Lecture on July 15, 2025
Novelty from Co-Becoming and Engaging with Future Potentials—Rethinking Creativity in the Age of AI
Prof. Dr. Markus F. Peschl (Universität Wien)
About the lecture [poster]
Creativity and the generation of profound novelty have long been regarded as intrinsically human capabilities. Consequently, a vigorous debate has emerged concerning whether machine learning models and large language model (LLM)-driven AI can truly replicate or even replace these uniquely human faculties. In order to contribute to this debate, we need to take a fresh look at concepts such as (human) knowledge creation, creativity, and innovation by shifting the focus from traditional cognitivist approaches and a perspective of (re-)combining existing knowledge to the dynamic relationship between creative agents and their unfolding material and social environments. More recent, so-called 4E approaches from cognitive science (Newen et al., 2018) provide a sound theoretical framework for such a perspective by regarding cognition as being embodied, embedded, extended, and enacted.
An engaged epistemology is proposed (De Jaegher, 2021). It emphasizes the need for cognitive systems to be deeply entangled with their surroundings for effective sense-making and knowledge creation. By focusing on concepts such as co-becoming, correspondence (Ingold, 2022), resonance, and the (creative) agency of the world (Peschl, 2024), it will be shown how future potentials can guide the creative process by identifying, actualizing, and transforming them into purposeful novel knowledge and innovations. Based on these considerations we will critically explore which role AI can play in such a perspective on creative processes.
About the speaker
Markus F. Peschl is professor of cognitive science, innovation, and philosophy of science at the University of Vienna, Dept. of Philosophy & Vienna Cognitive Science Hub. His areas of research and expertise include innovation and alternative approaches to creativity, cognitive science (4E/enactive cognition), futures literacy, organizational theory and strategy, design, and spaces for knowledge- and innovation work. Working and having published extensively in the field of radical innovation, he has developed the concepts of Emergent Innovation and Enabling Spaces as a form of “socio-material-epistemic practice” in the context of an extended and enactivist approach to cognition. Markus Peschl is also co-founder of theLivingCore Knowledge and Innovation Architects.
For further details see: https://homepage.univie.ac.at/franz-markus.peschl/
photo credit: Markus F. Peschl
Tuesday, 15. July 2025, 18:15-19:45 (CEST)
Address for joining us on-site:
Flügelbau West, 2. OG, Raum W221
Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1
20146 Hamburg
