Is Imagination More Important Than Knowledge?

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Do you believe that the true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination?

A debate inspired by an Albert Einstein quote...

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."

Who was Albert Einstein? 

Albert Einstein (; German: ; 14 March 1879 ? 18 April 1955) was an ethnically Jewish, German-born theoretical physicist. He is best known for his theories of special relativity and general relativity. Einstein received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics "for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect."

Einstein's many contributions to physics include:

* The special theory of relativity, which reconciled mechanics with electromagnetism

* The general theory of relativity, a new theory of gravitation obeying the equivalence principle.

* Founding of relativistic cosmology with a cosmological constant

* The first post-Newtonian expansion, explaining the perihelion advance of Mercury

* Prediction of the deflection of light by gravity and gravitational lensing

* The first fluctuation dissipation theorem which explained the Brownian movement of molecules

* The photon theory and wave-particle duality derived from the thermodynamic properties of light

* The quantum theory of atomic motion in solids

* Zero-point energy

* The semiclassical version of the Schrodinger equation

* Relations for atomic transition probabilities which predicted stimulated emission

* The quantum theory of a monatomic gas which predicted Bose-Einstein condensation

* The EPR paradox

* A program for a unified field theory

* The geometrization of fundamental physics.

Einstein published more than 300 scientific works and more than 150 non-scientific works. His non-scientific works include: About Zionism: Speeches and Lectures by Professor Albert Einstein (1930), "Why War?" (1933, co-authored by Sigmund Freud), The World As I See It (1934), Out of My Later Years (1950), and a book on science for the general reader, The Evolution of Physics (1938, co-authored by Leopold Infeld). In 1999 Time magazine named him the Person of the Century, and in the words of a biographer, "to the scientifically literate and the public at large, Einstein is synonymous with genius."Howard, Don, and Stachel, John J. Einstein: The Formative Years, 1879-1909, p. 159, Springer (2000)

Do you agree with Albert Einstein? 

Do you believe that the true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination?

What is more important, imagination or knowledge?

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Imagination

Maggoo says:

The innovation is a result of 10% of imagination and 90% of hard work, the later being basically inteligence over knowledge.
Imagination, per se and free, may be misleading without the reality which can only be assessed through intelligently organised knowledge.

borek says:

knowledge is only data. data for you - how to do this what you imagine. check the machines - they got knowledge and only this. i do not think that they can do something by itself.

Padma Muddala says:

I think With out Imagination there might not been todays technology

paul_erdos_2002 says:

I think you guys have misinterpreted what Albert Einstien was trying to say. What he tried to say is that knowledge is something so foundamental that one should have gainned no matter through what method to acheive it i.e., including through imagination. However, once you will have obtained this knowledge, you have to use your imagination intensively to achieve an even bigger goal. It is easy to gain knowledge but it is hard to utilize one's imagination appropiately to contribute the future development or creation.

IAn says:

Imagination has to be the most important because to gain knowledge you first need imagination. there can be no knowledge with imagination to build it from

abdullah bluchi says:

imagination is important than knowledge becouse its hard to get an imagination but if you have an imagination you can search and learn to get the knowledge

Filmon says:

My quote. The more knowledge you have the biger you imagine.

So Imagination with out knowledge is weak and knowledge with out imagination is also weak. so they both Imagination and knowledge are equaly important for a greatnes. You can not be great by only having one of them. it is like Formal education will make you a living, self education and imagination will make you a fortune

Filmon Yohannes.

ronnie supan says:

if there is kindness people who help me to develope my power of immagination,is good for us not for me only

ronnie supan says:

and also i see more in immagination but also i see in person who i am now,and i look my self in my previous life i have group power full at sing of pyramid.this my experiece when i took to my friend or my relativeshe did not understand what im saying/and also i looking my like a crazy people

ronnie supan says:

i believe that power immagination coz i realize to my experience in human is very power full and,i can fight in other dimension in allien and others

yep says:

imagination ofcourse

Bushra.N says:

imagination+knowledge = miracle
two sides of the same coin

joe says:

What is he trying to say with this comment? I think he is attacking a view that knowledge and high test scores are the measuring stick of greatness and success. He is making a point that ones ability to imagine is a catalyst for the progress and achievement and is not to be dismissed as childish daydreaming. Which one is more important? who cares? Just know that they are both essential ingredients on the path of progress.

