Recent example. There is no Harry Potter (as depicted in the book) but many people were hoping he wouldn't die in the last book by J.K.Rowling.
2007-08-21 01:45:41 · 9 answers · asked by william a 6 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Thats a very interesting question. I would think that on an evolutionary scale, our imaginations evolved from a sense of survival. Our imagination helps us prepare for events that haven't happend to us yet. A by-product of this is that our imaginations have the ability to make a fictional character very emotionaly real in our minds. In out rational mind, we know these characters are not real, but the emotions that these characters evoke are very much real. And I think that like many abilities, some people are much more effected than others. Some can watch a great work of fiction and feel nothing. Others tear up at coffee comercials.
2007-08-21 01:54:41 · answer #1 · answered by writenimage 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."
-Albert Einstein
By suspending our disbelief, we are able to manufacture Boeing 767 jumbo jets that can take off and fly with a maximum weight of 450,000 pounds.
Certainly humankind said it was impossible for man to fly. Right?
Of course we can believe it today because we see it. However, not much more than 100 years ago, it was impossible for humans to fly. It was considered lunacy. How can 225 tons of metal and plastic fly and carry people and cargo from New York to Beijing? What in the world is "plastic" anyhow? It did not exist a hundred years ago.
Someone suspended his disbelief.
Human beings learn, grow, and evolve.
When they accept their fate and circumstances as truth, there is no progress or evolution. When there is no evolution, there is stagnation, entropy, disorder and decay.
Someone has to suspend his disbelief in the impossible.
We need to dream.
.
2007-08-21 02:02:28 · answer #2 · answered by The Other Grandpa 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That depends upon the degree of suspension and how long it lasts. If one just reads a fantasy book, e.g. about Harry Potter, and is aware it is fantasy, that is relaxing. On the other hand, some people permanently escape reality with fantasy books, e.g. the Bible, Quran, Sutras, Eddas, etc., and that is contrary surviving by adapting.
2007-08-21 02:27:47 · answer #3 · answered by miyuki & kyojin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's just an extension of compassion for another person. As we read the book and become attached to the characters we start to feel as if they really exists. Of course, caring about other humans helps more of us survive.
2007-08-21 01:50:33 · answer #4 · answered by Z-Dub 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's all part of imagination, the ability to "put yourself" in a situation you are not in, of which the evolutionary value is pretty obvious.
2007-08-21 01:50:30 · answer #5 · answered by bonitakale 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Imagination allows us to conceptualise which, in turn, means we can solve problems in our heads without having to go through a trial and error process.
Very simply, you can imagine how a bicycle works. You don't have to build endless numbers of prototypes to see if they will work, because you can design it in your imagination.
2007-08-21 01:53:28 · answer #6 · answered by the_lipsiot 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Survival !
when we hear stories of people surviving -impossible- situations and circumstances !
Coming back from experiences we believe are not possible to survive.
2007-08-21 02:03:09 · answer #7 · answered by Bemo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will happen tomorrow?
Evolutionary suspension ALWAYS happens tommorow!!!
2007-08-21 01:50:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
not another harry potter question...
2007-08-21 01:49:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