Jacob Bronowski was a distinguished scientist who spoke at the Blashfield Address for the American Academy of Art and Letters in 1966. He gave the speech “The Reach of Imagination” to an audience of top class artists and poets. The speech covered the subject of imagination within the human mind. Bronowski opens his speech with,“imagination is a specifically human gift” (193). Not only does this gift belong to artists, poets, and scientists, but to all walks of humankind.
Bronowski draws his audience in with the agreeable statement that the human mind differs from an animal’s. This is done to build a strong argument that imagination belongs to all humans. He describes an experiment done by Walter Hunter to emphasize the contrast between man …show more content…
Not only does Bronowski use Einstein as a rhetorical motive for audience appeal, but it also backs up his argument that imagination belongs to all humans. From a young age, Einstein composed many imaginary experiments, such as the paradox which was solved later in his life. Bronowski links back to the beginning of his speech with the following quote: “the power that man has over nature and himself, and that a dog lacks, lies in his command of imaginary experience.” This emphasizes the point that imagination belongs to only humans. The “tool” that humans use are symbols which include images, words, and signs (199). Symbols come from the imagination and only humans are capable of understanding them. Bronowski uses an example of the concept between left and right; while humans are able to comprehend the meaning of direction, a dog is unable. After explaining the concept of symbols in imagination, Bronowski explains that imagination is “the common root” between science and literature and they “both spring and grow and flourish together” (200). For example, artists and scientists--such as Galileo and Shakespeare--thrived during the same time period. This implies that imagination does not only belong to artists, but all other
Bronowski draws his audience in with the agreeable statement that the human mind differs from an animal’s. This is done to build a strong argument that imagination belongs to all humans. He describes an experiment done by Walter Hunter to emphasize the contrast between man …show more content…
Not only does Bronowski use Einstein as a rhetorical motive for audience appeal, but it also backs up his argument that imagination belongs to all humans. From a young age, Einstein composed many imaginary experiments, such as the paradox which was solved later in his life. Bronowski links back to the beginning of his speech with the following quote: “the power that man has over nature and himself, and that a dog lacks, lies in his command of imaginary experience.” This emphasizes the point that imagination belongs to only humans. The “tool” that humans use are symbols which include images, words, and signs (199). Symbols come from the imagination and only humans are capable of understanding them. Bronowski uses an example of the concept between left and right; while humans are able to comprehend the meaning of direction, a dog is unable. After explaining the concept of symbols in imagination, Bronowski explains that imagination is “the common root” between science and literature and they “both spring and grow and flourish together” (200). For example, artists and scientists--such as Galileo and Shakespeare--thrived during the same time period. This implies that imagination does not only belong to artists, but all other