The Polymorphy of Fantasy

Approaches to an elusive phenomenon

Abstract

In connection with the elusive nature of the phenomenon of fantasy, we often hear Edmund Husserl's famous epithet cited: 'Protean'. My paper consists of two lectures and approaches the phenomenon of fantasy in two ways. 1. How does our mentation create fantasy images? 2. What are the basic needs stimulating fantasy? Based on Kant's transcendental schemes, and Merleau-Ponty’s concept of „polymorphism”, the first lecture examines the ways in which fantasy images are created, while the second lecture analyzes the motivations of fantasy, using Seymour Epstein's theory of „four basic needs” („four basic motives”).