Imagination, Philosophy and the Arts

by Matthew Kieran (Editor), Dominic McIver Lopes, Carlos A. Ball

Imagination is a central concept in aesthetics with close ties to issues in the philosophy of mind and the philosophy of language, yet it has not received the kind of sustained, critical attention it deserves. "Imagination, Philosophy and the Arts" represents the work of fifteen young yet distinguished philosophers of art, who critically examine just how and in what form the notion of imagination illuminates fundamental problems in the philosophy of art.
All new papers, a strong collection on the imagination in philosophy, particularly in relation to literature and the visual arts. The book falls in three parts: emotional imagination, fiction-making imagination and sensory imagination.
The volume opens up several new frontiers that will attract substantial interest in philosophers of art, as well as philosophers working on mental representation, emotion theory, perception and fiction. These papers make a large contribution to developing our understanding of 'imagination' in new directions and setting the research agenda for the next decade.

330 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Matthew Kieran is Professor of Philosophy and the Arts at the University of Leeds. He is the author of numerous articles and books such as Revealing Art (2005) which has been translated into various languages including Chinese and Korean. His wider philosophical interests include creativity, art, psychology, and ethics.

Reviews

[Icey · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the first part of the book, Kieran explores the nature of imagination and its value. He argues that imagination is a central aspect of human cognition and creativity, and that it plays a crucial role in our emotional and ethical lives. Kieran also examines different philosophical approaches to imagination, including those of Aristotle, Hume, Kant, and Wittgenstein.

In the second part of the book, Kieran examines the role of imagination in philosophy, focusing on topics such as thought experiments, metaphor, and fiction. He argues that imagination is essential to philosophical inquiry, allowing us to explore new ideas and possibilities that go beyond what is immediately given.

In the final part of the book, Kieran explores the role of imagination in the arts, including literature, visual art, music, and film. He argues that imagination is central to artistic creativity, allowing artists to explore new forms of expression and to engage with their audiences in new and innovative ways.