Science and the imagination are two seemingly unrelated ways of thinking. Most people picture the imagination as a free type of thought, while science is rigid and strict. The imagination is boundless while science is kept by laws. Each of these styles of thinking would seem completely different, but still there are similarities between the two that many people never stop to realize.
There are two somewhat obvious reasons for similarities, which have to do with the parallels between the differences. First is the idea of the followers’ devotion to each style. The supporters of the scientific mind would usually be loathe to be thought of as fanciful thinkers, while those of the imaginative genre would never want to be considered part of the strict rules of science. Then there is the thought that each side thinks the other is ridiculous. Those who find their mind set more in the imagination find no practicality in science, whilst those who follow science see the fancies of creative thinkers as follies. The scientist is always wanting to find out why something is or how it works. The imaginative thinker is content with things and accepts them without question, possibly making up his own reasons, but not needing a scientist to figure it out for him.
More importantly than the above similarities may be the equilibrium between the two battling trains of thought. There is a type of symbiotic relationship among the two opposing sides, though they little realize it. Science must have imagination to flourish, and “imaginists” must have some sort of science to function.
Scientists may use their laws and tables and rules, but they rely on imagination to create new ideas. Without stepping outside the bounds of their systems every once in a while, science would soon come to a standstill, as no one would be creating new hypotheses or experiments. If Alexander Fleming had never used his imagination to think that mold could be anything but a nuisance, we wouldn’t have penicillin to use today. Soon all would be discovered within the realm of discovery unless someone used a bit of imagination to jump in a new direction. Even the strictest scientist must admit to the use of creativity at least once in his life.
Conversely, creative thinkers, “imaginists”, must also use a part of science in their works, otherwise everything would fall into utter chaos. Without organization, some set pattern, the imagination would run rampant and soon no one would be able to tell a meaningful thought from nonsensical garble. Those people who are used to always exceeding every bound put before them hardly ever stop to realize that without those bounds, they would have no where to go. If a poet did not conform to some sort of pattern in his writing, it would turn into gibberish, no one knowing where one line was supposed to end and the other begin. The poet needs a bit of science to organize his thoughts. “Imaginists” need science to aid them along on their journey of creativity if ever they hope to make sense of what they find.
Despite the many differences people think of when they hear the words science and imagination, there are many similarities shared by the two. The followers of both are strictly devoted to their mindset, thinking the other style of thought is ridiculous. But beyond this, there is the more important aspect of science and imagination’s symbiotic relationship. Science needs the imagination to create and flourish, while imagination needs science for order and structure. Neither one could survive long without the other being woven into its very roots.
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