Imagination Is Where the Action Is

TLDR

The paper challenges prevailing views on human imagination by introducing two forms of pretending—semi‑pretense and pretense layering—that reshape philosophical and cognitive science perspectives. It aims to define and illustrate semi‑pretense and pretense layering as distinct imaginative practices. The author exemplifies semi‑pretense through a poolside scenario where Jennifer and Leroy evaluate a diver’s performance with varying degrees of bodily mimicry, illustrating a continuum from full pretense to plain action. The author remarks that the described scenario sits between full pretense and plain action on the continuum.

Abstract

T wo forms of pretending, if properly understood, put a strain on prevalent views about human imagination in philosophy and cognitive science.If we recast our image of imagination, we can accommodate them.The two phenomena I wish to introduce are semi-pretense and pretense layering. (For clarity, I always use "pretend" and cognates to refer to bodily behavior; "imagine" and cognates refer to mental activity and structures.)Semi-pretense : Jennifer and Leroy are at a pool on a summer day, watching other children jump off the high-dive.One clumsy child almost trips off the end of the board and falls into the water at an awkward angle with arms waving. "Two," says Leroy, holding up two fingers with a frown."I give him a one," says Jennifer, holding up a finger.Next a young woman springs off the board, glides in a swan dive, and enters the water with hardly a splash. "Ten," they both shout, holding up ten fingers each.Are Jennifer and Leroy pretending to be judges at a diving competition, or are they acting plainly, simply evaluating the dives for themselves?The question excludes a middle answer.There is a continuum of cases.At one end (full pretense) Jennifer and Leroy wear polo shirts, speak in officious tones, and hold up placards with numbers.At the other end (plain action), the two just say things like, "that dive was pretty good," with no trappings of a diving judge.The example described is in between, so it is semi-pretense." (If it seems like plain action to you, just move one step over on the continuum.)