Work · Jean-Paul Sartre
The Imagination
Sartre examines philosophical and psychological theories of images, criticizing their tendency to make an image a little thing inside the mind.
Understanding the text
The historical inquiry prepares the phenomenological analysis of The Imaginary.
Key points
- 01
Image
A mental image differs from perception in more than mere weakness or faintness.
- 02
Method
Reviewing doctrines reveals assumptions shared by otherwise opposing theories.
- 03
Consciousness
Understanding imagination requires describing intentional activity rather than stored contents.
How to read it
Read the critique of image-things before turning to The Imaginary's concrete descriptions.
Editions & sources
Summaries and key points are original editorial interpretations. They accompany reading the work and do not replace an edition of the text. Editorial method ↗