Imaginative education : nurturing our social ecology

Social Ecology has long worked with Tarnas’ (2007) homily: “change the world-view and change the world”. At a time when the highly individualistic neo-liberal perspective is being challenged most profoundly by emerging understandings of systemic relationships via ecology the role of the imagination as a determinant of future learning is of enormous significance. When imagination is appreciated as a primary contributor to the world we are ‘bringing forth’ the challenge to appreciate it for its systemic qualities is increased. The philosophical renderings of radical constructivism bring the responsibility that accompanies powerful acts of learning to the fore. The work of Lakoff and Gallese leavens this through biological consciousness. This is a futures-oriented responsibility that requires us to appreciate the relationship between our imagining and the relationships that sustain, extend and enrich consciousness and communication. This is the means whereby we focus and re-focus our knowledge, our intention and our practice.