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Updated: Aug 20, 2025

Visualizing Visual Adaptation
Published on: April 24, 2017
The evolution of imagination and the adaptive value of imaginary worlds
1Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences Building, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UKRichard.Moore@warwick.ac.uk; https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/philosophy/people/summaries/moore/.
Abstract:
Characterizing the cultural evolution of imaginary worlds as a hedonic but non-adaptive exaptation from evolved exploratory tendencies, Dubourg and Baumard defend too narrow a conception of the adaptive evolution of imaginary worlds. Imagination and its imaginary worlds are ancient and adaptive, allowing deliberation over actions, consequences, and futures worth aspiring to, often engendering the world we see around us.
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