Squink beat me to the Kekule example, although in the version I had heard, he actually dreamed the bond structure which allowed a hexagon shape.
And I can definitely say that I’ve designed experiments in my sleep. Yes, I’ve designed experiments before, but not those particular ones.
We often manufacture memories in waking states, so it’s not unreasonable to do so in dreams.
I have never in my life fallen great distances, or engaged in any sort of air sport, or flown in an open-air craft. Yet when I dream that I’m flying, falling, bouncing, etc., the thrill and the physical sensation of movement are quite realistic.
Similarly, the absolute dread I felt as a child during nightmares of being chased by toys come to life was real. While they might have been planted in my subconscious by some sort of infantile separation anxiety, I was in fact dreaming things I had never experienced.
As regards, the OP, in the last couple of years there was a study that concluded that the function of dreams is to assimilate recent events into long-term memory, for future recall. “Weird” dreams occur when the filing mechanism makes nonsensical event associations with previous experiences, emotions, etc. While I can’t vouch for the study’s scientific accuracy or soundness of research, it made sense at the time. I can’t find a cite at this time, but it linked the ability to master Tetris with the ability to dream about it.
I often dream of the apocalyse.
I dream of strange, shimmery monsters that I slay with my sword.
I dream of piloting strange aircraft.
I have visited strange and unusual worlds that only communicate through unique interstellar devices.
I have had dreams so vivid with plots so intricate that I write them down on paper and make stories out of them.
I think the reason I dream about such strange things is because I lull myself to sleep by making up a story in my head, and the story follows me down into subconscious, where it springs unfettered by my narrow waking thoughts and becomes a beautiful, ephemeral new experience.
So, it is definitely possible to “dream imaginary and exceptional things which they have never before seen, heard of or even experienced.”
If you’ve never experienced any of those things, how can you possibly know that your dream experience is realistic? Your dream sensation of falling, etc. is based on your idea of what falling should feel like.
So? I can close my eyes whilst wide awake and do the same thing. This represents nothing “special” about dreaming.
Well, yes, I suppose. But I can do the same thing when awake. Dreaming doesn’t reveal anything that isn’t already there.
If you’ve never experienced any of those things, how can you possibly know that your dream experience is realistic? Your dream sensation of falling, etc. is based on your idea of what falling should feel like.
So? I can close my eyes whilst wide awake and do the same thing. This represents nothing “special” about dreaming.
Well, yes, I suppose. But I can do the same thing when awake. Dreaming doesn’t reveal anything that isn’t already there.
Oh, I never said I could assert that it was realistic. In fact, the OP specifically said “imaginary and exceptional.” I took that to mean outside the realm of human knowledge, and therefore impossible to base on known factors or personal experience. Such as how it would feel to fly or survive by bouncing from a terrible, for example.
Erk, should say …from a terrible fall.
If you’ve never experienced any of those things, how can you possibly know that your dream experience is realistic? Your dream sensation of falling, etc. is based on your idea of what falling should feel like.
So? I can close my eyes whilst wide awake and do the same thing. This represents nothing “special” about dreaming.
Well, yes, I suppose. But I can do the same thing when awake. Dreaming doesn’t reveal anything that isn’t already there.
Mary Shelley supposedly dreamed Frankenstein, so I would say yes.
what about ( i’m a male ) your very first wet dream?
I was astounded some ways in my future when the actual event occurred sob how close to reality my dreams were.
( not factoring in the fantasy elements, of course )
never have been able to figure out how my overactive pubescent mind knew such things.
i’ve read parts of a book that i was in the middle of reading at the time… couldn’t remember any details though… and a week ago, i dreamt that my AP Test results were laying on the counter, but i didn’t read them… (they finally did come in… i got a 5 on chem and a 4 on physics B…)
I’ve dreamed of alien worlds that were nothing like this one. I once took a ride on a flying jellyfish over an alien city. I once saw perfectly well in the dark, by seeing in infrared ( and the way it’s normally depicted), in a dream. I’ve figured out how to fly many times in dreams, or to move things with my mind. I’ve had extra limbs, and remained in control of them while still controlling my regular limbs.
My immagination is not limited by reality.
Well, as I noted in my last reply, yes you can dream things you’ve never seen before. But there’s really nothing special about that fact. I can do the same thing when awake.
Well, as I noted in my last reply, yes you can dream things you’ve never seen before. But there’s really nothing special about that fact. I can do the same thing when awake.