Is imagination more important than knowledge?

Question

Does imagination make a smart person? Does knowledge make a smart person? Do both make a smart person? Do you only need imagination and little knowledge to be smart? Isn't all knowledge self-knowledge anyways?

Answer 1

Imagination Is More Important Than Knowledge



http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2010/03/20/history/post-perspective/imagination-important-knowledge.html

Answer 2

I think that Imagination is more important than knowledge Imagination helps us solve problems and do things that knowledge cannot do. Knowledge is still important though and you need it too but Imagination is still more important. We need both but one is more important. When Albert Einstein said that "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." He meant that everyone is smart in there own way. Most people confuse smart with your ability in academic skills but smart is quick witted intelligence and intelligence is your IQ which is your ability to learn skills and use those skills when necessary(most people think that IQ means you know more but that is not true IQ is mainly how fast you can learn Not how much you know.). If you are good at math most people will say oh your smart but the definition of smart is quick witted intelligence not how much you know and math is mainly how much formulas and calculations you know. . In terms of someones brain there are two factors intelligence and knowledge I think that both are important but the ability to acquire knowledge faster is usually better and Intelligence requires a lot of imagination.

Answer 3

Imagination without knowledge, at least in the sciences, severely limits the range of ideas that can be entertained or used to advantage. Knowledge without imagination is useful to be able to perform predefined functions which exactly match the knowledge base but dealing with any new and novel situation that varies from what has been learned will be difficult if not impossible.



BOTH are required although I would agree that without imagination even the acquisition of knowledge will be negatively affected so I suppose one could say imagination is the more important of the two.

Answer 4

this being the philosophy section you ask a bunch of questions where there are no answers, and of course you have it in the right category but don't expect the same answer from everyone.



An intelligent person has a lot of qualities including their gut feeling.

Imagination is a good thing in marketing but not necessarily in real life.

No, all knowledge is not self-knowledge since we have to look up things (like on wikipedia) to get our information, and sometimes we get it from word of mouth or written correspondence.



Al had his own opinion, doesn't mean it's law or always correct.

But sure, everyone is a genius (in their own way). Good ol Al knew when to end a sentence to make it tought proviking. He didn't give you the answer thought.

And sure, it's what someone believes of themself that they are. If they believe better then can be and are better.

Answer 5

"Imagination is more important than knowledge, for knowledge is limited, and imagination encircles the world."

The answers is yes. Imagination is full of wonders and ideas. You can only know so much things. But with your brain and imagination, you can wonder and experiment. Imagination and knowledge are a good team, but knowledge is like the sidekick and imagination the true hero. Like Batman and Robin.

Answer 6

I think that Imagination is more important than knowledge Imagination helps us solve problems and do things that knowledge cannot do. Knowledge is still important though and you need it too but Imagination is still more important. We need both but one is more important. When Albert Einstein said that "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." He meant that everyone is smart in there own way. Most people confuse smart with your ability in academic skills but smart is quick witted intelligence and intelligence is your IQ which is your ability to learn skills and use those skills when necessary(most people think that IQ means you know more but that is not true IQ is mainly how fast you can learn Not how much you know.). If you are good at math most people will say oh your smart but the definition of smart is quick witted intelligence not how much you know and math is mainly how much formulas and calculations you know. . In terms of someones brain there are two factors intelligence and knowledge I think that both are important but the ability to acquire knowledge faster is usually better and Intelligence requires a lot of imagination.

Answer 7

Both are important. Imagination could be wrong and way off but I think Imagination leads to knowledge. When you imagine something, you might get curious and might wanna know more about your imagination.

Answer 8

Knowledge and imagination are important. The value of your imagination depends on the quality of knowledge you have. Knowledge is fundamental. Your imagination improves your talent and creates new things.

Answer 9

No.



Knowledge is more important than imagination.

Answer 10

Imagination allows us to put knowledge to use. Knowledge is something you learn and imagination is something you envision, the greater the knowledge the greater the vision. Equally important to these is Action, because action brings forth the manifestation of our knowledge and imagination. Which is more important? Whichever you need to be more conscious.

