Human Imaginations based on Philosophers Essay - 1346 Words

The imagination is a tricky facet of the human mind for the philosopher. Each philosopher seems to have his own definitions of what the senses and the human imagination actually are, and the role that each plays in the development and everyday existence of man. Plato errs on the side of shunning the arts and the imaginative in the Republic. Others like Aristotle and Hobbes are more welcoming, treating the imagination as a facet, or a close relative of the memory. Despite the varying opinions, one plaguing question remains, of what use is the imagination to the philosopher? The human imagination is one of the defining characteristics of being human, with it, man is able to delve further into the human mind, investigate, theorize, and most†¦show more content†¦Aristotle’s implication is that by observing the world around you, you can receive an idea of the real essence of things. The acquisition of theoretical knowledge is therefore a matter of thinking rationally about the implications of this knowledge. Thus physical science is a matter of everyday observation followed by rigorous thinking.The relationship between the senses and the imagination is something that both Plato and Hobbes investigate further. In Plato’s Republic, Plato severely tempers the use of the arts in the creation of a new city. In the Republic, reality is divided into two parts, the visible world and the intelligible world. Human senses grasp the physical world.The intelligible world is one of ideas, a world in which only the highest forms can be found. Plato forsakes the use of art as a tool for furthering and educating the citizenry. He shuns art from the city, saying that art is merely an imitation of an imitation of the highest form that only exists in the intelligible world. Hobbes, in a similar fashion, writes, â€Å"Imagination therefore is nothing but decaying sense; and is found in men, and many other living creatures, as well sleeping, as waking.† Where Plato falls short in acknowledging the importance of the imagination, Hobbes picks up the slack. In comparing and contrasting imagination and memory, Hobbes sheds light on the role thatShow MoreRelatedThe Human Mind As An Element Of Human N ature By Bernard Le Bovier De Fontenelle1468 Words   |  6 PagesCuriosity is implanted in the human mind as it is an element of human nature. The thirst for answers and explanations drive the human mind to reason and deliberate in order to discover an understanding of life itself. It emanates inherently within the brain to solve a puzzle and in return, feel a sense of peace. Philosophers and scientists dedicate their entire lives to solve mysterious questions of the unknown. Throughout the development of distinctive theories, they build on each other to solidifyRead MoreThe Concept Of Imagination, By Giambattista Vico And Thomas Hobbes1714 Words   |  7 PagesThe concept of imagination is classified to be highly significant within the presence of our contemporary generation as it is construed from diverse forms of perspectives. The role of imagination is defined to be imperative within the cognitive spectrum as it allows individuals to understand the functionality of the human mind within the world (Pern 162). Furthermore, the concept of imagination is fundamental within the study of cultural psychology, as well as apprehending the objective behind theRead MoreHow Does Descartes Argue That Mind And Body Are Distinct?986 Words   |  4 Pagesbody are distinct? Is he right? Am I real, or imaginary? 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