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 (; ; 14 March 1879?18 April 1955) was a theoretical physicist. His many contributions to physics include the special and general theories of relativity, the founding of relativistic cosmology, 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, the quantum theory of atomic motion in solids, the zero-point energy concept, the semiclassical version of the Schrödinger equation, and the quantum theory of a monatomic gas which predicted Bose-Einstein condensation.

Einstein is best known for his theories of special relativity and general relativity. He 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 published more than 300 scientific and over 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). He is often regarded as the father of modern physics.

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

Pablo Escabar says:

I'm just going to settle this once and for all. Without imagination we would have never stored knowledge and never had anything. Imagination all day...there is no comparison. No imagination = no lights. No imagination = no planes. No imagination = no way to store knowledge.

cyneraca says:

knowledge comes from a book
imagination comes from within

Srinivasarao says:

Progress of science will come only with Imagination.

JC says:

Imagination is definitely more important because it can run wild and freely 24/7 while knowledge can't. Because our imaginations go deep, it leads to new inventions, new discoveries, and so on. Knowledge is needed, duh, but imagination is the reason we have that knowledge. Our curiosity.

Sowdesh says:

im sure imagination is more important, coz knowledge has some limitations and imagination gives creativity with gives advanced actions to the future.

sean says:

imagination creates more possibilities, can lead to new inventions while the knowledge you have is limited, you can only use it to a certain extent

bea says:

yeah he was right..in knowledge..things are limited..in imagination ..you can think of anything you want..the possibilities.....

biju singh says:

imagination is more important than knowledge because imagination can nourish the imagination and its not the knowledge which helps us to imagine abt something

imad says:

Imagination is far more important than knowledge, as it is the mother of all inventions .... all inventions basically started with an image in the head.......intensive imagination would force your brain to gain the necessary knowledge to make it happen.

GabrielGadfly says:

Knowledge is sometimes limiting. We "know" things to be true, and therefore don't strive to surpass those limits. Imagination redefines knowledge.

Charley says:

if we take the instance of einstein, it took his imaginative break/leap from the contemporary newtonian knowledge to move physics forward... curved space/time wasn't in the knowledge of 19th century physics, it took imagination to push this forward. the same is true for all thinkers throughout the eras who have thought outside the box of knowledge of their times. imagination creates new things, which are only a posteriorly translated into a formalism we call knowledge. imagination creates, whilst knowledge is just a weaker recorded version that imagination isn't dependent upon, but sometimes draws from. but knowledge is static information that doesn't do anything new, only imagination can.

ASHWIN says:

yes

himaja says:

as for my opinion imagination is more important

Bhargava soma sekhar says:

imagination is more important because "knowledge is what every one know-your imagination is what you only know. without imagination how can we invent any thing? i.e.,computer's,A.C's,Refrigerators e.t.c.,

revenreborn says:

may i point out that scientests who used 'knowledge' to lead there lives said it would be impossible to walk on the moon but with a dream and a little bit of creativity, we made it happen. and one more thing, if there was no imagination in this world would you be happy? really?

revenreborn says:

i am always seeking knowledge but i would lead a unhappy life withount imagination which many say is my greatest feature

AE says:

without imagination, you would not have the gun in the first place or the cancer treatment...hello...

ck says:

Imagination=non-consciousness, knowledge=consciousness , 98% of our perception and behavior is controlled by the non-consciousness mind and only about 2% is controlled by consciousness. Only 17% of your brain is the consciousness and 83% is non-consciousness. Do you want imagination or knowledge?

kitty222 says:

Both are important but I think imagination is slightly more so. Somebody had to imagine that we could actually go to the Moon and look what we got out of it, both economically and scientifically.

Richard says:

Imagination and knowledge go hand in hand. Ideas come from imagination, and knowledge puts the idea in effect. I chose imagination because it is the start of the creation of something new

Sada says:

I believe it is imagination.Even though the pieces of knowledge are the fundamental constituents of any imagination.An good example is Centaur which is a combination of horse and a man.The imagination which can deliver some value is I feel the supreme.

Courtney says:

I believe imagination if far greater than knowledge. Imagination gives us the power to think creatively; to write great fictional stories; to create new technology; to discover medicinal cures; to entertain people; to dream and to create the future.
Example.-- there was no knowledge of mobile phones 20 odd years ago, someone imagined how great it would be to be able to talk to someone and not have to be attatched to a cord at a wall, or to walk outside of their house or home and talk on the phone. there was no knowledge of how to create/ design one so someone imagined how it would be created and put it into existance.

