A failure of imagination is a circumstance wherein something seemingly predictable (particularly from hindsight) and undesirable was not planned for.
The field of epistemology studies knowledge and human understanding, and failures of understanding. Failure of imagination is related to Unknown unknowns and Black swan theory, popularized by Nassim Taleb in his 2007 book The Black Swan, describing unexpected or unpredicted incidents with significant negative impact.
Read more about Failure Of Imagination: Intelligence Failures of Imagination and The 9/11 Attacks, Accidents Related Failures of Imagination
Famous quotes containing the words failure of, failure and/or imagination:
“The failure of academic feminists to recognize difference as a crucial strength is a failure to reach beyond the first patriarchal lesson. In our world, divide and conquer must become define and empower.”
—Audre Lorde (1934–1992)
“Slowly the poison the whole blood stream fills.
It is not the effort nor the failure tires.
The waste remains, the waste remains and kills.”
—William Empson (1906–1984)
“I would observe to you that what is called style in writing or speaking is formed very early in life while the imagination is warm, and impressions are permanent.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)