Jeremy says:

Imaginataion, because only imagination can LEAD you to knowledge, and not the other way round. Let's imagine we live in the world where no one has invented a bycyle yet. One day a man IMAGINES (envisions in his mind) people getting from point A to point B on two wheels in a non-motorised vehicle. And then he works day and night to make his invention a reality, and he succeeds. Would he have been able to invent the bicycle by simply having the knowledge of something and not the imagination?

blahster says:

imagination is important bcause if u ont hav imagintion ur stupid

iopiyu says:

i say imagination is more important because knowledge has its limits while your free to express ur thoughts

DuJuan Ross says:

Once upon a time,the entire multiverse of Academia took for an irrefutable objective verity that this existence had three dimensions.Most of the corpus of what Einstein theorized based on Newtonian laws and Maxwell,rested on that very axiom.---The one day Einstein received a paper from a mathematician named Theodor Kaluza,postulating a fourth and potential fifth dimension.Had Einstein approached his glance at this paper with a typical Scientific acumen,sieving away all that didn't conform to objectively valid hypotheses,he should have but thrown this paper away.He did not.Why?He synced his imagination with Kaluza's in attempting to see what he himself might have overlooked.No one had ever seen or imagined a fourth spatial dimension.He saw extra equations extending his own general theory of relativity.Kaluza had ,in efffect,used Maxwell's electromagnetic theorems as an adjunct to relativity to create a new framework....Before you can formulate theory,you have to trust imagination to reveal the breadths of where theory can reach.This is why imagination is more important.

Caitlin says:

Personally, I believe imagination is more important; especially to our personal happiness. With our imaginations, we can expand and create so many amazing things. While we attain knowledge through gathering information and educational experience, imagination is something we initially have and continues to expand, even when we aren't aware of it.

TAMMY says:

IMAGINATION, without a doubt. Intelligence is, by defination, the ability to apply knowledge. Imagination, on the other hand, is the ability to to perceive things that may not have even existed before.
I think we have to remember, though, that undisciplined imagination is kind of like rote intelligence...not very productive. There has to be a drive to venture past what we currently know and apply the lessons we have learned in order to progress.

offdoodykcrn says:

Imagination, by far - is more important and more powerful. I think of knowledge as being finite, concrete - like a solid block of fact. It's not much on it's own without imagination to direct it. Imagination is fluid and limitless. Infinite diversity in infinite combinations.

Pamela says:

i think both imagination and knowledge are important, but in my opinion, imagination is like you are thinking outside the box... it is something you dont know but you can make it possible by thinking of it..or maybe you can do in real life.. but i think knowledge is everything you know already... if you know already the limitation or something that can stop you from being creative that is knowledge already. but imagination is without limits.. we are free to think or free to create..

Dr James Stanson says:

Imagination, without a doubt!

tom says:

Why have humans evolved as a species? I think it's mainly because we are the only species with the capacity for creative thought. Looking back into history, if someone hadn't imagined that we could plant crops instead of being nomadic, we wouldn't be here today wasting our time commenting on internet debates lol

Lizzy says:

When one is born, they naturally explore the world to understand and gain more knowledge about it. It is innate that you learn and discover on your own. You can attain knowledge throughout your entire life just through experiences.

However, what you do with that knowledge is what can make a difference in your life and in the world. This is where imagination and creativity comes to play. Without using one's imagination to discover new abilities and ideas, one does not have the power to create a storybook, a new design for a house and ultimately, their own destiny.

Knowledge is the base, but imagination allows for one to create their quality of life.

Nishu says:

Imagination is more important. Imagination is a very power tool which can be used to create and discover new things.

darkboy0827 says:

Imagination!!!!!Becase knowledge is limited but imagination covers the whole world....hehehe...

shrubs says:

the question is when will what be impt and not what is impt.
When you are still a baby or child, basic knowledge is more important because without it thee's no basis to imagine from.
But when you have already grown up and have developed or built up knowledge, then imagination is more important. As basic knowledge can be used to imagine and understand or solve more complex things in the world. Since, i'm assuming everyone who would be reading this now have already grown up and have alrdy attained some basic knowledge, i would say that for now, IMAGINATION leads. because u can always attain knowledge-it has become easy once u know how to find it. plus, it's everywhere now with the internet and othr resource. but imagination requires more effort from the brain. it makes the brain work rather than just absorbing given information. u may hv the knowledge but u will still need the imagination to help u understand or apply the knowledge. that is what makes IMAGINATION more important.

g2_in_chaos says:

I believe Imagination is better than knowledge..,.

