Response to Mary Marcil: Can You??

Mary Marcil posed the question, Is it rational to think critically about things that may not happen? Or is that using your imagination?

I believe that when people are faced with a problem and begin projecting the possible outcomes in their minds, for instance, it is both critical thinking and using imagination. I don't think the two have to be separated, like it is either one or the other. You are imagining what could happen, but are using your critical thinking skills to make a decision about what to do in the present based on your knowledge of what the consequences might be in the future.

You can't use your imagination to make decisions. It's a simple scientific fact that imagination cannot be used for this function. However, if one is only thinking critically about the situation at hand without considering the consequences, one might make a bad decision.

My question in response is this: Why do you think it is that children are more likely/capable of using their imaginations than most adults?