Understanding Bronowski’s Argument on Human Imagination and Animal Instinct, Essay Example

Imagination, as primarily described by Bronowski in his article is a condition by which the human mind functions fully especially in relation to recalling matters and adding up more to such conditions of remembrance. Making assumptive definitions of what could happen if an action is considered and applied, is defined by Bronowski as the foundation of human imagination. The question herein however is the possibility of animals being able to surpass such capacity. In his article, Bronowski states “…there is a striking difference between a man’s ability to imagine something that he saw or experienced and animal’s failure” (line 6). From this statement, it could be understood that Bronowski tries to use the idea of comparison and contrast to show that man’s ability to imagine is soulfully his and not something that can be easily copied by animals.

Proven by several experimentation in the past and even at present, such condition of thinking among humans has been proven effective and relatively complicated than how it is viewed by the society. Imagination, unlike how it is likened to the capacity of one to be creative and artistic, is a process that the mind confers with especially in relation to the desire of making an indicative course of difference through the application of the need to understand based on experience and expectations.

Imagination has been duly defined as the process of the mind to utilize past experiences to dictate possibilities that could be used to assume what the future results may be when specific actions are applied. There are instances when such conditions of becoming more responsive to such capacity have brought about a culture of change and development to the human society. Modernity as a whole owes its existence to human imagination.

How about animals? To create a distinction between the human and the animal mind, Bronowski uses several examples that serve as proof to the manner by which humans are able to imagine which is separate from the capacity of the animals to use natural instinct. To support this matter he mentions: “…animals make up for this by other extraordinary gifts. The salmon and the carrier pigeon can find their way home… as it were a practical memory that cannot be matched” (line 7). In relation to this particular claim, not only does Bronowski compare imagination with instinct but also differentiates it from the utilization and existence of memory. While instinct is dependent on memory which later on creates a sense of command among animals [making a particular act habitual], imagination is based on assumptions and experiences that define the human capacity to identify possibilities in relation to cause and effect pattern that they are familiar with.

The developments of the modern age could be relatively connected to the expansive utilization of imagination. From buildings to computers and other distinctive elements of progress seen in the society today, it could be analyzed that such changes could have never happened if not for the capacity of humans to desire to make their imaginations a reality. Unlike baseless thinking, imagination is a process of utilizing the different functions of the mind to make future assumptions that could best be useful for advancement and development as desired by the human race.

Reference:

Bronowski, J. The Reach of Imagination. http://www.public.iastate.edu/~bccorey/105%20Folder/The%20Reach%20of%20Imagine.pdf. (Retrieved on November 7, 2012).