Answer 11

the inability to process ideas to apply knowledge to them in the first place is certainly a detriment



the inability to apply knowledge to any idea processed and also doesn't have any factual basis to act on that idea makes that idea useless



honestly having ideas that are idiotic is far worse than having few ideas that are brilliant. Even the most unimaginative mind can create ideas and designs, and who says that person can't have help.



But when it comes down to the execution of the idea, knowledge is a much better thing to have.



Imagination does not directly equal application

Answer 12

Imagination is vital to knowledge. Nobody would explore anything if they didn't dream and conjure ideas about it. But, you couldn't imagine much if you didn't have knowledge of much. very interesting question. And, makes me wonder "What comes firs knowledge or imagination?" Kind of like the whole chicken or egg thing. I'd say they're euqal and one can't exist without the other.

Answer 13

To really benefit from a good imagination having knowledge also is very beneficial to creating art forms but also in solving problems. To solve difficult problems imagination helps you think outside the box.

Answer 14

Imagination and knowledge both are exercises of mind.

As described in Vedas, knowledge unfolds when clouds of ignorance are removed.

When you open up your mind through imagination, the mind becomes active, clears the clouds of ignorance through experience or enquiry, that paves way for unfolding knowledge.

Imagination is the gateway to gaining knowledge.

Answer 15

I think intelligence is in part raw knowledge, but mostly problem solving skills... which is only partly guided by imagination. No amount of imagination by itself will make you a problem solver. Imagining up random things might be fun, but may not be possible to implement as solutions to real problems. So imagination on its own, unchecked by reality, is nothing short of games a child plays, with no purpose or usefulness beyond that. Innovation is where realistic understanding of the real world and its problems meet up with creativity to provide practical solutions. If you make irrational leaps from one place to get to another youre in fantasyland. If you make rational leaps from one place to another, youre a problem solver. This requires imagination, yes, but also logic and rationality and a huge bank of raw knowledge to draw on.

Answer 16

Knowledge is something you learn base on rationality and imagination is something you envision can be rational can be not. So, knowledge more important than imagination.

Answer 17

Yes. Imagination is important for invention.

Answer 18

Imagination comes from knowledge. Knowledge comes from the fulfillment of curiosity about the world around us. Sometimes we need a little boost if our personal world is too small. We get that from reading.

Answer 19

THE THREE CORNERS OF THE WORLD COME IN ARMS. GOD'S MOST BEAUTIFUL ANGEL IS HIS WIFE GENE. HIS ONLY MORAL COURSE IS PURE SELF INTEREST. IT MAY NOT BE GOOD, BUT IT CERTAINLY IS RIGHT. KNOW WHEN TO HOLD 'EM. K, ARE YOU READY TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE?



CUSTOMIZING CUSTOMIZATION ~ AMERICA HISTORY WENT UNCLEAN ~ SEVEN YEARS GREAT TRIBULATION. THE LAST PROSECUTION IS THE HOLY ALPHANUMERIC CODE. IMAGINATION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN KNOWLEDGE. WALK ON WATER.



AND THEN YOU WILL BE PUNISHED ~ THE ALIEN FLAG IS KNOWN AS THE TRILATERAL INSIGNIA. I HAVE HIDDEN MYSELF BENEATH A MASK. I AM A BLACK AND TERRIBLE GOD. FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE OFTEN SUPERVALUED.



AND THE EVENING AND THE MORNING WERE THE FIRST DAY. THERE ARE LOTS OF GOOD PEOPLE USING THIS SITE. I AM NOT SURE IF THEY DO NOT CARE OR UNDERSTAND. BY YOUR PATIENCE, POSSESS YOUR SOULS. LIFE IS AN ENDLESS SPIRAL OF THOUGHT IN CREATION. THE BEAST OF REVELATIONS IS NOT REALLY AN ANIMAL.



