(May 3, 2011 at 11:27 pm)ib.me.ub Wrote: Something learn't isn't imagination though, it is known.
It's not that simple...
I can imagine that P and have simultaneously learned of the concept that P. (Imagining a 16 legged dog with 112 eyes is the same as learning of the concept of a 16 legged dog with 112 eyes)
I can learn that P and have acquired the ability to imagine that P. (Learning of 'the fabric of spacetime' gives you the ability to imagine spacetime)
Quote:I suppose I am talikng about imagination in terms of new things. Yes, our minds have a limited amount of information we can retain, but if we disregard information we don't need and replace it with new information, isn't that the same as having an unlimited amount of space.
For instace, on your computer, if you delete something the space then becomes availiable again, if you continue to delete old outdated info, the space will continue to be free for new things. Hence, unlimited space.
Neither of those are 'unlimited space' though, it is limited space with limited combinations. Suppose you have a 1KB hard disk, you have a maximum of 1,000 bits of space, and a maximum of 1,000^2 combinations, same with the brain, you have a limited amount of space and a limited number of ways in which the 'bits' of information can be combined - Regardless of whether or not those 'bits' are combined in response to 'learning' or 'imagination'
Quote:Isn't it the imagination that actually thinks of the new ideas.
It depends on what exactly 'imagination' is. If imagination is entirely conscious then no, we still have 'new' ideas arise without intending to think of them.
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