Imagination is the Interface

Imagination is the interface of reality.

1. Objective Reality:

There is an external reality that exists independently of individual perception. 

Yes, this is an assumption, but it is not one worth debating; the cost of denying this premise is too high to entertain. 

2. Perception and Subjective Reality:

We perceive objective reality and transform it into a subjective reality through mechanisms of imagination. 

Sight, sound, touch, taste, smell; these are all ways in which we apply definition and meaning to raw chaotic information. An apple smells like an apple only in the imagination; without us the apple does not posses, not require, any subjective meaning whatsoever.

3. Self is a Fluid Concept:

The concept of "self" is arbitrary, and the boundary between "I" and "not I" is a useful but flexible construct. Most people can tell you easily where they begin and end, but that confidence falters when you begin to dissect the concept of self.  

For example, we might agree that our hair is no longer a part of ourselves when we cut it off, but if a frightening person wants to possess our disembodied hair... we might feel differently. You might believe that you are not your parents, but that opinion may change if one of your own internal organs escapes and starts moving around on its own, loudly demanding snacks.

4. Multifaceted Subjective Reality:

Our subjective reality is shaped by various internal and external systems, each with its own model of reality that is influenced by kinesthetic memory, intuition, trauma, subconscious thought, and other learning modalities. 

If you have a subconscious fear of spiders, the knowledge that the spiders in your area are harmless isn't going to be much of a comfort. That belief is held by a different internal system then your conscious mind.

5. Natural Laws and Perception:

Natural laws are discovered when we can reliably perceive their effects. Some natural laws exist beyond our reliable perception, but interaction with them is still possible.

For example, a blind and deaf person throwing a ball at a window can still shatter it, even though their perception of it is limited. We all enjoy the benefits of broadcast transmission technology, even though it seems we require an imagined physical interface, like a mobile phone or a radio. 

6. Interaction with Objective Reality:

We interact with objective reality through acts of imagination that bridge multiple parallel models. For instance, the decision to throw a ball and the physical capacity to throw it involve different systems. Overthinking can negatively impact performance, highlighting the importance of meditative, zen-like, and hypnotic states. 

7. Magic as Interaction with Unseen Natural Laws:

“Magic” involves directly interacting with natural laws that are not understood, through acts of imagination. Developing new imaginary interfaces for our internal and external systems is essential to the process of magic; similar to how kinesthetic memory has its own visual spatial model of physics, for tasks like throwing a ball.

8. Well-Developed Imaginary Interfaces:

Humans possess well-developed imaginary interfaces; like personification, anticipation, visualization, communication, education, imitation, memory, fear, anger, love, and the senses. Magical systems can also be considered imaginary interfaces for reality.

Conclusion:

Human beings have the inherent capacity to interact with undiscovered phenomena by using imagination as an interface for reality, whether or not we are evolved for such interactions.