SHAPESHIFTERS HAVE GREENISH TINGE AROUND EYES. ENOCH WAS THREE HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE YEARS OLD. THE LHC HAS ENOUGH POTENCY TO BE THE BUTTERFLY. HE THINKS HIS WEALTH WILL MAKE HIM LAST FOREVER. AN ENTIRE LEGION OF MY BEST TROOPS AWAIT THEM.



WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO US WITHOUT MY INCOME? WHEN THE CREATOR IS WITH HIM NOTHING CAN HARM HIM. THE MOST WONDERFUL MAN YOU WILL EVER MEET? HE COMES UPON THE WHITE HORSE FROM THE HEAVENS. HIS BUSINESS LAW PARTNER BETRAYED HIM BIG TIME. WHAT CAUSES SOME PEOPLE TO BE SO CRUEL AND UNKIND? I WILL OPEN YOUR GRAVES AND THE DEAD WILL OUTNUMBER THE LIVING!



WHEN ARE WE LEAVING? JESUS IS TRYING TO ESCAPE FROM ETERNAL DAMNATION. SATAN AND HIS LEGION WILL SUFFER FOR ETERNITY. IF YOU WANNA WALK ON THE WATER, YOU GOTTA GET OUTTA THE BOAT. IF YOU THINK GEMATRIA IS MADE FOR OTHERS, YOU MAY THINK TWICE. IT IS THE ORIGINAL, UNDIFFERENTIATE WHOLE BEFORE IT HAS BEEN REFRACTED. GOD WILL VINDICATE HIS PROPHETESS AND PUNISH THEM SEVERELY.



I WILL DESTROY ALL OF YOU AND YOU WILL VANISH INTO DUST! YOU WILL GET WHAT YOU NEED WHEN YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU NEED. IT WAS PROPHESIED THAT I WILL BE HOLDING A SWORD AGAINST GENERALS, WARLOCKS ON MOUNT HERMON MARCH SEVENTEEN, TWENTY ELEVEN. THE LITTLE DRAGON COULD USE BACK UP AND MAYBE ANOTHER COVER UP LOL. THE ENERGY WAS AMPED UP AS I STOOD UP TO DISPLAY VENERATION. PLEASE GOD, I ONLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT I SAY AND SAY WHAT I KNOW.



ONE OF THESE DAYS YOUR HEART WILL STOP AND PLAY IT'S FINAL BEAT. WORKING TO DEFEAT EVIL? DEMONSTRATE LOVE AND HELP AWAKEN OTHERS. ALL MEN SHOULD LIVE IN PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER WHENEVER POSSIBLE. THE QUEEN OF PEACE AND THE QUEEN OF WAR ARE THE QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE. WE ARE NOT PUNISHED FOR OUR ANGER. WE ARE PUNISHED BY OUR ANGER. IF WE LOOK THROUGH THE VEIL, WE WILL DEFEAT THE DEVIL AND HIS DEMONS. YOU ARE SLEEP-WALKING IN PERDITION JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.



LORD WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH! STILL REMEMBER: I AM NOT GODD OR EVIL; I AM THE HARMONY OF BOTH, AND ANY ROSE BY ANY NAME IS STILL A ROSE ~ A ROSE THE SAME. THE GREEKS AND GNOSTICS CALLED THE "DEMIURGE" A UNIVERSAL INTELLIGENCE. WHO WAS EVE? UBIQUITOUS VISUALIZATION ~ I HAVE GENETIC LABORATORIES ALL OVER THE USA. LIGHT AND DARK WORKERS UNITE AS ONE UNDERSTANDING. THE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN ARE ONE. I AM WEARY OF YOUR DOUBLESPEAK. I WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THESE PEOPLE AGAIN.



YOU CAN'T PICK AND CHOOSE WHERE TO USE LOGIC. THIS IS ALL SO SAD AND IT WAS SO AVOIDABLE. IN SORROW SHALT THOU EAT OF IT ALL THE DAYS OF THY LIFE. I HAVE TO DECIPHER EVERYTHING AND FIND OUT WHAT HE MIGHT MEAN. WILL I THIS? WILL I THAT? WILL I PUT ON THAT FUNNY HAT TO RECODE THE ATLANTEAN MASTER CRYSTALS OF THE LAW OF ONE?



