When it comes to a debate on whether we need to emphasize imagination/creativity or knowledge in education, society, etc. how can we say that one is more valuable than the other?
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” - Albert Einstein
Creativity/ imagination is priceless and creates a world of possibilities. In science, the obvious role of imagination is in the context of great discoveries and radical new ideas.
On the other hand, Knowledge is a stepping stone to imagination; it stands to imagination as honeycomb does to honey!. Knowledge does not limit imagination!.
In my opinion knowledge is a basement which will be enriched by imagination giving as a result a creativity.
Creativity/ imagination is priceless and creates a world of possibilities. In science, the obvious role of imagination is in the context of great discoveries and radical new ideas.
On the other hand, Knowledge is a stepping stone to imagination; it stands to imagination as honeycomb does to honey!. Knowledge does not limit imagination!.
I believe Einstein is seeing from his viewpoint and I quite agree. Because we can't solve problems with just knowledge, imagination and creativity are more useful and needed.
Knowledge widens one's horizon, can be learned, gained and adapted by many, while imagination / creativity is limited and is free for all too, everybody can imagine or be creative like Einstein, but knowledge can be acquired by all if interested. However, all are someway inter-related, a knowledgeable person can imagine good things and understand in a better way, while a lesser knowledgeable fellow can imagine any thing beyond too.
Knowledge is necessary, but not enough. Imagination - and usually hard work and luck I am afraid - are need for achievieg the success in many areas including science, engineering, etc.
Aside from other vital ingredients, knowledge, imagination and creativity are intertwined tools of a voyage of navigation of a scientist deep in to the wider field of unknown via the engine of imagination in search of what might be discovered or created, that is useful to humankind.
In education, art and scientific endeavors where knowledge is created, expanded and disseminate from an existing knowledge, the three activities are vital. With one or two or all of them missing, the mission of education and others will not be met.
Good question, Aieman. I think Einstein's quotes were made not at the beginning of his academic career, when he absorbed knowledge (not so much by his teachers, I'm afraid, but by self education). To imagine something you have to know what exists and what might exist. Then you can let your thoughts flow and create some experiments in your mind (thought experiments). Imagination is the trigger for creativity and makes us feel the need for something different or new. So, I concur with Dejenie and others that we need all of those ingredients to stir up academic thinking.
Imagination, ideation and creativity are vital for sustained human development. Knowledee is key to these serving as both a base but also, through lack of knowledge, serving as a driver for knowledge seeking and discovery.
The end game in knowledge creation, exploration and exploitation; and from imagination, ideation and creatiity is in innovation, ie in being of value to man and society
Dear colleague
Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”
Thank you
It's like asking which is more important - to swim fast or to run fast. Well, important for what? If it is about winning 500 m running at the Olympics, definitely running is a priority. If it's about 500 m butterfly at the same competition, well swimming is better.
It's nor less, nor more important. They are, I am saying it as a metaphor to the dimensions in the linear algebra, orthogonal. One should not be opposed to the other!
Take it that way - there are professions in the practice where imagination and creativity is not important at all. And it is also a must for the educational system to provide qualified knowledgeable people for these working places. It is also a must for the educational system to provide creative people who will do innovations and make a progress.
So which is more imporant? BOTH!
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