The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy of Imagination

Description

Imagination occupies a central place in philosophy going back to Aristotle. However following a period of relative neglect there has been an explosion of interest in imagination in the past two decades as philosophers examine the role of imagination in debates about the mind and cognition aesthetics and ethics as well as epistemology science and mathematics. This outstanding Handbook contains over thirty specially commissioned chapters by leading philosophers organised into six clear sections examining the most important aspects of the philosophy of imagination including: Imagination in historical context: Aristotle Descartes Hume Kant Husserl and Sartre What is imagination? The relation between imagination and mental imagery; imagination contrasted with perception memory and dreaming Imagination in aesthetics: imagination and our engagement with music art and fiction; the problems of fictional emotions and ‘imaginative resistance’ Imagination in philosophy of mind and cognitive science: imagination and creativity the self action child development and animal cognition Imagination in ethics and political philosophy including the concept of 'moral imagination' and empathy Imagination in epistemology and philosophy of science including learning thought experiments scientific modelling and mathematics. The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy of Imagination is essential reading for students and researchers in philosophy of mind and psychology aesthetics and ethics. It will also be a valuable resource for those in related disciplines such as psychology and art.