The importance of imagination: We Need Imagination Now More Than Ever
Opinion | Imagination Is More Important Than You Think
Opinion|The Awesome Importance of Imagination
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/11/opinion/imagination-empathy.html
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Opinion
David Brooks
Credit…Lilly McElroy, courtesy Rick Wester Fine Art, NYC
Plato and Aristotle disagreed about the imagination. As the philosopher Stephen Asma and the actor Paul Giamatti pointed out in an essay in March, Plato gave the impression that imagination is a somewhat airy-fairy luxury good. It deals with illusions and make-believe and distracts us from reality and our capacity to coolly reason about it. Aristotle countered that imagination is one of the foundations of all knowledge.
One tragedy of our day is that our culture hasn’t fully realized how much Aristotle was correct. Our society isn’t good at cultivating the faculty that we may need the most.
What is imagination? Well, one way of looking at it is that every waking second your brain is bombarded with a buzzing, blooming confusion of colors, shapes and movements. Imagination is the capacity to make associations among all these bits of information and to synthesize them into patterns and concepts. When you walk, say, into a coffee shop you don’t see an array of surfaces, lights and angles. Your imagination instantly coalesces all that into an image: “coffee shop.”
Neuroscientists have come to appreciate how fantastically complicated and subjective this process of creating mental images really is. You may think perception is a simple “objective” process of taking in the world and cognition is a complicated process of thinking about it. But that’s wrong.
Perception — the fast process of selecting, putting together, interpreting and experiencing facts, thoughts and emotions — is the essential poetic act that makes you you.
For example, you don’t see the naked concept “coffee shop.” The image you create is coated with personal feelings, memories and evaluations. You see: “slightly upscale suburban coffee shop trying and failing to send off a hipster vibe.
” The imagination, Charles Darwin wrote, “unites former images and ideas, independently of the will, and thus creates brilliant and novel results.”
Furthermore, imagination can get richer over time. When you go to Thanksgiving dinner, your image of Uncle Frank contains the memories of past Thanksgivings, the arguments and the jokes, and the whole sum of your common experiences. The guy you once saw as an insufferable blowhard you now see — as your range of associations has widened and deepened — as a decent soul struggling with his wounds. “A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees,” William Blake observed.
Can you improve your imagination? Yes. By creating complex and varied lenses through which to see the world. The novelist Zadie Smith once wrote that when she was a girl she was constantly imagining what it would be like to grow up in the homes of her friends.
“I rarely entered a friend’s home without wondering what it might be like to never leave,” she wrote in The New York Review of Books.
“That is, what it would be like to be Polish or Ghanaian or Irish or Bengali, to be richer or poorer, to say these prayers or hold those politics. I was an equal-opportunity voyeur. I wanted to know what it was like to be everybody. Above all, I wondered what it would be like to believe the sorts of things I didn’t believe.”
What an awesome way to prepare the imagination for the kind of society we all now live in.
Zora Neale Hurston grew up by a main road in Eatonville, Fla. As a young girl she’d walk up to carriages passing by and call out, “Don’t you want me to go a piece of the way with you?” She’d get invited into the carriage, have a conversation with strangers for a while and then walk back home.
These kinds of daring social adventures were balanced, in Hurston’s case, and in the case of many people with cultivated imaginations, with long periods of reading and solitude and inner adventures in storytelling. “I lived an exciting life unseen,” Hurston later recalled.
A person who feeds his or her imagination with a fuller repertoire of thoughts and experiences has the ability not only to see reality more richly but also — even more rare — to imagine the world through the imaginations of others. This is the skill we see in Shakespeare to such a miraculous degree — his ability to disappear into his characters and inhabit their points of view without ever pretending to explain them.
Different people have different kinds of imagination. Some people mainly focus on the parts of the world that can be quantified. This prosaic form of pattern recognition can be very practical. But it often doesn’t see the subjective way people coat the world with values and emotions and aspirations, which is exactly what we want to see if we want to glimpse how they experience their experience.
Blake and others aspired to the most enchanted form of imagination, which as Mark Vernon writes in Aeon, “bridges the subjective and objective, and perceives the interior vitality of the world as well as its interconnecting exteriors.
” This is van Gogh painting starry nights and Einstein imagining himself riding alongside a light beam.
Imagination helps you perceive reality, try on other realities, predict possible futures, experience other viewpoints. And yet how much do schools prioritize the cultivation of this essential ability?
What happens to a society that lets so much of its imaginative capacity lie fallow? Perhaps you wind up in a society in which people are strangers to one another and themselves.
