Sharpening the tools of imagination

Thought experiments, models, diagrams, computer simulations, and metaphors can all be understood as tools of the imagination. While these devices are usually treated separately in philosophy science, this paper provides a unified account according to which imagination epistemically good insofar they improve scientific imaginings. Improving imagining is characterized terms epistemological consequences: more improvement means better consequences. A distinction then drawn between being retrospect, at time, general. In evaluated straightforwardly quality their At cutting edge, positively there reason believe that using them will have Lastly, generally good, use encourages development epistemic virtues, because