The situatedness of imagination
The Research Project
My project aims to develop a philosophical account of the situatedness of “experiential imagination” (Peacocke 1985; Walton 1990; Dokic and Arcangeli 2015), using the phenomenological analysis (Husserl 2001, 2005; Sartre, 2004; Casey, 2000) to clarify the nature of imagination and investigate its epistemic powers and constraints.
By offering phenomenological clarifications to the analytic philosophy of imagination, the goal is to contribute to current debates on imaginative immersion (Schellenberg 2013; Liao and Doggett 2014; Chasid 2017, 2021), the nature of the imaginative content (Tye 1991; Kind 2001, 2016; Abraham 2020), and thought experiments (Brown 1991; Norton 1996; Gendler 2000, 2010; Hopp 2014; Wiltsche 2018). Through these contributions, I will give an original perspective on the relationship between imagination and knowledge.
Along the lines of the aforementioned philosophical debates, I will develop the notion of situatedness of imagination by answering the following research questions: (1) Once we have defined imagination, how can we account for the role of our body and self in it? In other words, to what extent is imagination situated in our body? (2) What are the epistemic constraints on the representational content of our imagination? (3) What is the role of imagination in our epistemological practices (e.g. thought experiment)? In what terms is it possible to derive knowledge from the imagination?
What I need the IRB for
The IRB grant will allow me to participate in international activities to promote my work and the approach of my research group (RTG Situated Cognition) and will enable me to carry out a research stay at a globally recognized research group in my field of study. These activities will expand my network of contacts internationally. Receiving feedback from experts will be crucial in advancing my skills and competences. All this will maximize the impact of my work within the international research community, which is very useful for the success of my PhD project and ideal for my future academic career.
Thanks to its flexibility, the IRB budget will allow me to speed up the organization of conference attendance and simplify my plans for the research stay.
IRB funded activities
31st Conference of the European Society of Philosophy and Psychology, Grenoble, France, July 2-5
Participating in and presenting at the 31st conference of the European Society of Philosophy and Psychology was an incredible experience, which the IRB allowed me to realize. The conference lasted for 4 days, with more than one hundred experts presenting their work in different sessions on topics as varied as philosophy, psychology, cognitive science, and neurosciences. It was a very formative experience. I presented my most recent work on the role of imagination for knowledge, and received feedback that helped me clarify my idea and future research. I was able to meet and exchange views with experts from around the world in my field of research, which allowed me to increase my network and also discuss future projects. Finally, I was able to get to know the research group at the University of Grenoble, and this experience left me with a desire to start a closer collaboration with the latter.
4th International Research Summer School in Genetic Phenomenology. Lifeworld - between Evidence and Delusion (5-9 August 2024, Warsaw, Poland)
The IRB allowed me to participate in the 4th International Research Summer School in Genetic Phenomenology. The Summer School lasted five days and offered a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the field of phenomenology. The program included two daily lectures that provided insights into key concepts, methodologies and recent developments in phenomenology. In addition to the lectures, there were sessions devoted to student presentations. Each participant had the opportunity to present their work in progress and receive targeted feedback from both professors and peers. I presented my research on the epistemic role of imagination from a phenomenological perspective. The feedback I received was particularly fruitful, helping me to refine my arguments.
The Summer School also provided an excellent platform for networking. I had the opportunity to meet and exchange views with experts and students who share my research interests. These interactions have opened up potential avenues for future collaboration and have expanded my academic network within the phenomenological community. Overall, my participation in the Research Summer School was an enriching experience that contributed greatly to my academic development.
Copenhagen Summer School in Phenomenology and Philosophy of Mind 2024 (12 - 16 August 2024)
I attended the Copenhagen Summer School in Phenomenology and Philosophy of Mind thanks to the IRB. The Summer School lasted five days, with a program that included a morning lecture followed by two PhD student presentations each afternoon. The topics covered were diverse, encompassing both historical and contemporary perspectives in phenomenology and philosophy of mind.
During the Summer School, I had the opportunity to present my paper on the epistemic role of imagination from a phenomenological perspective. Prior to the event, I sent my paper to Prof. S. Overgaard, who chaired my session, and he provided detailed feedback. Additionally, I received numerous questions and comments from the audience, which helped me refine and further develop my work.
The Summer School was an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow students and experts within the phenomenology and philosophy of mind community.