Explaining Imagination

The centerpiece of Explaining Imagination is a brilliantly articulated theory of the imagination, a theory that challenges many preconceptions and provides what will no doubt be an orienting landmark for future work in the area [...] The book contains a number of additional treasures, including especially innovative accounts of pretense, fiction, and creativity. These other accounts [...] will no doubt have an influence that extends well beyond readers who are principally interested in questions about the metaphysical nature of the imagination. * Christopher Hill, Analysis Reviews * With arguments that are innovative, sophisticated, and provocative, Explaining Imagination provides a comprehensive defense of Langland-Hassan's reductionist approach to imagination. I myself have profited greatly from this challenge to the philosophical orthodoxy, and the discussion of the book has already begun shaping directions of future research. A must-read not just for philosophers interested in imagination, but also for those interested in more general questions about our taxonomy of mind. * Amy Kind, Russell K. Pitzer Professor of Philosophy, Claremont McKenna College * Explaining Imagination is a pleasure to read. Both lucid and sophisticated, it seems to anticipate every potential challenge Langland-Hassan's account might face. It also adduces arguments that are relevant not only to defending his account, but also to specific debates about the nature of imagining. Explaining Imagination is thus a significant philosophical achievement, and in my opinion, will soon be a mainstay of research into the metaphysics and psychology of imagination. * Alon Chasid, Bar-Ilan University *