Imagination and Creativity

Book excerpt: This book investigates certain philosophical issues concerning imagination, creativity, and the relationship between them. Is there a single mental act that we call'imagining'? How does imagining differ from perceiving and believing? What role do images play in imagination? Is our perception of the world itself informed by imagination? What contribution does the imagination make to our thought processes? What is creativity? Can creativity be explained? What role does the imagination play in creative processes? After initial consideration of the varieties of imaginative experience, the first part explores the relationships between imagination, perception and thought, discussing the views of Descartes, Hume, Kant and Wittgenstein. The second part focuses on creativity, examining some of the definitions and explanations that have been offered, and looking at some examples of creative activities.