Einstein once said that the was wrong 99% of the time, I believe that this is the one percent that he was right.

keir says:

imagination is more important than knowledge

jimmy j says:

imagination is more important then knowledge because you create your own reality. mainstream understanding of knowledge can be persuasive into a systematic way of thinking which can cause one to be close minded... perception IS reality... my 2 cents

Justin P. says:

I think both are equal, but imagination is my true thought for the more important. Knowledge is important, yes, because it gives us a foundation to start upon, known facts that are truthful. Then we can expand these ideas with our imagination- not just is it to see if we can be realistic, but for the pure fun of it. Imagination isn't always a well-known fact- it can also be something personal, something no one else will ever know about.

www. says:

I believe both are equal, cause u need both imagination and knowledge to make those things work and become important.
But i still think that imagination comes first before we get our knowledge, then we use our knowledge to expand our imagination

yogesh says:

imagination

diZZy liZZY says:

WHO CARES!!! God created us through his great power. He gave us basic knowledge (the essentials) and we have an imagination to expand that basic knowledge

cherry says:

imagination

Daniel Lynn Houser says:

"Imagination is more impotant than knowledge"
Albert Einstein

Question- "If knowledge is fact, how can imagination be more important?"

Answer- "Knowledge is actualized fact, the past. Imagination is only better because it is actualized fact as well, only in the future. Therefore he who sees it and walks it first; Wins the Game!"
Dan Houser

Inspired by the reflections and conversations with John Owshanik and Johnny Walker on Saturday, early in the morning April 18, 2009

Knowledge

Rose says:

imagination cauz imagination come first than knowledge, and knowledge put our ideas or imagimation in effect. if we did not use our imagination how can we create technology,or study organisms and do the math ect....

Danny says:

Picture this......a war.u get shot. whos going to heal u. a cancer outbreak.surely paint wont heal this. it doesnt take a genius to work out wicth is better

Grace H says:

both are equally important. what is knowledge without imagination? what is imagination without knowledge? we need both of these very significant and essential aspects in our lives. how can we live with only theory? how can we live with only dreams? What helps us produce creativity and wisdom is imagination and knowledge. one cannot live without one of the other. Therefore, I disagree with Einstein's statement. Both aspects are very important in our lives. We would live a very intricate life if we do not posses both imagination and knowledge in our lives.

DKL@ says:

what about the old cavemen. they did not know anything.

Infinity says:

Eventually this becomes a limiting question, what about HOW are imagination and knowledge important? We make some progress... If you use your knowledge and imagination instinctively, intelligently, constructively, etc you can start to see that it is all part of an interlocking process to advance and push ourselves forwards towards the continuation of discovering more about life itself, its a drive, both are equally important, alongside other elements such as intuition, logic, consideration etcetc. Using your knowledge and imagination can help you to think outside of real or non-real constraints or 'the box', they work symbiotically because they are so interdependant, one cannot exist without the other. Just like a debate produces answers because once divided, each side will choose a path to defend and this will increase productivity and results. We have to remember to come back together and share what we have found, to unite the discoveries in understanding the nature of knowledge and imagination, how they work both separately and together, to feel the rhythms of their working through different stages and relationships. If we can understand, nourish and harbour our knowledge and imagination we create a strong and powerful path upon which ourselves and others can safely tread this will provide an avenue towards new discoveries and horizons and maintain the continual inspiration for life itself! So we take ourselves forward and energise our individual way, together as a whole.
Trust what we know or explore to find out more?

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!

waheed60 says:

Knowledge without imagination can be productive. However, imagination without knowledge can lead you nowhere. Combination of knowledge with imagination is what makes you creative.
Let me explain this further with clear illustration. For instance, when you complete a degree in medicine in the university, you become a doctor and help people get rid of their diseases. That is productivity. But if you sit at home imagining how to treat people when they are sick, you will end up being a quack doctor and find yourself eventually in a prison. That is the land of nowhere. Whereas if you train as a doctor, carry out researches on various diseases, you will be able to treat people when they are sick and at the same time train more doctors and develop new methods of treatment. That is creative and it is what you will be remembered for.

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.

 
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Easy poll for those who may have misplaced their imagination and/or ability to type. 

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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. 

Video Credit:
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The Best Albert Einstein Quotes (as decided by you) 

Add your favorite and vote!

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

6 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."

5 points

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

5 points

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."

4 points

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

4 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

albert einstein e=mc2 theory of relaivity

Albert Einstein Comes To America (1933)

A Tribute to Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein 1879-1955
curated content from YouTube

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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Michael wrote

A wonderful quote, that seems so obvious, I would have never guessed such a debate, that people would actually choose knowledge. Even with lots of knowledge, no breakthrough, nothing visionary has been created or even discovered with it, that was not spawned in some way by imagination. I dare say even the knowledge itself wasn't acquired without imagination 95% of the time. In the 5% of time when it knocked us in the head like an apple falling from a tree (ahem), it was imagination that let to exploiting, developing and thus advancing that knowledge.

Reply Posted August 03, 2009

jura wrote...

Knowledge and imagination are imported .

ReplyPosted June 15, 2009

Screenwriting4me wrote...

Imagination is the cornerstone of intelligence. Knowledge is what sets your imagination free.

ReplyPosted May 18, 2009

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

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