Psychology Of...: The Imaginary: A Phenomenological

The most profound conclusion of The Imaginary is that the ability to imagine is the ultimate proof of human freedom.

Unlike a real object you have to study to understand, an image is given to you all at once. You can’t "learn" anything new from your own mental image. The Imaginary: A Phenomenological Psychology of...

If we were purely physical objects (like a rock), we could only react to what is right in front of us. But because we can imagine—because we can visualize a "not-now" or a "not-here"—we can "negate" the world as it is. This "power of negativing" is what allows us to plan for a future that doesn't exist yet, or to desire a change in our current circumstances. 4. The "Fascination" of the Imaginary The most profound conclusion of The Imaginary is

When you imagine a friend, you aren't looking at a picture of them; you are "aiming" your consciousness at that friend in a specific way—specifically, a way that acknowledges they are currently absent. 2. The Four Characteristics of the Image If we were purely physical objects (like a