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David Brooks has been a columnist with The Times since 2003. He is the author of “The Road to Character” and, most recently, “The Second Mountain.
” @nytdavidbrooks
A version of this article appears in print on , Section A, Page 22 of the New York edition with the headline: The Awesome Importance of Imagination. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe
The Importance of Imagination in Creating Change – Leading Differently
Image by Alexandr Ivanov from Pixabay
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”
Albert Einstein
Humans will never fly. Television is just a fad. Who would ever need a computer in their home, much less carry one around wherever they go? Some people have trouble picturing a different future. Imagination allows you to see changes that others cannot. It can also help to forge a path to those changes.
So many of the topics that I have written about here illustrate the importance of imagination. Having an imagination is essential. Imagination helps turn ideas into actions. It is a key to problem solving. You have to be able to imagine a solution to a problem you are trying to solve.
The ability for any group of people in search of a better quality of life, to create a shared vision of what changes they will have to work toward, requires imagination. Maintaining the hope, or the expectation that your shared vision is possible requires that you be able to imagine a better world. When you ask someone to keep their “eyes on the prize,” you are reminding them to imagine that improved life.
One way to discover creative strategies and solutions is to seek out creative people. Who is creating art in your community? Who is managing to do great work with seemingly very few assets? The most imaginative people may not be in your usual circle of acquaintances. You may have to look at the margins. Find the people who are otherwise invisible. Find these imaginative people and listen to what they have to offer. As George Bernard Shaw put it, “Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will.
” (For more on creativity and leadership see, “Traditional Versus Creative Leadership.”)
If imagination is so important, why is it then that so many people say that they don’t really have much imagination? This isn’t a problem with children. Kids will frequently remind you of their capacity to imagine. They also often turn that imagination into creative works. Many adults, however, apparently lose their imagination mojo.
In the 1940s an advertising executive named Alex Osborn (He’s the guy who coined the term, ‘brainstorming’), recognized that this lack of adult imagination was a problem, so he came up with something he called, “creative problem solving.” The idea is that imagination can be cultivated and nurtured. You can read more about it here.
I have written previously that the world is not simply made up of two groups: your allies, and those opposed to your ideas. A great number of people are simply unaware that your issue is even a problem. The need to attract attention to the change that you are trying to create requires imagination.
With all the ideas competing for our attention, imaginative, fresh messages stand a better chance of being heard.
More Resources
The Importance Of Imagination – Tao de Haas
6 Proven Benefits of Being More Imaginative – Mental Floss
This is how to harness the power of human imagination for social change – World Economic Forum
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Author johnhamerlinckPosted on Categories Creativity, InnovationTags creativity, imagination, vision
25. The role of imagination in human life:
Imagination
—
it is a process of creative transformation
representations reflecting the real
reality, and creation on this
based on new ideas missing
previously.
Types
imagination:
Active
imagination
– using it, a person by an effort of will,
voluntarily summons
corresponding images.
Passive
imagination
– his images arise spontaneously, in addition to
the will and desire of man.
Productive
imagination
– it contains reality consciously
designed by man, not just
mechanically copied or recreated.
But at the same time, in the image she is still creative
is converted.
Reproductive
imagination
– the task is to reproduce
reality as it is,
and although there is also an element
fantasy, such imagination is more
resembles perception or memory than
creation.
B
human life imagination performs
a number of specific functions:
-
Consists of
to represent
reality
in images and be able to use
them by solving problems. This function of the imagination
associated with thinking and organically in
it is enabled. -
C stop
in regulation
emotional states .
With the help of his imagination, a person
can at least partly satisfy
many needs, shoot generated
them tension.
This vital
important function is emphasized
and developed in psychoanalysis. -
Tied
with his participation
in arbitrary regulation of cognitive
human processes and states ,
in particular perception, attention,
memory, speech, emotions. With skillfully
evoked images a person can
pay attention to relevant events.
Through images he gets
ability to control perception
memories, statements. -
Consists of
in
formation of an internal action plan
– the ability to perform them in the mind,
manipulating images. -
Consists of
in
planning and programming
activities ,
drawing up such programs, evaluating them
correctness, implementation process.
This vital C
with the help of imagination we can manage
many psychophysiological states
body, tune it to the upcoming
activity.
Thanks
imagination man creates, intelligently
plans its activities and manages
her. Imagination takes a person
the limits of his momentary existence,
reminds him of the past, opens
future.
With a rich imagination
a person can – “live” in different times,
that no one can afford
another living being in the world. Past
fixed in memory images,
arbitrarily resurrected by an effort of will,
the future is represented in dreams and fantasies.
