Imagining

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Discussion of the capability in individuals

When you try to think of something that isn't presently being perceived by your senses, the capability of imagining is being utilized to some extent. Even if the thing not present has been perceived many times over the mind can not recal 100% of the details. When the minds eye comes to rest on any missing detail it will fill it in as best that it can. (something from the "Kluge" reading could be cited here)

Imagining is not just a capability of artists and inventors, it is the rush of mental faculties to fill in what has been recognized as empty space, just as water flows to the lowest possible point it can reach. When any unknown is encountered the mind is unable to leave the space a vacuum. Imagining is the process of drawing out of the individuals current body of knowledge and experience a likely solution to the gap in knowledge that has been realized.

This rather mundane function of creating placeholders as possible solutions for gaps in knowledge may seem odd when "a good imagination" is so strongly associated with creativity. Writing a piece of fiction doesn't usually conjure up the thought of someone doing a lot of problem solving. But, if we realize that just because a figurative square hole may be realized as a gap in knowledge, the mind won't automatically recall a square peg to put in it. A round peg or 1,000,000 toothpicks might be the placeholder that the process of imagining Fills the knowledge hole with.

Problem Solving and Memory are closely intertwined in the process of imagining.

Discussion of the capability in society

How it currently works

Examples

Potential deficiencies

Idealized version of how the capability would work in society

Questions

References