Is Philosophy Undergoing a Revival?....

[Zinjanthropos]

I could live with the universe, post creation, developing metaphysical reasoning as a byproduct of its machinations. Not intentionally with purpose or in some sort of preprogrammed way. I say that only because whenever I read/listen to metaphysical reasoning I start thinking that the reasoners might as well suggest a god, a living universe or some kind of predetermination is driving the whole thing. Can't sink my teeth into those underlying suppositions without proof. I would still require knowledge of the universe's origins.

Are philosophers looking for answers or are they simply not willing to accept what's presented to them physically? A little of both or one or the other? Is philosophy an extrapolation of observation? No disrespect to the proponents of the discipline intended.

[Ostronomos]

I could live with the universe, post creation, developing metaphysical reasoning as a byproduct of its machinations. Not intentionally with purpose or in some sort of preprogrammed way. I say that only because whenever I read/listen to metaphysical reasoning I start thinking that the reasoners might as well suggest a god, a living universe or some kind of predetermination is driving the whole thing. Can't sink my teeth into those underlying suppositions without proof. I would still require knowledge of the universe's origins.

Are philosophers looking for answers or are they simply not willing to accept what's presented to them physically? A little of both or one or the other? Is philosophy an extrapolation of observation? No disrespect to the proponents of the discipline intended.

I figure talking here might debunk any preconceptions that anyone has on the metaphysical so I proceed as follows. The imagination presents us with infinite possibility and so we attribute to it a property of inconceivable phenomenon. That is to say, not everything in the imagination is applicable to reality, especially when we're dealing with inconceivable phenomenon. There are aspects of the universe and divisions which may have been preprogrammed with intent. Implying purpose. The part you are familiar with is random, blind. If you have never seen the intelligent functions of the universe itself it would be difficult to understand it.

[Zinjanthropos]

...the imagination presents us with infinite possibility and so we attribute to it a property of inconceivable phenomenon. That is to say, not everything in the imagination is applicable to reality, especially when we're dealing with inconceivable phenomenon. 

Casually speaking....I see the imagination as an evolutionary trait. It has enabled us to adapt to a changing environment, outwit our predators, and develop our technology. Over all it has aided our survival as a species. I couldn't tell you if other creatures have it but even if they do, it is no match for ours. Imagination would be a worthless trait if it didn't help us adapt to the environment fast enough. It would have died on the vine. Simple as that. 

It's such a fantastic adaptive tool insomuch as we have been able to shorten/hasten evolutionary time. We are so far ahead of many potential Earthbound threats thanks to it. So why would imagination focus on our origins/reality? Is the imagination evolving?.... Was the giraffe's neck always that long? 

Do you really think it's on to something or is imagination an adaptive tool to take us to some other level of understanding? I'm opting for the latter. The imagination isn't finished doing what it, as an adaptive tool, is supposed to be doing......enabling life's survival/continuation**....but that could change abruptly.

**For me the species is secondary to life. If I was to believe in something mysteriously real that is accompanying the universe from the onset of time to the present, it would be LIFE. It's as if when life dies, so will the universe. When there's nothing alive, no chance of an imagination ever existing, the universe won't matter so it might as well be dead. (Waxing philosophic)... Imagine the universe as the manifestation of life if you will

[Ostronomos]

...the imagination presents us with infinite possibility and so we attribute to it a property of inconceivable phenomenon. That is to say, not everything in the imagination is applicable to reality, especially when we're dealing with inconceivable phenomenon. 

Casually speaking....I see the imagination as an evolutionary trait. It has enabled us to adapt to a changing environment, outwit our predators, and develop our technology. Over all it has aided our survival as a species. I couldn't tell you if other creatures have it but even if they do, it is no match for ours. Imagination would be a worthless trait if it didn't help us adapt to the environment fast enough. It would have died on the vine. Simple as that. 

It's such a fantastic adaptive tool insomuch as we have been able to shorten/hasten evolutionary time. We are so far ahead of many potential Earthbound threats thanks to it. So why would imagination focus on our origins/reality? Is the imagination evolving?.... Was the giraffe's neck always that long? 

