395. The form of Ideational activity which we distinguish as Imagination, has the same basis as that which exerts itself in Reasoning processes ; but works in a very different manner. In its lowest and simplest exercise, Imagination, or the image-making power, consists in that reproduction of the mental “idea” or representation of an object formerly perceived through the senses, which is more generally understood by the term Conception. In strict language, every such reproduction of an image, however distinctly traceable to the laws of Association, is an act of Imagination. This, however, is not the generally understood meaning of the term ; which is usually applied to the faculty by which, in the first place, the materials supplied by experience or direct apprehension are recombined in such forms as to gratify the sense of beauty or fitness, rather than to satisfy the reason ; and by which, in the second place, some higher form of Beauty than experience has ever presented, or some more profound Truth than reason could bring within our grasp, is discerned by direct” insight,—the “vision and the faculty divine.” Thus we may distinguish between the constructive and the creative Imagination; and each may be exercised in every department of Human knowledge, whether relating to external Nature or to Human nature.