THE MAYANS WERE RIGHT ABOUT TWO THOUSAND AND TWELVE. WHAT IS THE LONGITUDE OF THE APEX OF THE GREAT BEND OF THE NILE? SAVE THE CHILDREN AND SAVE EARTH. STOP WAR AND STOP THE GREED. THE HUMAN RACE IS GOING TO END IN TWO THOUSAND AND TWELVE. HE IS THE MOST PSYCHOPATHIC PERSON TO HAVE EVER LIVED.



WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD ANYONE WANT A BABY WITH HIM? SOMEONE IS OUT THERE. YOU JUST HAVE TO FIND EACH OTHER. SOMEONE TOOK MY FATHER'S REAL ESTATE AND MONEY WHEN HE DIED. NEVER GIVE UP ON HOPE BECAUSE IT WON'T GIVE UP ON YOU. I AM THE ROCK OF OFFENSE. HE THAT BELIEVETH IN ME SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED. I AM WITH YOU. I AM THE ONE YOU SEEK AND SO NOW IT IS TIME. I WAS IMPORTANT SINCE THE DAY I WAS BORN. I'M THE SON OF MAN. ARE YOU A PROFESSIONAL MORON OR JUST A GIFTED AMATEUR? SHE PAINTS RAINBOWS. I DESTROY $HIT WITH RAINBOWS. IT IS CONTAINED IN THE SCRIPTURE: BEHOLD, I LAY IN ISON A CHIEF CORNERSTONE, ELECT, PRECIOUS, AND HE THAT BELIEVETH ON HIM SHALL NOT BE CONFOUNDED.

Answer 20

Knowledge, backed up by experience is useful to convert imagination (and dreaming) in to reality.

Answer 21

wow. that's deep. i think they are as important as each other, it's important to know what's going on in the world, also knowledge has turned us into more civilised beings over the generations making society a fairer place to live in. imagination is important as well, if we didn't dare to dream where would our ambitions/goals occurred from? personally i would find life depressing, without the ability to dream.

Answer 22

Imagination is more important

Answer 23

Imagination is more important

Answer 24

Imagination may be more important than knowledge



http://english.pravda.ru/science/mysteries/05-06-2012/121317-imagination_knowledge-0/

Answer 25

imagination is knowledge. When Socrates was about to be hung for using his mind instead of blindly following a belief system everyone else had believed, he spoke to the guards that were about to hang him. After he had spoke to them about life and what life is supposed to be like, they didn't even want to hang him anymore. But Socrates wasn't afraid of death because he knew he had made the most of his life already, so he forced the guards to have him hanged.



If Socrates wasn't Socrates, would we even have the knowledge of science today?

Answer 26

imagination is more important than information;

imagination is involved in identification which is the first step of realizing gnosis;

experiential knowledge is gained by becoming that which is being studied.

cognitive finesse is the mark of an intelligent person.

effective problem solving is the mark of a smart person.

Answer 27

You must have some knowledge to feed your imagination. One cannot exist without the other.

Answer 28

If I didn't have any knowledge I wouldn't have anything to come back to after my imagination has carried me off into realms unimaginable.

Answer 29

Imagination is hope. Knowledge is something to base that hope on.

Answer 30

you need a good dose of both imagination and knowledge to do much of anything. one tells you want you have while the other shows you what can be done with it.

Answer 31

I think what makes someone smart is being able to use the knowledge they have to create new ideas by using their imagination.

Answer 32

Knowledge and imagination are not the benchmark of "SMART" either way.

It is how well it is APPLIED as a practical matter to real life that is the true" calibration" of SMART !

