Imagination is borne of the body. It is what is most subtle in it. It indubitably comes from it for it is grounded in our senses (hence the body). Without a body, no imagination. Hey, do you realize "angels" don't have an imagination!? Hard to imagine, huh? :wink:It's a curious thing because imagination proceeds from the body and at the same time it seeks to separate itself from it.That's what imagination and virtuality are: a world that could exist but doesn't; a world that proceeds from reality but that is not reality.
There is an affective virtuality, a mathematical virtuality, a scientific virtuality, an artistic virtuality. It is because this make believe world, which once more doesn't exist but could exist, proceeds from me that I like it so much and that it often interests me much more than reality itself.
In short, however this subject warrants a much longer development, the body, hence imagination, is terribly limited, but it is positive in as much as it enables the soul to live of sensibility. That will be all for today. At ease! ;-)
Credit image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/h-k-d/
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Wow! you came up with something really interesting!!! I never thought about it this way,
ReplyDeletebut I totally agree with you. And I also agree that "angels" don't have an imagination. LOL.
That's funny! I guess this is one of the reasons why life (in a body) is so precious.
How true! The imagination deals with possibilities, not actualities. It has its charms but its dangers, too. I thought you might like this remark by Krishnamurti. He defines reality as: "Something beyond all doubt, seeking and imagination."
ReplyDeleteAnd what a beautiful post, just at Christmastime, when children are filled with imagination.
ReplyDeleteWell stated! I believe that our capacity to imagine make us human. Maybe this is a species-centric view. Who knows? I guess other animals possess this ability on some level, but not to the extent that we do.
ReplyDeleteThe reason angels have no imagination is because, unlike us, they don't need one.
ReplyDeleteDB
Thanks for all your comments, and here is wishing you all a very happy new year! For CC, I believe what distingues humans from other animals is our capacity to abstract from singular concrete realities (eg. tree, wheel etc.).
ReplyDeleteYou spoke about imagination but didn't talk about fantasies which are a specific kind of imagination. An extravagant and unrestrained one. But it may also be a daydream fulfilling a psychological need. I think also that the daydreamer is often longing to realize his fantasies somehow by trying to be pragmatic. And so, in this situation, imagination and reality meet.
ReplyDeleteI'd be interested in reading your view about this notion if ever did or will write about it.