Lecture 1: Introduction to
IMAGINATION DEVELOPMENT
Adam Blatner
This is the first in a series given to the Senior
University Georgetown in the Fall of 2014.
Imagination is part
of everyone's mind. We live to some significant degree in our
imaginations, in what we hope for, in what we fear; in
reminiscences or ruminations on the past; in daydreams and
night-dreams; in beliefs in many things that are not factually
so; and so forth. It might fairly be said that many people live
as much if not more in their imaginations than they do in
ordinary reality, though in truth we live in both realms to
varying degrees.
In the last few centuries we've developed a myth in Western
nations that we're beyond mere myth and fantasy; we are
realistic. This is just a little bit true compared to the depth
of immersion in illusion and myth a few hundred years ago---but
it's a matter of depth. When eight-year-old kids feel they are
knowledgeable and lord it over their younger siblings, they feel
that (relatively speaking) they have learned the secrets of
more-grown-up-hood. So it has been with the modern age, looking
back on the pre-modern eras: collectively we feel that truth is
almost within our grasp. But mainly we remain mired in
imagination.
Few people realize clearly how much of life is consensually
constructed: That big-worded phrase simply means that we have
made up so much: We've made up what words mean, and where
boundaries are; what constitutes a nation and what is a
rebellious faction; who gets to have a flag and what a medal
signals. All of these are illusions, constructions, agreements.
Laws, a great deal of what we learn about in school, much of
what we call life, romance, what are the proper expectations for
a role, etc.
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For comments, suggestions for revision or additions, email
me: adam@blatner.com
L