Imagination is the process of forming mental images about things that are not perceived by the five senses. The mind can build scenes, events and objects that exist in sub-conscious mind. Every human being has some level or sense of imagination. In some people, the level of imaginations manifests itself in a developed form while, in others, it may be weak. The development of imagination can lead to success in career or one’s endeavors. In history, some of the most famous people who believed in the power of imagination include Albert Einstein. Einstein would sit down in his library and imagine formulas that are still use up to date in physics calculations. Through imaginations, Einstein managed to nurture his problem solving skills. He remains one of the most celebrated physicists in the world. Even after his death, his theories are still applied in modern physics (Andrews and Molly, Narrative Imagination and Everyday Life). Mahatma Gandhi was also a believer in imagination. Gandhi imagined living in a world free from racial discrimination and human rights abuse. This inspired Gandhi to become a human rights activist, Gandhi spent his entire life fighting discrimination and human rights abuse. Even though a significant number of humans do not believe in imagination, a number of careers are based on imagination. The movie industry is one of them. A number of fictional movies are created from imaginary scenarios. The scripts are written from an imaginary. One of the latest award winning movies created out of sheer imagination is Avatar. Avatar is one of the most talked about movies in America in the entire universe (McLean and George, The Imagination).
Music artists, poets and scientists also base their work on imagination. Ian Wilmut is a scientist who first made cloning a reality. Ian imagined how he could alter the genetic make-up of a sheep to produce another sheep with desirable qualities. Ian finally managed to produce a cloned sheep called Dolly. Even Shakespeare created his poems and stories out of imagination. The works of Shakespeare are still used in schools, in the modern day. Imagination leads to innovation and creativity. Through imagination one can form an idea and build it into reality. This has been observed in aerospace, computer, and automobile industries. People imagine new models of cars, aircrafts and buildings. It is through imaginations that innovations in technology continue to advance. The step to make imaginations viable is to pursue them. Imaginations become practicable when put in reality. In daily lives, people always have imaginations. This can be consciously or unconsciously. When telling a story, describing an event or defining something, we engage ourselves in imagination (McLean and George, The Imagination).
Constructive imagination is what inspires someone to achieve great things. Positive imagination may lead to the development of problem solving theories and actions. One has to believe in what he or she imagines. When one has creative imaginations then it becomes easy to achieve set goal and objectives. One can improve his life by imagining changing his current status to life. This may drive one to work hard and eventually meet his targets. A student preparing for exams can imagine a good life after college (Andrews and Molly, Narrative Imagination and Everyday Life). If the student focuses on the imaginations and pursues them, then success is guaranteed. Imagination also leads to the development of positive habits. One may be tempted to engage immoral acts like prostitution, stealing, and other bad habits. The imagination of how the society will view one or pass its judgment can make one ignore such temptations. The apprehension of being discriminated or considered an outcast can make one turn to a new leaf (Imoda and Franco, Human Development)
When one talks about knowledge, it refers to all the books which are already written and are available in the libraries. Therefore, in order to gain knowledge, all one needs to study. But imagination, that is something associated to your brain. It won't be wrong to say that imagination is more like a skill. Knowledge reveals to one what has already been invented and how to use it. But imagination inspires you to make something new of your own and define how you are going to use it. Take the example of fashion designing (Imoda and Franco, Human Development). What is the basis of fashion designing? Is it knowledge or imagination? For sure, it is imagination. The multimillionaire industry of fashion designing is completely based on imagination with knowledge either playing a little or no role at all in it.
Similarly, take an example of a desktop computer and a laptop. Both use the same technology and work in essentially the same manner (Imoda and Franco, Human Development) But still, laptop is a gigantic facility as compared to a desktop computer due to its portability. Since they work on the same principles it can be said that the same knowledge was applied in creating them. But it was only the imagination of brilliant minds that forged the idea of portable wireless computers and then only were they made. Imagination begins by one visualizing an idea in the mind. The step to make imaginations viable is to pursue them. Imaginations become practicable when put in reality (McLean and George, The Imagination).
Similar can be the example of phones. Previously, there existed wired phones that could only make calls. But now, technological advancement has brought about cell phones which are wireless. Some have cameras integrated into their chips, can be used to send emails, texts, and multimedia messages (Imoda and Franco, Human Development). Modern day cell phones, otherwise known as smartphones can be used to multitask. And again, the technological knowledge to build such a thing has always been there. But it took us the time of finding a genius mind to imagine and build up an idea to make such an all in one device or a gadget (McLean and George, The Imagination)
The aforementioned examples are enough to say that imagination in real life plays a more important role than knowledge. Imagination is the very basis of everything. One cannot use another person’s knowledge without imagination (McLean and George, The Imagination). And if you do, your knowledge will always stay stagnant. Therefore, imagination is what can be considered as something which opens new horizons and inspires to invent and create new stuff which can take part in facilitating human life and make it comfortable and luxurious at a lavish scale. So no matter how less of an importance imagination enjoys, one cannot be defiant of the fact that someone always "THINKS" and then "DOES" This implies that one always imagines before making it knowledge to others. Imagination is an important aspect of human development and should be nurtured. Imagination can lead to establishment of great ideas that never existed before (Andrews and Molly, Narrative Imagination and Everyday Life).
Works Cited
Andrews, Molly. Narrative Imagination and Everyday Life. , 2014. Print.
Imoda, Franco. Human Development: Psychology and Mystery. Leuven: Peeters, 1998. Print.
McLean, George F. The Imagination. Washington, D.C: Council for Research in Values and Philosophy, 2003. Print.
