Imagination: A New Foundation for the Science of Mind.
Biological Theory January 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1007/s13752-022-00410-4 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractImagination is not merely a peripheral cognitive feature or a topic for aesthetic research but is instead the core operating system for human sense-making. This article argues that imagination has fundamental epistemic and therapeutic functions that ground all human cognitive activities. It offers a sketch of imagination as a form of embodied cognition and suggests ways to organize imagination studies into a more rigorous science-humanities research area, advocating for a stronger thesis than currently adopted in psychology and philosophy.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Affective neuroscience Creativity Embodied cognition Evolutionary psychology Imagination |
| Key finding | Argues that imagination is the core cognitive capacity for humans, with epistemic and therapeutic functions grounding all sense-making activities. |
Abstract
After a long hiatus, psychology and philosophy are returning to formal study of imagination. While excellent work is being done in the current environment, this article argues for a stronger thesis than usually adopted. Imagination is not just a peripheral feature of cognition or a domain for aesthetic research. It is instead the core operating system or cognitive capacity for humans and has epistemic and therapeutic functions that ground all our sense-making activities. A sketch of imagination as embodied cognition is offered, followed by suggestions of how to organize imagination studies into a more rigorous science-humanities research area.