What is a creative thinker?

A creative thinker is a person who can generate totally new ideas, not just ideas which are extensions of the ideas of others. The nature of and need for creative thought is extensively dealt with in the works of the English philosopher Edward de Bono. De Bono points out the need for creative thinking not only in academic situations but even more so in the world of business.

He brings out two major points about creative thinking:

1. Anyone can think creatively but it is much easier to follow along in the ruts your previous thinking has created. Thinking creatively is an effort.

2. New ideas, creative ideas, sound crazy at first and because they are new and not wholly thought through, they are easy to attack. In order to get the benefit of creative thinking you need to create an atmosphere in which it can grow.