Do you really think it's on to something or is imagination an adaptive tool to take us to some other level of understanding? I'm opting for the latter. The imagination isn't finished doing what it, as an adaptive tool, is supposed to be doing......enabling life's survival/continuation**....but that could change abruptly.

**For me the species is secondary to life. If I was to believe in something mysteriously real that is accompanying the universe from the onset of time to the present, it would be LIFE.

The search for inner meaning has long been a close observation of mankind. However, the imagination is a function of other faculties of the brain such as intelligence. So if imagination is evolving so to is intelligence.

[Zinjanthropos]

However, the imagination is a function of other faculties of the brain such as intelligence. So if imagination is evolving so to is intelligence.

Not going to argue with you there. Enabling our survival and keeping us in first place on Earth. Life likes that.  .

[Ostronomos]

The imagination, as I understand it, recombines images from the real world to create new ones. Whatever is conceptual remains within certain limits. These limits of the imagination may still allow for an endless arrangement to produce new images.

[Zinjanthropos]

The imagination, as I understand it, recombines images from the real world to create new ones. Whatever is conceptual remains within certain limits. These limits of the imagination may still allow for an endless arrangement to produce new images.

Ever try to imagine what it was like before the beginning? or imagine nothingness? They're like barriers. However people are able to imagine a god working on the plans, places (i.e. heaven), practically anything related to the divine, why would that be? 

If gods are real then should they be imagined? & vice-versa?...not a trick question, just something philosophically cute....I think.

[Ostronomos]

The imagination, as I understand it, recombines images from the real world to create new ones. Whatever is conceptual remains within certain limits. These limits of the imagination may still allow for an endless arrangement to produce new images.

Ever try to imagine what it was like before the beginning? or imagine nothingness? They're like barriers. However people are able to imagine a god working on the plans, places (i.e. heaven), practically anything related to the divine, why would that be? 

If gods are real then should they be imagined? & vice-versa?...not a trick question, just something philosophically cute....I think.

The imagination is there to project itself onto reality for the purposes of envisioning something. Where the imagination and reality meet becomes a singularity or meeting of the conceivable. A singular interplay of the conceivable. God is real but lends itself to bias through limitations. The imagination is there to visualize God. To create an anthropomorphic God in order to prepare for the real one.

[Zinjanthropos]

The imagination is there to project itself onto reality for the purposes of envisioning something. Where the imagination and reality meet becomes a singularity or meeting of the conceivable. A singular interplay of the conceivable. God is real but lends itself to bias through limitations. The imagination is there to visualize God. To create an anthropomorphic God in order to prepare for the real one.

I don't know who writes the definitions/meanings in the Apple dictionary but they're pretty good...

Imagination: 

the faculty or action of forming new ideas, or images or concepts of external objects not present to the senses:

The part of the mind dealing with creativeness. Not present to the senses speaks volumes....meaning something may be there that we cannot know by conventional Earthbound means or it is a new idea, opinion, concept or suggestion. So I guess the philosophical question might be: can we sense ideas and the accompanying images formed in the mind? Vision is such a powerful sense that simulating it may provide the impetus to compare the images produced by the imagination to reality. IDK. 

My imagination for instance.....

The evolutionist in me wants to know if the imagination has its origins rooted in the cycle of life on this planet. What I notice from personal observation is that every cognizant organism on Earth has at their disposal a way of sensing when danger is present. What compels them to take defensive or precautionary measures to avoid it? 

Some people call it instinct, a pattern of behaviour they're simply born with.  Is instinct the precursor of imagination? If an animal is sensing danger then is it imagining a scenario or is it just an innate reaction? I'm thinking that either way something is sensed and yet it doesn't really have to be in danger. Case in point....I have no intentions of killing any bird but there's no way the bird knows that so they fly away from me as I approach. I wouldn't feel any different swimming in shark infested waters....I'd want to distance myself from there. Why? Am I imagining an awful scenario? Damn right, no other reason I can think of. Perhaps the imagination of humans is derived from some primal instinct but I'm going to also contend that what goes through the mind of higher creatures** (with brains) to initiate a response to stimuli is an imaginative thought.....but I've been wrong before. 

** In lower animals the response may be entirely chemical but that could be another precursor.