This paper explores Ilyenkov’s conception of imagination as it is expressed in his writings on aesthetics and in his 1968 book Ob idolakh i idealakh (Of Idols and Ideals). Ilyenkov deemed imagination and creativity to be central to the character of distinctively human forms of mental activity. After examining the many different contexts in which Ilyenkov sees imagination at work—from the most basic operations of perception to the expression of artistic and scientific genius—I bring his ideas into dialogue with the account of imagination developed in Vygotsky’s writings. I argue that, though there are significant differences, their respective approaches are complementary. Both see imagination not simply as a vehicle of fantasy, but as intimately involved in disclosing reality. Moreover, both thinkers are reluctant to cast imagination as a discrete mental function on a par with reason, memory, will, etc. Imagination, rather, is critical to the way in which mental functions express themselves. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of whether children can be taught to be creative and imaginative.

本文探讨了伊林科夫在美学著作和 1968 年出版的著作《偶像与理想》中表达的想象力概念。伊林科夫认为想象力和创造力是人类独特的心理活动形式的核心特征。在研究了伊林科夫认为想象力发挥作用的许多不同背景之后——从最基本的感知操作到艺术和科学天才的表达——我将他的想法与维果茨基著作中发展的想象力的描述进行对话。我认为，尽管存在显着差异，但它们各自的方法是互补的。两人都认为想象力不仅是幻想的载体，而且与揭示现实密切相关。此外，两位思想家都不愿意将想象力视为与理性、记忆、意志等同等的离散心理功能。相反，想象力对于心理功能表达自身的方式至关重要。本文最后简要讨论了是否可以培养孩子的创造力和想象力。