FUTURLOGICS a system of prospective thinking:
by james n. hall COPYRIGHT © 1983 BY JAMES NORMAN HALL ---------------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatever without express written permission of the publisher ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Printed in the United States of America SELF TEACHING PUBLICATIONS WEST JORDAN, UTAH 84084 USA Previous Next Table of Contents of FUTURLOGICS
Chapter VI IMAGINARY FUTURE |
IMAGINATION Memory ties us to the past; our senses observe the present, but what mental process enables us to consider the future? Imagination is essential to prospective thought, suggesting that the analogy to the memory and sense observation may be the imagination. However, the power of imagination is essential not only to prospective thought, but to thought in general. We see this need immediately because we can imagine both the true and the false, the material and the immaterial. Imagination does more than enable the mind to view the future. No system of thinking can exist without the power of the imagination. All ideas of the future are, in fact, displayed to our consciousness through the means of imagination. Through it, we can construct symbols, the models and maps of the future. We rehearse mentally the outcome of the things we intend to do before they are actually done. Before performing each act, we first "do" it in our minds. Considering a dangerous circumstance, we suppose, and draw plans and preparations before our first move. If we wish to cross a rushing river, we first survey the river and then imagine possible ways of getting to the other side. We selectively eliminate the impractical from the potentially successful. We picture swimming, floating, ropes, rafts, or we glance to see if there is a narrow place up the river. An extremely long jump is immediately dismissed, but a log bridge is a possibility. Such a scenario of thought can take place in seconds. We course through the many possibilities in a chain of thought empowered by imagination. Through experience and judgment we settle upon a specific means to cross the river and we venture then to act. The first large rivers must have been a major exercise in creativity for ancient man. Today, getting across a busy city street may call upon the same spin of imagination. Although we do not have the natural obstacles of yesteryears, there are synthetic obstacles inherent to modern civilization. Air travel, bridges, and ferries have solved the old river problem, but we have problems of tax, war, food production, overpopulation, the energy crunch and a host of other modern obstacles. The need for prospective imagination is obviously greater today than it has been previously. IMAGINE-THINK CYCLE The cycles infer that we do not use all of the mind at once. There is a tendency to think about related things. Also, our perceptions and faculties are somewhat guided by our thoughts. Also, our perceptions and effect is no less true with the cycle of thought to imagination. We think about what we imagine and then we imagine things related to our thoughts. Our thoughts are then concentrated into what we have imagined, and the cycle effect is generated. Brainstorming and free thinking exemplify the extreme examples of this form of thought. There is nothing wrong with brainstorming; it liberates our creative ability through a free association of ideas which is necessary to any futuristic thinking. If we forget the difference between the real and the imagined, we get the modal effect. The mode of approach to the future where the imagination runs free is the imaginary mode. At one time it might have been called the "fantasy future" because this term connotes certain properties of the imaginary mode or future. But to stress the positive creative attributes, "imaginary" was selected. The future seen with this mode is as varied as the operations of the mind itself. But it does take on the underlying patterns that characterize the flights of fancy the imagination can take. To understand the imaginary future, we must understand the imagination. Such flights, if they are products of a particular mode, can be called a scenario; but in mode-free, cycle-free, logic-free thinking, they are called DMP. DMP has its own rules and the usual meaning of logic does not portray intuitive experience. LOGIC AND IMAGINATION The material origins of the natural future require a logic consistent with the properties of matter itself. This compensates for the modal distortion due to the control of a free run of the imagination. Most of the rules of science were invented to make certain the discoveries explained things within the known material laws. It ensures these mechanics of logic separate fantasy and material reality. Each mode has its own logic peculiar to the cycle that generates it. Also, if we were to invent a new mode, we would do it by organizing a set of rules for thinking, or logic to define the limits of imagination in the thinking process. Since each mode has its own logic then each mode has its own scenario. In other words, the form of fantasized thoughts of the future is framed by the attitude of the mode. THE KNOWN AND THE UNKNOWN The future may be said to consist of the known and the unknown. The future, generally, is divided between the two, and it is in the unknown regions that the imagination flourishes. The less we know, the more we imagine. Our imagination is always active, mainly because of the deficiencies in fact. The less we know of futurity, the more we imagine a future to fill the blank spots. When we arrive at a point of knowledge, we have to leave behind our imaginary notions. The more we know of the future, the more we can know. But in the case of the imaginary mode, the less we know the more expansive the imaginary future becomes. The imaginary mode use what is imagined to temporarily satisfy this need. But an imagined future is better than no future at all! Imagination is a wonderful tool, and being able to sift the real from the unreal is the key that ensures success. SEPARATING THE REAL FROM THE UNREAL Learning to discern between the imaginary and the real is a lifelong struggle. We learn through hard lessons that fantasy is not a good basis for rash action. We demand certainty and solidity before we act. Developing the ability to tell the difference between the imagined and the real makes success and progress in this changing world possible. If there is difficulty separating the two, the imaginary mode generates. If we fail to clarify these twilight areas to avoid error, modal distortion is produced. After all the modes are learned, it is by the power of our own imagination that we can synthesize them into one operation. With the imagination, we can go from one mode to another and avoid becoming dependent upon one narrow approach to the future. The mental grasp of the future DMP is made possible when we have the imagination in control and we can trace to its origin any idea. If we can tell where all ideas come from we can then arrive at DMP and the control of imagination. FREE WILL, VOLITION, AGENCY Free will made possible through the powers of imagination. Without the ability to display to consciousness an alternative to the stimulus of the environment (emotions, drives, etc.), we would simply follow these impulses reflexively. Yet, by imagination we could fantasize being able to fulfill all our desires, wishes, goals, just by saying IF! All consciousness is made possible with imagination, and without being aware of options, alternatives, possibilities, we can have no free will or volition. All cycles, logics, modes, and futures restrict, guide, or channel the imagination. Perfect free will is possible only when all the modes of approach are used to research the future. This is Futurlogics. Thus when we refer to imagination in this theory, we define it as logic-free, cycle-free, mode-free thinking. Who can handle perfect freedom? Would we abuse it to our own destruction? Will we always need caretakers to limit us in our freedom for our own good? Many other questions arise when the imaginative powers are researched and implications discovered. These ideas bring with them new freedom of the mind. If we are not used to thinking freely, we will feel a severe reaction. Generated responsibilities reach "critical mass" and a personal change will threaten old ideas and traditions. Many balk at the prospect of really thinking for oneself, yet those who love to explore frontiers will forge ahead excited by every new idea.