Gaining knowledge comes from imagining because imaginations gives you ideas that will conclude to knowledge. I mean, people will never be able to discover or create something new if they will always go on what is currently present. I takes a lot of imagination to create a new discovery. Knowledge only comes out when you try to imagine. Imaginations is like asking and knowledge is answering. Which comes first, asking or answering? Du-h. Lol..,.

Ginny says:

You can't have knowledge without imagination

grace_antoinette says:

Imagination is something we all have. It is the music that live in us. Knowledge is what we analyze and collect from our imagination. Imagination is the music that strengthen the body, mind and spirit. It doesn't need great musical knowledge. By understanding it, we can apply the imagination to interact with our lives. It is not the knowledge, not the power or might, but the simplicity of application that is the wisdom of the sages.....Edgar Cayce

Knowledge

ferzvnum27 says:

,,for me knowledge is more important than imagination .,,it is because ,,how would you create a wide imagination if you don't have knowledge in your mind,,its just like sending a short text message to your friend ,.: how would you or how can send that message if your mobile phone doesn't have enough load"

Chadrew says:

Imagination is only useful with a lot of knowledge to back it up.

If you have no knowledge but wild imagination that's how absurd nonsense like ghosts, UFOs, and sects like scientology are born.

You NEED knowledge.

fade says:

i there for conclude that knowledge is more powerful or important instead of imagination because knowledge makes you imagine if you don't have knowledge whats make you imagine? if you have the power of imagination what makes you imagine?... knowledge!

although both side have a point but i rather choose knowledge than imagination..!!
..>>done!

Alina says:

Knowledge maybe limited without imagination but we need knowledge to imagine otherwise why would we always say " I can't imagine so and so....?

C-Joy says:

From a Montessori perspective, imagination is based on knowledge. Learn first, then play with what you know:)

Richard_L'amour says:

Knowledge of course, without knowledge, imagination is just like a building without foundation, which cannot be established in the first place.

Haggar says:

Imagination is a 'function' of knowledge! Knowledge is a 'function' of curiosity. So isn't curiosity more important than both 'knowledge' and 'imagination'?

Treasures-By-Brenda says:

I am going to choose knowledge because I don't think it matters how much imagination you have if you do not have knowledge...

Brenda

zipdog says:

For basic survival, a little of either one will do. If you want to make good money you need either a lot of one or a lot of the other, because the best things imagined and actually carried out start and end with a body of knowledge that lets the imagination run wild. If you have a lot of both coupled with ambition, you can make a ton of money. If making a living isn't important, pick one.

alice says:

knowledge is more important because if we didn't have knowledge we wouldn't be able to imagine we wouldn't even know what imagination is!

eddie says:

There is limited imagination with no knowledge

DGL- An Olympia member says:

Imagination is more important than knowledge. It is not based on the disjuction: It is better to Know that I am right than imaging that I am right. But it is based on the conjuction that is better to know that I am right and imaging that you are right. In other words if you know then you die and if you imagine your keep on living.

AK D!t0x says:

well it is quit simpal when Albert Einstein was born did
he knew every thing at the time of his birth did he Imagined
right away that E=mc2 or he gained some Knowledge first that
why is E=mc2 its just like when a child is borned he have learn
and diffrenciat between quit alot things for E.g he need to
that who is his mother and who is his father if he can imagin at
that he can imagin his father as his mother and what I think is
Imagination is only a glich of your mind Imagination are your
unfulfilled dreams . If I IMAGIN E=mc4 but the truth is E=mc2
our minds can imagin any thing we want even if they are against
nature for E.g last night I imagined A lion gave birth to a fox
is true nope . As closing down I ll say Every thing which exsict
is SCIENCE and Science is the KNOWLEDGE gathered for welfare of
ManKind

Alan D F says:

Simple question:
can you survive these days with ability of imagination?
with knowledge?

adanna Badgett says:

knowledge

sunil jha says:

knowledge is more important.

vivek says:

With knowledge you can sharpen your imagination. Big problems can not be solved unless you have basic knowledge.

Even you can't imagine without knowledge.

vivek says:

still knowledge. If your imagination is boosted by knowledge you can do big miracle. without knowledge imagination is lame.

