The Problem with Imagination - Deepstash
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The Problem with Imagination

We have very little idea about just what situations we will find ourselves in. Our imagination is also influenced by films and Tv. 

When we make these grand decisions, we use imagination three times- we imagine what we imagine to be our future selves in imagined alternative scenarios. 

And none of these uses of imagination is particularly rational. Imagining our future selves is especially unreliable, as we systematically underestimate how much we will change in the future. And the scenarios we imagine ourselves in have very little to do with the actual situations we would find ourselves in.

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Are Humans Really Rational?

Are Humans Really Rational?

Aristotle talked about rationality as the distinguishing feature of humans compared to other animals. However, the author argues that humans are more irrational than any other animals.

Imagination plays a crucial role in making most of our important decisions. Which college to choose? Go to...

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Is Imagination Bad?

It's not entirely bad because- 

  1. It is a bit difficult to tell what would be the rational decision in these scenarios. It is not really possible to imagine your future self because your future self will largely be formed in response to the decision that you’re about to ...

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"Because I am nothing, I can imagine myself to be anything. If I were somebody, I wouldn’t be able to. An assistant book-keeper can imagine himself to be a Roman emperor; the King of England can’t do that, because the King of England has lost the ability in his dreams to be any other king...

FERNANDO PESSOA

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Is Imagination Bad?

It's not entirely bad because- 

  1. It is a bit difficult to tell what would be the rational decision in these scenarios. It is not really possible to imagine your future self because your future self will largely be formed in response to the decision that you’re about to ...

Imagination: the power to find alternatives

Imagination: the power to find alternatives

Some of our most despondent moods are caused by failures of the imagination. Imagination here is the power to envision alternatives. When we're sad, we can't imagine finding other work. We can't imagine getting by in a wheelchair. We can't imagine having to make a new set of ...

The consumers wish list

The wish list differs for different people.

In books, films, and TV, it comes down to a story to which we gratefully suspend our disbelief and allow ourselves to be carried away. In music, the distinction is between words that we find merit in and music that enhances the meaning ...

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