Imagination is defined as the power to construct new ideas, images, concepts, and possible models of human experience, that are not based on the five human senses. Humans generally use their imagination for two wide-ranged categories. Solving problems, formulating hypotheses, making predictions, and coming up with conclusions all fall under a factual, knowledge-based category, deemed “scientific” by most individuals. The second category encompasses our literary, visual, creative and artistic imagination. The use of our scientific imagination is predominantly similar to the use of our artistic imagination.
Scientific imagination is recognized for primarily using intellect and judgement; however, it also uses emotions to determine what one wants versus what one does not want. Science itself is fascinating, which causes a feeling of wonder and curiosity among humans. These feelings of interest allow one to identify what is being done, alternatively to what one can imagine being done. Our artistic imagination utilizes sentiment and creates anything imaginatively possible, regardless of whether or not it can be moved into the world of action. Humans’ artistic imagination attempts to make the portrayed emotions as accurate as possible, similarly to how the scientific imagination portrays factual based knowledge. Both kinds of imagination, whether it be creative and artistic, or scientific and technical, function on two factors: intuition and wit. These two factors depend on the coexistence of intellect and emotions.
I, myself, prefer scientific imagination. Although it’s products are limited and only so many imaginative ideas can be put into reality, scientific imagination is realistic. For instance, let us say that an author decides to write a book about having a pet dragon because, for all of their childhood, they dreamed of living in a medieval fantasy. This is an application of literary, artistic imagination. Although the story may be intended for entertainment purposes and self-satisfaction, ultimately, it is a disappointment. This pet dragon cannot be put into the world of action and made a reality. The product of imagination comes to an end once the story is written.
Many individuals find it difficult to see how emotions and intellect go hand in hand. Perhaps this concept will become conspicuous when examining a real-life exemplar. Louis Braille invented a written language for blind people. Braille was driven to create this language because he was blind and unable to read or write. Braille’s emotions are what apprised him of what he wanted and what he could imagine being done. A combination of Braille’s intellect and mental sentiment utilized his scientific imagination, resulting in a written language for the blind. The use of imagination for scientific or artistic purposes reply on two correlating factors: emotions and intelligence. These two coinciding elements make both applications of imagination primarily alike.
