It's the thing that makes us human and not robots. It informs and influences culture, and gives us our identity. It also allows us to think outside the established box and explore other possibilities beyond the status quo.
I seriously find the idea that "imagination is only for children, because children are some euphemism for stupid" absolutely monstrous.
I guess I agree with a lot of that. I knew when I asked the question that it had an easy answer. However, if you read on, I was saying that when we want to know how the world works, that the imagination can't just be the only method to use. I was very inarticulate. In the scientific method, the imagination is extremely valuable as a place to start. Yes? We call that process making hypotheses.. And then we TEST the hypotheses.. We just don't imagine something and then think the tests are over.
I did say that art and imagination are fun and entertaining.. I love to read, to write, to sing and dance and make all kinds of art. But to use the imagination as a SUBSTITUTE for testing reality is what I was trying to get at.
Just dreaming something up and then.. that's it.. doesn't add much of anything to anyone. Happy delusions are fine, but.. they still are delusions. That's what I was trying to get at. I'm sorry the question wasn't well thought out or formulated.
Riverwolf said:
IKnowing how things work in the world isn't the be-all-end-all goal of human existence. Many people couldn't care less; it's just useless geeky factoids to them.
True. I agree. UNLESS you stake your life on a medical procedure, or on a plane getting safely to a destination, or.. knowing how the world works in a reliable, testable way. Then we are VERY happy about all the geeks out there. Your computer is a geek's dream. To deny science as a benefit to humanity is to stick your head in the sand. I'm sure you don't do that.
I have friends right now who are struggling with the science of energy.. because the world NEEDS this kind of science.. IN A BAD WAY.. Call them geeks if you like. But they might just save the planet. You have to be ALIVE at least to make art.
Riverwolf said:
These stories aren't just consumable entertainment for me. They're part of me. They're everything to me.
Then you are denying a huge part of reality.
Riverwolf said:
EDIT: To be perfectly frank, I consider this kind of condescending attitude on imagination (or on pursuit of knowledge, or any other aspect of human behavior that certain people value highly over others) as effectively akin to the mindset presented in the OP. It's dismissive of what others find important, which in many cases can be very isolating.
Nobody is dismissing you here. What I do find problematic is that you go from "It's EVERYTHING to me" to.. what others find important. I find art important too. No question, it's important. Don't get so carried away.
I am not advocating robot minds here... BUT we DO need to get real about reality. Dreams wont always SUFFICE.
Sometimes, signing and dancing and burning incense or whatever DOESN'T help at all. Are you going to tell a nice story to the people who are suffering in NEPAL right now? Maybe you NEED a gentle reminder that your stories aren't always what's called for in the REAL world.
Now, there is place for BOTH art AND science in this world, for sure. Let's have BOTH.. but don't PRETEND that science is in second place. Most people don't happen to DO science.
So a feel good story is NICE.. but sometimes perfectly USELESS.