Artist vs. Inventor

What is the difference between an artist and an inventor?  Some people clearly fall into one category or the other, but it is difficult to put others into just one category.  A person who is purely an artist creates something from materials already available to them.  They copy from either nature or their mind.  An inventor also uses materials already available to them, but they create something with a new purpose.  An inventor creates a new method to complete a task.  Inventors also find a solution to a physical problem whereas this does not really apply to artists.  Artists and inventors share many characteristics.  They both use what they have to create something unique.  Many artists are partly inventors by developing new methods to create their art and many inventors are artists in using their creativity.  In that sense, no one is just an 'artist' or just an 'inventor'.

Response to Raul Cuero's Interview About Creativity

Dr. Cuero presents many ideas about his take on creativity in an interview.  He states that ideas come from communicating with others, and he believes that today, many people do not get this essential communication.  He believes we spend too much time indoors instead of exploring nature and sharing ideas.  He says that children no longer create their own way of thinking, and they simply follow a preset guide that everyone follows.  In the United States, there is a lack of intellectual culture, where families do not discuss philosophy and other concerns.  Children only learn at school and even then, only learn to get a mechanical job which is limited in that no thinking is required.

I found that many of Dr. Cuero's arguments only considered one side of the issue.  While communication is a part of creating new ideas, there are many other inputs such as hard work and individual experience.  While many people do not spend much time outside, there have still been advancements and inventions.  While the education system streamlines a way for everyone to learn, it is still critical for people to develop their own way of thinking, but learning from other peoples' mistakes and research can act as a foundation to promote further thinking.