We Humans Recognize What Is Real, But We Can Imagine Anything

[MineralMan]

In our daily lives, we experience the reality that is all around us. We hear it, smell it, touch it and recognize those things as real and present. We have also developed technology that lets us experience reality we cannot sense directly, due to size, distance, or other limitations. We know what is real by experiencing its reality.

However, we are also capable of imagining things that are not real - things we will never actually experience - things that do not exist. Our imagination is capable of creating other worlds, other realities, other concepts, including the concept of a deity. We can do that, so we do. It's common for us to create imaginary things, situations and ideas that we do not experience with our senses.

We do that better than other animals. Our brains have evolved to enable us to imagine far beyond what a cat, for example, sitting patiently by a hole in the ground, imagines or expects to appear. We also are able to separate what is real and experienced from what is imagined and not real.

Look at how we view time, as an example. We all experience the passage of time. We experience the reality that is around us at the moment, and can look into our memories to recall what is real from the past. We are also uniquely able to look forward in time. Although we cannot accurately predict what will happen in the future, we can easily imagine it, plan for it, and create a potential future for ourselves.

We can do all of those things. So, we do. As humans, we have always had that capability. Sometimes, we use it to imagine answers to questions we cannot immediately answer. Sometimes, we use it to create prime movers and deities with our imaginations. We can do those things, so we do. We have evolved to have those amazing capabilities.

[guillaumeb]

1. We can even imagine that we can recognize what is real,

and what is merely our own opinion.

[MineralMan]

2. Please try to stay on point.

Thanks.

You are reading my real words on your real display, shortly after I typed them on my real keyboard. You can imagine, I suppose, that I will type additional words for you to read in the future.

I can imagine a time when you will begin to recognize that I am right. That imagined reality, however, is not real, but is simply what I would prefer.

[guillaumeb]

3. Thank you for consistently avoiding the point.

I understand.

[MineralMan]

4. This is my thread, and my point.

Last edited Mon May 14, 2018, 02:09 PM - Edit history (1)

You're welcome to start your own thread. Your dismissal of what I wrote, without any relevant discussion, is simply rude. I'm not sure why you behave in that manner, but it's unseemly.

[guillaumeb]

17. If there were a rudness police force at DU,

they would be working overtime.

[marylandblue]

18. You need to go on the attack

I understand.

[guillaumeb]

19. And.....

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1218&pid=283824

[Major Nikon]

8. #4

[Lordquinton]

5. If you can't distinguish between reality and fantasy

You should probably seek professional help.

[MineralMan]

6. He noticed that I posted my opinion, and called attention to that.

Never mind that my signature line, just below, makes it clear that everything I write on DU is my opinion. That statement has appeared at the bottom of everything I post for years.

[Lordquinton]

7. That's a far too common replacement argument

And he gets all flustered when he gets dismissed in the same way.

[MineralMan]

9. Oh, bother...

I consider such behavior to be thread hijacking. It's annoying...

[Lordquinton]

10. I mean, that's just your opinion...

[marylandblue]

11. Back on topic- we have trouble distinguishing imagination and reality

Especially when it's a shared imagination. There is a small river called the Rio Grande. We imagine this small river creates an important boundary between two imagined entities called countries. We are uncomfortable that this little river is easy to cross, so we want to build a real wall to keep people from crossing. On the other hand, we don't care how much people cross the much bigger Mississippi River, which also forms imagined boundaries between states. Why is the imaginary boundary at the little river so much more important than at the big river?

[MineralMan]

12. The river is real. The rest is imaginary.

Imagination is not necessarily rational. We can imagine stupid things as easily as beneficial things. The river, though is real. The surrounding land is real. The humans are real. Much of the rest, though, is imaginary.

We can imagine unicorns, fairies, dragons, and gods. None of those are tangibly real. The river is real.

[marylandblue]

13. Right, but which is more important in our minds

The real river or the imaginary boundary? Only for humans is the imagined boundary more important than the real river. Other animals only see something to drink or swim across.

It seems like this for gods too. We make them and their demands more important than actual people.

[MineralMan]

14. That's the problem.

When humans consider imaginary things to be more important than real things, we make trouble for ourselves. Sadly, we often make that mistake.

[MineralMan]

15. By the way, thank you for actually talking about this.

The thread was immediately hijacked, and the original subject was forgotten. So, thanks!

[marylandblue]

16. Your welcome.