This book investigates the ontological status of imagination and its role in human cognition, specifically challenging the traditional folk psychological view of mental imagery. Peter Langland-Hassan, a philosopher specializing in the philosophy of mind and cognitive science, synthesizes empirical research with conceptual analysis to argue for a more nuanced understanding of how we imagine. He examines whether imagination is a distinct mental faculty or a byproduct of other cognitive processes, providing a framework that accounts for both imagistic and non-imagistic forms of thought.

Experts in the philosophy of mind recognize this work as a rigorous contribution to the debate surrounding mental representation and cognitive architecture. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which requires a foundational understanding of contemporary cognitive science and analytic philosophy.