Jimena Clavel Vazquez will give a talk on “Embodying imagination” (co-authored with Adriana Clavel-Vázquez)

Abstract: Traditionally, we think of imagination as a paradigmatic case of offline cognition, i.e. cognitive endeavors that do not directly involve real-time adaptive interactions with our surroundings. In this piece we challenge this more traditional understanding and argue for an enactive approach to imagination. We specifically focus on imaginative exercises that involve experiential imagination and argue that this enactive approach might provide a better account of certain constraints of imagination. We argue that imagination is akin to an affectively charged exploratory activity of a non-actual scenario. In our view, previous interactions with our environment affectively attune us to respond to these scenarios in a way that leave our imaginative capacity constrained.

As usual, the seminar will take place in Edgecliffe, room G03, 12-2pm.