The Importance of Imagination

Imagination is the ability of one’s brain to form a mental image or experience of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses.

Imagination can be used to form a mental image of something that one has experienced in the past… but the more “useful” type of imagination is used to create an image of something that never existed – an object, a process, or art.

We always remember our days watching shows like Sesame Street or one of the other childrens shows, and how they used to emphasize that we should use our imaginations. I’ve always known it to be important, but it never occurred to my WHY it is so important.

Imagination is the foundation of ALL art, ALL technology and innovations, and ALL Unique creation. The word “imagination” evokes an image of a kid playing legos, making some unique shape, or some drawing. But that same cultivated imagination will grow up to assign basic rules to imagination (but not too many rules) to create something astounding.

The rules that adults apply to otherwise infant-like imagination could be rules of symmetry and design, functionality, fiscal viability, “simple usefulness”, lawfulness, social value, etc. Hopefully the rules don’t destroy the imagination. Alas, many times they do.

The one rule that will kill imagination is the rule of convention. It’s always “the conventional” that can quickly render the fruits of an imagination as destined for death. “It’s not how it’s done”. In addition to “conventionalism” the second most lethal rule to imagination is the tendency to underestimate possibility. “It’s not possible”.

If one “imagines” back to prehistoric times when the totality of social knowledge was much, much more limited, it’s easy to agree that it would have been nearly impossible for a caveman to imagine New York City 2010. But somehow humanity got there, through incremental breakthroughs of imagination (invention), and random fortuitous occurrences (discovery), we now
have Moon 1969, New York 2010, and more. (link: http://www.i-dineout.com/pages2003/inventions1.html)

note: Do prozac and viagra really belong on that list ?

One of my favorite stories – there are contradicting accounts – is one of Michael Faraday – a chemist who had a lot to do with our understanding of Electromagnetism – was explaining to his students a new contraption he had assembled to demonstrate electromagnetic rotation. As he was demonstrating this device which purportedly generated “electricity”, a student quipped “Yes- but of what use is this device ?”. To which Faraday replied “Of what use is a newborn baby?”.

NEVER should you allow your imagination be limited by some self-regulating perception of “what can be”.

Fact is stranger than fiction…. because fiction is bound by the limits of believability.

Imagination is important as we discussed - because it is the foundation of ALL art, technology, innovation, and many times "change".

Imagine what life would be without it.