Study of creative imagination role in research activity

The article is represented within a new psychological paradigm. According to this paradigm not only a cognizing subject but also his imagination process play an important role in scientific cognition. In their works such ancient philosophers as Aristotel, Lucretius Carus, Plato focused their attention on this process. It is the authors' opinion their statements prove a primary importance of creative imagination in research work. The introspections of great scientists are summarized. On the border of XIX - XX centuries a specific interest in research of imagination as a psychological process appears.