ABSTRACT
Most interesting and perhaps most controversial is the argument for an ontological imagination. The notion that imagination may be an important factor in successful science has some history as a contentious topic. This chapter discusses the ontological imagination to refer both to the imaginal aspect of the paradigm, as well as to those revolutionary moments of creativity when the paradigm shifts, like Proteus, to form the world anew. Physicist and historian of science Gerald Holton asserts that the role of imagination in science is often covered up. Creative imagination may come into play after the data has been collected and the process of interpretation begins. Multiple models were generated by multiple scientists, some closer than others, and each model was in part a product of creative imagination. Thus far the discussion has focused on the role imagination plays in the success of discrete scientific projects whereby some phenomenon has been isolated for study.
