Chapter 1: Imagination as a Method: Intuition, Empathy, and Innovation Within Qualitative Research Practices

Imagination is an interdisciplinary theme, object of attention of a broad scope of scientific and nonscientific fields. As a higher mental function, imagination is intrinsic to a vast set of human intrapsychic, interpersonal and social phenomena: Communication, creativity, art and crafts—in its different expressions—play, perception, sexual attraction, reasoning, symbolization, memory, and narratives, are few examples of the broad set of social activities of major importance for human beings, that are related to and interdependent of the capacity of imagining and imagination. Hence, in order to conceptualize and define the guiding principles of the “method of imagination,” it is necessary to approach the phenomenon according to different lens. Even if we intentionally reduce our vantage point to the specific scope of the cultural semiotic approach of imagination, it is still necessary to pluralize our focus.