The Work of the Imagination

Imagining possibilities has been the backbone of my life, energizing my teaching and research. In my scholarly work, I have always been fascinated by the nuances of children's cognitive development and the complexity of their play behaviours. Professor Harris’s book, 'The Work of Imagination,' comprehensively explores how imagination shapes human cognition. It integrates elements of history, politics, philosophy, and psychology, offering a rich, interdisciplinary perspective.
Part of the book addresses the question, 'What is the function of imagination in childhood?' Harris narrates the transformative power of imagination for reasoning and problem-solving through his detailed analysis. Children use logic to collect and manage data from their environment, leveraging this information to create new possibilities. Seemingly, play is ordinary and universal. We discover that the imaginative capacity we develop through play gives us a magical power that impacts how we think, depending on how much we engage in play.