The two forms of imagination: creative and synthetic

In his classic 1937 book Think and Grow Rich (download pdf of entire book), Napoleon Hill contrasts creative imagination with synthetic imagination:

SYNTHETIC IMAGINATION: Through the faculty of synthetic imagination, one may arrange old concepts, ideas, or plans into new combinations¹. This faculty creates nothing. It merely works with the material of experience, education, and observation with which it is fed. It is the faculty used most by the inventor, with the exception of he who draws upon the creative imagination, when he cannot solve his problem through synthetic imagination.

CREATIVE IMAGINATION: Through the faculty of creative imagination, the finite mind of man has direct communication with Infinite Intelligence². It is the faculty through which ‘hunches’ and ‘inspirations’ are received. It is by this faculty that all basic, or new ideas are handed over to man.

1. Today, this is known as combinatorial creativity.

2. Napoleon Hill’s Infinite Intelligence is similar in meaning to Edward Matchett’s media (see other terms he used) and Carlos Castaneda’s intent | Read more

Here is my interpretation of Napoleon Hill’s synthetic vs creative imagination distinction.

Two forms of imagination: synthetic and creative

Synthetic imagination is a function of leftside and mundane world.

Creative imagination is a function of rightside and primal world.

Imagination — the creative kind —is one of the Newcreator’s seven creative powers.

This faculty enables you to envisage possibilities for enriching the world, or a particular piece of it, with value, meaning and joy.

In order to activate the creative power of Imagination, you must activate the superpower Transcend the Mundane — a synthesis of the creative powers Faith (a prerequisite), Openness and Groundedness.