Act and Image: The Emergence of Symbolic Imagination

Warren Colman's book explores how humans developed the capacity for symbolic imagination by tracing the emergence of symbolic imagination through language, sociality, and material objects. It suggests that the imaginal world of the spirit may have come into being through active participation within a world alive with meaning.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 330 pages
Publication date: 01 April 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In his groundbreaking work, "The Emergence of Symbolic Imagination," Warren Colman offers a fresh perspective on the evolution of archetypal symbols by proposing that they arise from the intricate interplay between humans and their social and material surroundings. Colman begins his exploration by delving into the ancient world, examining the 40,000-year-old Lion Man of Hohlenstein-Stadel in Germany, considered one of the oldest known figurative images. Through this lens, he traces the gradual emergence of symbolic imagination across various stages of human development, including the origins of language, the growth of human sociality and cooperation, and the creative utilization of material objects.

Colman's analysis encompasses a wide range of historical periods, from the earliest stone tools to the magnificent cave paintings and figures of Upper Paleolithic Europe. He argues that symbolic imagination did not emerge as a separate realm from the material world but rather as a result of active participation within a world already rich with meaning. By examining the ways in which humans interacted with their environment, Colman suggests that the imaginal world of the spirit may have coalesced not as an independent entity but as an integral part of a living, breathing world.

Through his meticulous research and insightful analysis, Colman provides a compelling account of how humans developed the capacity for symbolic imagination. He challenges traditional theories and offers a new framework for understanding the evolution of human consciousness and the role of symbolism in shaping our world. "The Emergence of Symbolic Imagination" is a must-read for anyone interested in the origins of culture, language, and the human mind.

Weight: 486g
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367862688