dictated by a formula rather than being attributable to the agent. Finally, I employ a case study to demonstrate that there are ways in which formulae and constraints can diminish creativity and ways in which they can have no effect, or perhaps even enhance creativity.