Imagination in science

Abstract

While discussions of the imagination have been limited in philosophy of science, this is beginning to change. In recent years, a vast literature on imagination in science has emerged. This paper surveys the current field, including the changing attitudes towards the scientific imagination, the fiction view of models, how the imagination can lead to knowledge and understanding, and the value of different types of imagination. It ends with a discussion of the gaps in the current literature, indicating avenues for future research.

Emotions in scientific practice

“…Similarly, it has been proposed that scientific thought experiments are fictional narrative devices and their production and interaction with them requires imagination. 4 Recently, philosophers of science took considerable interest in identifying the epistemic roles of imagination in science and, by now, it is generally agreed that imagination, when constrained by logical coherence and representational accuracy, can be a source of learning (Kind and Kung 2016;Stuart 2017Stuart , 2019aStuart ,b, 2020aSalis and Frigg 2020;Levy and Godfrey-Smith 2019;Murphy 2020bMurphy , 2022Kinberg and Levy 2022).…”

“…Recently, philosophers of science took considerable interest in identifying the epistemic roles of imagination in science and, by now, it is generally agreed that imagination, when constrained by logical coherence and representational accuracy, can be a source of learning (Kind and Kung 2016; Stuart 2017, 2019a,b, 2020a; Salis and Frigg 2020; Levy and Godfrey-Smith 2019; Murphy 2020b, 2022; Kinberg and Levy 2022).…”

Phenomenon of imagination and its role in the practice of human rights protection

“…Чи можемо ми описати уяву в систематичний спосіб, який може бути використаний у науці? У статті «Уява в науці» Е. Мерфі [14] Г. Корбін, спираючись на свій багаторічний досвід перекладача іранських епосів, розвиває теорію про те, що уява є з'єднуючим світом між світами емпіричного світу (почуття) людини та світу абстрактного інтелекту -світ уяви, що одночасно і розділяє і пов'язує вказані вище світи та, на думку г. Корбіна, є таким же онтологічно реальним. Це -світ образів, уяви [10; с.…”

Imaginal extinction without imagery: Dissociating the effects of visual imagery and propositional thought by contrasting participants with aphantasia, simulated aphantasia, and controls

“…For instance, instead of visualizing the Eiffel Tower when asked about the most prominent landmark of Paris, people can simply know or believe that it is the Eiffel Tower without generating a mental image. Hence, imagination is not necessarily tied to mental imagery (Liao & Gendler, 2011; Murphy, 2022) and it should be examined whether mental imagery is a prerequisite for successful exposure therapy or if propositional thought is sufficient.…”