Imagination
is the basis of visual-figurative
thinking that allows a person
navigate the situation and decide
tasks without direct intervention
practical actions. It is in many ways
helps him in those cases of life when
practical actions or impossible,
or difficult, or simply impractical.
Imagination
–
it is a process of creative transformation
representations reflecting the real
reality, and creation on this
based on new ideas missing
previously.
Functions
imagination:
1.
Representation
reality in images ,
which makes it possible to use
performing imaginary operations
items.
2.
Formation
internal action plan
(creating an image of the goal and finding
ways to achieve it) under conditions
uncertainty.
3 .
Participation in voluntary regulation
cognitive processes (control
memories).
4.
Regulation
emotional states
(in auto-training, visualization,
neuro-linguistic programming
and etc.).
5.
Base
for creativity a
– as artistic (literature,
painting, sculpture), and technical
(invention)
6.
Creation
images ,
corresponding to the description of the object (
when a person tries to imagine
something he has heard or read about).
7.
Production
images ,
who do not program, but replace
activity (pleasant daydreams that replace
boring reality).
Imagination
can be of four main types:
Active
imagination
– characterized
the fact that, using it, a person
by will, by will
evokes appropriate images.
An active imagination is a sign
creative personality type
constantly testing his inner
opportunities and spiritual values.
Her
mental activity is supraconscious,
intuitive.
Passive
imagination
is that his images
arise spontaneously, against the will and
man’s desires. passive imagination
may be unintentional and
deliberate. unintentional
passive imagination occurs when
weakening of consciousness, psychosis,
disorganization of mental activity,
in a semidrowsy and sleepy state. At
deliberate passive imagination
man arbitrarily forms images
escape from reality-dreams.
Personally created surreal
peace is an attempt to replace the unfulfilled
hope to make up for the heavy loss,
relieve mental trauma. This kind
imagination testifies to the deep
intrapersonal conflict.
Productive
imagination
– differs in that it contains reality
deliberately designed by man
and not just mechanically copied or
is being recreated. At the same time, in the image of this
reality is creatively transformed.
This kind of imagination underlies
artistic, literary, musical,
design and scientific activities.
Reproductive
imagination
– when using it, the task is set
reproduce reality as
what it is, and although here also
There is an element of fantasy
imagination is more like perception
or memory than creativity. For example,
when reading literature, when studying
maps of the area or historical
descriptions, the imagination recreates what
what is displayed in these books, maps,
stories.
Others
types of imagination:
Dreams
can be classified as passive
involuntary forms of imagination.
Their true role in human life
still not installed though
it is known that in human dreams
find expression and satisfaction
many vital needs
who, for a number of reasons, cannot
get realization in life. Hallucinations
called fantastic visions, not
having, apparently, almost no
connection with the human environment
reality. They are usually the result
any mental disorder or
body work – accompany many
painful conditions.
Dreams
unlike hallucinations, this is quite
normal mental state
which is a fantasy
with desire, often several
idealized future.
Dream
from daydreaming
differs in that it is somewhat
more realistic and more
connected with reality, i.e. V
principle feasible.
General description of imagination and its role in human mental activity.
Imagination is a special form of the human psyche, standing apart from other mental processes and at the same time occupying an intermediate position between perception, thinking and memory.
Imagination is a mental process that consists in the creation of new images (representations) by processing the material of perception and representations obtained in previous experience.
The specificity of this form of mental process lies in the fact that imagination is probably characteristic only of a person and is strangely connected with the activity of the organism, being at the same time the most “mental” of all mental processes and states (since the ideal and mysterious nature of the psyche is not manifested in anything other than imagination).
It can be assumed that it was the imagination, the desire to understand and explain it, that drew attention to psychic phenomena in antiquity, supported and continues to stimulate it in the present day.
The mystery of this phenomenon: until now, we know almost nothing about the mechanism of imagination, about its anatomical and physiological basis. Where is imagination located in the human brain? With the work of what nervous organic structures known to us is it associated? We have almost no concrete answers to these important questions. In any case, we can say much less about this than, for example, about sensations, perception, attention, memory, etc.
Imagination is of great importance in a person’s life, it affects his mental processes and states, and even the body. Thanks to the imagination, a person creates, intelligently plans his activities and manages them. Almost all human material and spiritual culture is a product of people’s imagination and creativity. Imagination takes a person beyond the limits of his momentary existence, reminds him of the past, opens the future.
With a rich imagination, a person can “live” at different times, which no other living being in the world can afford. The past is fixed in images of memory, arbitrarily resurrected by an effort of will, the future is presented in dreams and fantasies.
