Abstract

SCIENCE, CREATIVITY AND PLAYFUL GENIUS This essay analyzes play as a genuine expression of the spirit of childhood, characterized by curiosity and ability of thinking and creating: it links the boy to the scientist and to the artist. The thinking of Huizinga, author of Homo ludens, and of Freud, exegete of Schliemann, the playful disposition of Darwin and Fabre, the Einstein’s desire to remain children all life long, are in relation with the art of Klee and Hergé and the poetry of Saba and Fellini, and finally with the philosophy of Nietzsche.