Imagination and Knowledge

Having lived my whole life to date in Asia, I can fairly testify to Thomas Friedman's remarks.

Asia is very strong in teaching its young people math and science. But they are not very innovative. When was something as new, big and earth-shaking as Google invented in Asia or Europe? Our best young people may be less prepared in math and science, but they are encouraged to think in creative, innovative ways. A lot of that has to do with whether or not you have a culture that encourages questioning of authority.


Einstein rightly remarked, "Imagination is more important than knowledge." In fact, the freedom of imagination is what marks the border of authoritarianism and democracy.

People confuse the persmissive culture of West with decadence and that it will make it shallow. moral deca of decadent West. But they confuse the symptoms and the cause. At the becrock of the permissivism lies the culture of individulaism, and defiance to authority - therein lies the real strength of West.