Imagination is the basis of visual-figurative thinking, which allows a person to navigate the situation and solve problems without the direct intervention of practical actions. It helps him in many ways in those cases of life when practical actions are either impossible, or difficult, or simply inappropriate.
Imagination differs from perception in that its images do not always correspond to reality, they contain elements of fantasy, fiction. If the imagination paints such pictures to the consciousness, to which nothing or little corresponds in reality, then it is called fantasy. If, in addition, the imagination is aimed at the future, it is called a dream.
Types of imagination:
Passive imagination: images arise spontaneously, in addition to the will and desire of a person (dreams, daydreams).
Active imagination: characterized by the fact that, using it, a person, at his own request, by an effort of will, calls up appropriate images in himself. Images of passive imagination arise spontaneously, in addition to the will and desire of a person.
Productive imagination: it differs in that in it reality is consciously constructed by a person, and not just mechanically copied or recreated. But at the same time, in the image it is still creatively transformed.
Reproductive imagination: the task is to reproduce reality as it is, and although there is also an element of fantasy, such imagination is more like perception or memory.
Fantastic visions that have almost no connection with the reality surrounding a person are called hallucinations. Usually they – the result of mental disorders or the work of the body – accompany many painful conditions.
Dreams, unlike hallucinations, are a completely normal mental state, which is a fantasy associated with desire, most often somewhat idealized.
A dream differs from a daydream in that it is somewhat more realistic and more connected with reality, i.e. in principle feasible. Dreams and dreams of a person take up quite a large part of the time, especially in youth. For most people, dreams are pleasant thoughts about the future. Some also have disturbing visions that give rise to feelings of anxiety, guilt, and aggressiveness.
Imagination functions:
Representation of reality in images and the ability to use them when solving problems. This function of imagination is connected with thinking and is organically included in it.
Regulation of emotional states. With the help of his imagination, a person is able to at least partially satisfy many needs, to relieve the tension generated by them.
Participation in the voluntary regulation of cognitive processes and human states, in particular perception, attention, memory, speech, emotions.
Formation of an internal plan of action – the ability to carry them out in the mind, manipulating images.
Planning and programming activities – drawing up programs, assessing their correctness, the implementation process.
The process of artistic creativity is primarily connected with the phenomenon of imagination in the practical activity of people. Thus, a direction in art called naturalism, as well as partly realism, can be correlated with reproductive imagination. It is well known that according to the paintings of I. I. Shishkin, botanists can study the flora of the Russian forest, since all the plants on his canvases are drawn with “documentary” accuracy. Works of democratic artists of the second half of the 19th century. I. Kramskoy, I. Repin, V. Petrov, for all their social sharpness, also represent a search for a form that is as close as possible to copying reality.
Thus, we encounter productive imagination in art in cases where the artist’s re-creation of reality by the realistic method does not suit him. His world is a phantasmagoria, irrational figurativeness, behind which are quite obvious realities.
The fruit of such an imagination is M. Bulgakov’s novel The Master and Margarita. Appeal to such unusual, bizarre images makes it possible to enhance the intellectual, emotional and moral impact of art on a person. Most often, the creative process in art is associated with active imagination: before imprinting any image on paper, canvas or music sheet, the artist creates it in his imagination, applying conscious volitional efforts to this. Less often, passive imagination becomes the impulse of the creative process, since “spontaneous” images, independent of the will of the artist, are most often the products of the creator’s subconscious work, hidden from him.
The work of the human imagination is, of course, not limited to literature and art. To no lesser extent, it manifests itself in scientific, technical, and other types of creativity. In all these cases fantasy as a kind of imagination plays a positive role.
There are individual, typological features of the imagination associated with the specifics of memory, perception and thinking of a person.
For some people, a concrete, figurative perception of the world may prevail, which internally appears in the richness and diversity of their fantasies. Such individuals are said to have an artistic type of thinking. By assumption, it is physiologically related to the dominance of the right hemisphere of the brain. Others have a greater tendency to operate with abstract symbols, concepts (people with a dominant left hemisphere of the brain).
A person’s imagination acts as a reflection of the properties of his personality, his psychological state at a given moment in time. The product of creativity, its content and form well reflect the personality of the creator. This fact has found wide application in psychology, especially in the creation of psychodiagnostic personality techniques. Personality tests of a projective type (Thematic Apperceptive Test – TAT, Rorschach test, etc.) are based on the projection mechanism, according to which a person in his imagination tends to attribute his personal qualities and states to other people.