Vivek Dikshit says:

Einstein made a number of discovery, but basis of those discoveries were great works of scientists like Maxwel, Boltzman and Riemann etc. So it can be said knowledge leads to imagination which leads to inovations.

MobyD says:

This is not an either/or, black/white situation. Imagination feeds off knowledge; knowledge informs imagination. I can imagine the Beatles getting back together and recording a super album, but knowledge tells me this can't happen because John Lennon is dead. Knowledge informs us that some things, like bringing John back to life, cannot be changed. But imagination drives us to seek answers we have not yet found.

"Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace..."

Imagination creates the dreams. Knowledge gets us there.

christine says:

WE ARE DOING A DEBATE ON THIS AND WE THINK THAT KNOWLEGE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE IMAGINATION BECAUSE YOU MUST HAVE KNOWLEGE TO HAVE AN IMAGINATION
THANKS!!

Jackie says:

Without adequate knowledge, there is no room for imagination. Learning and seeking out knowledge can inspire your imaginationTo put it plainly, you can not imagine anything if you do not know anything.

eccles1 says:

Albert Einstein is saying "Imagination is more important than knowledge."
to US humans... and this is the whole problem too much imagination and no facts no knowledge=human nature at its best full of conflic and heartaches

RobPrice says:

Imagination feeds off knowledge. The more you know the more you are able to imagine.

EelKat says:

Even though I already voted for imagination, I've got to say that knowledge is pretty important too. In some respects I think they are actually equal, because imagination can certainly inspire you to learn thus increasing your knowledge, yet on the other hand, learning and seeking out knowledge can inspire your imagination as well. So maybe they are best together and either one without the other would be not so good.

Boy, I wish there was a third option so I could say : both!

spirituality says:

I'll start this one out. Knowledge is more important: without knowledge our whole society would crumble. Imagination is the icing on the cake.

 
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Books about Albert Einstein 

Ideas and Opinions

The New Quotable Einstein

The World As I See It

Quotes by Albert Einstein accompanied by Mozart. 

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The Best Albert Einstein Quotes (as decided by you) 

Add your favorite and vote!

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."

5 points

"The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education."

5 points

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

4 points

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction."

3 points

"Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding."

3 points

"The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible."

0 points

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."0 points

Einstein Recordings 

NOT SO LONG AGO - 1960 NBC TV PROJECT TWENTY LP

Einstein on YouTube 


Albert Einstein (01)

Albert Einstein Photos

einstein e=mc2 theory of relaivity

Albert Einstein Comes To America (1933)

A Tribute to Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein 1879-1955

My inspiration for this debate...

I noticed this quote by Albert Einstein hanging on the wall of a classroom in my daughter's Montessori/Liberal Arts school and it just stuck in my mind until I realized that it would make a great debate for HeyMonkeyBrain!

More Einstein on Squidoo! 

More of My Debates on HeyMonkeyBrain 

 

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ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...

Knowledge is important but an imagination will get you farther.
Great debate.
Lizzy

ReplyPosted May 18, 2009

hlkljgk wrote...

great conversation you have going here.

ReplyPosted May 04, 2009

C-Joy wrote...

Excellent question! I think imagination is important, but knowledge even more so. Life is more fun when the two are combined:)

ReplyPosted April 26, 2009

chicandsavvy wrote...

Interesting and lighthearted debate. I always enjoy your lenses. 5*'s.

ReplyPosted April 21, 2009

DebWier wrote...

This is one of my favorite quotes of all time so I really enjoyed this lens. Great job!

ReplyPosted April 18, 2009

a_willow wrote...

This is excellent debate lens! Well done! And fully deserving of an angel blessing! :)

ReplyPosted April 15, 2009

Sarunas wrote...

Awesome lens : )
Good job. 5 stars from me.
Keep it up.

ReplyPosted April 10, 2009

papawu wrote...

Great question and interesting debate.

ReplyPosted April 08, 2009

Treasures-By-Brenda wrote...

Interesting debate...I chose knowledge because I think imagination without the knowledge just wouldn't work...there's no debate, however, about this lens being worthy of a SquidAngel blessing from a brand-new SquidAngel!

Brenda

ReplyPosted April 07, 2009

SammySpam wrote...

A great debate! Was fun reading everybody's thoughts.

ReplyPosted March 29, 2009

 
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