Answer 33

imagine if there was no knowledge

Answer 34

Yes it is. Lack of imagination is why intellectuals are slow to progresses in their areas of expertise. Historically, in Western society, intellectuals were well versed and cultured in many high intellectual disciplines. Today experts are more specialized and narrow minded in their approach to things influence subsequent areas of society and life. Einstein claim that the imagination is more important than knowledge because without it he could not imagine or visualize his theories in a way to explain them in the form of equations. Imagination does not equate to how "smart" one is, it reveals and allows people to express how smart they are in a coherent and relatable way to others.



Where symbols, equations, terms, language and concepts hit a wall in formulating a consistently demonstrable theory, the imagination is the break through that allows one to see things in a different "light" or context which affords the capacity to make sense of it in a material way. While traveling on a train, Einstein imaged what it might be like to ride on a beam of light, which he credits with helping develop his theory of relativity. There is nothing "special" about Einstein, except he was willing to do what most of us are unwilling to, and go outside of comfort zones and familiarity. Above all else, I believe he wanted to see things as they are in the proper perspective and did not allow belief systems or conventional thinking obstruct that vision, like the rest of us. The traditional Newtonian paradigm needed a, "tweak" , he realized, and the imagination got him there.



Einstein wasn't "smart" because he was "imaginative" or visa versa, but because both were properly fostered with in him. Highly creative and intellectual people are often labeled as "gifted" by society, which does not encourage or foster these things in individuals. Most often they are picked up at a young age, however not to soon after, we are conditioned to see the imagination as "fantasy" and "pretend-land" with little or no importance to personal development or society, outside of amusement and entertainment. Few individuals take it upon themselves to personally dedicate themselves in this regard. Most adults don't surpass a third grade drawing level, and most of those who do not go beyond a 10th grade skill level.



I, as an artist for most my life, don't believe intelligence and creativity is a "gift", it is a choice. We all have the potential for these things within us. Somewhere along the line of our conformist conditioning we either say "I am going with the crowd," or "I am walking against it." Standing courageously contrary to conventional thought and wisdom can often lead to profound insights and breakthrough never imagined by anyone in the history of humanity. Most people feel "silly", childish or uncomfortable diving fully into their imaginations and expressing it, which hold us back and blocks repressed undeveloped potential.



To most people intelligence and the imagination is a "means" where knowledge is the "end". Knowledge is "dirt". In Zen knowledge and the material world is analogous to dust on a mirror reflecting a distorted image. The linear paradigm of material form and content is limiting, restrictive, and exclusive. The nonlinear domain of formless essence and context is liberating, freeing and inclusive. Knowledge only begets more knowledge to be discovered without end, and only perpetuates ignorance, which why Socrates said the only thing he knew was that he knew nothing. Jesus and the Buddha both taught that 'sin' is another word for 'ignorance', and that we are not punished for our sins, but by them.



Anyone who is not convinced that the imagination is more value than knowledge, I suggest watching Will Smith's monologue from Six Degrees of Separation. The first time I saw it was the first time I've seen anything echo the exact thoughts I've always had growing up (see link below). I thank you if you read all this, and hope you check out the video below. I'd like to know what you think in the comment section if you do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arPhzlHlyEY

Answer 35

In my opinion, not more important but mandatory in todays world. Mike

Answer 36

Not in the least.

Imagination cannot tell you which snake not to play with or which mushroom is good sauteed and which is deadly.

Answer 37

Important for what?



Both serve their purposes, many of them unique. "important" is subjective, be more specific.

Answer 38

Its a matter of opinion. for me both are important to the same level. :)

Answer 39

Both are important, and the balance of the two is explored in "The Path of the Higher Self."

Answer 40

Idea of a thing is greater than its material existence.

Answer 41

If you are an artist, a musician or an author then yes.



If you are my medical doctor or my mechanic, then no.

Answer 42

No, they are both important.

Answer 43

It is equally important.

Answer 44

A wise man once said... "wisdom begins in wonder" - socrates.

Answer 45

they are both important

Answer 46

dream high ...its priceless...

aim for that dream by acquiring knowledge

Answer 47

No

Answer 48

no