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The Myth of Originality and How Interesting Thinking Actually Works

The article argues that originality is a myth, contending that all ideas are recombinations of existing knowledge. It suggests that true creativity arises from interdisciplinary mental scaffolding that creates unique constellations of influences. By recognizing that each person’s perspective is distinct among eight billion, the author urges focusing on building connections rather than chasing novelty. The piece uses Leonardo da Vinci as an example of leveraging multiple domains to generate insight.