My Brother, The King.
My Learned Brother.
Through a conversation at lunch the other day, I had an interesting talk with my learned Brother. And boy, did I really learn a lot from this respectable and intelligent person. It did make me realise how ignorant and insolent I’ve been all these while, and pondering on his words has given me new insights.
Brother: Knowledge is not Power. Imagination is. With Imagination, you can change (did he mean ‘take over’?) the world.
Yup…Imagination is the key in this fast paced, globally linked world. Imagination brings about innovation, creativity and invention. Together, these three components would result in change. This may sound a little idealistic and over optimistic, but wouldn’t it be great if we could shape this world into a better place with the changes brought about by our imagination? It suddenly seems like we finally have the power to control the destiny of the world we live in.
And guess what? Imagination is boundless, there is no upper limit as to how far we can stretch our mind to it. The word I had in mind was ‘infinite’. For a start, just some wild ideas here:
1) Having a greenhouse on the roof level of every high rise flat. Or a water collection tank. Then we will have our own veggies and water. It would be a great move to increase our self sufficiency.
2) Developing a machine that would recycle used cigarette butts into something useful. Say, sponge for floral arrangements or for cleaning.
3) A pill that could insolate the liver from the effects of excessive drinking without taking away the high of alcohol consumption.
We need to open the door to Imagination and tap into its limitless resources. First step to world dOmination.
But as seen from my wild little ideas, Imagination is a double edged sword that goes both ways. (1) has social benefits. (2) is a little shady because there is an element of smoking and its negative externalities although it creates a useful good. (3) totally violates moral principles because it is a drug which will mess up the minds of the population. My point is, Imagination may be harmful if not directed in right use.
As a side note, I think Knowledge is still essential. I mean, how do you expect to change the existing world if you do not even know what it is? All the above mentioned ideas, beneficial or otherwise, will remain as ideas, if we do not acquire the technical ‘know-hows’ to drive them into a reality. It remains as a base for Imagination to work upon as a super-structure. Taking us back to (3), if we did not have the medical knowledge that excessive drinking will cause liver problems, I doubt we would push for a new frontier by creating such a pill.
But I digress.
Brother, I think what is most important is neither Knowledge nor Imagination. Nor Power for that matter. What I feel is necessary for change is actually wisdOm. WisdOm is the tool which would empower us with the correct balance of Knowledge and Imagination such that they would be channelled towards positive usage. A person equipped with wisdOm would be able to foresee the social problems that (3) would cause and the following destruction which would ensue. Hence, he pulls the brake when his Imagination starts running wildly in that direction. Jerry Yen calls it ‘sense’ in Meteor Gardens. Whatever it is, I think it is the extra something which would put the world into our hands and allow us to make it a better place. For you and for me. Like the way I thought Jackson was singing about until I figured he was into sweet young boys.
Of course, everyone has a different idea of how the ideal world should be like. Would WisdOm be enough? That is why my dreams of world dOmination remains but a dream. And Brother, that is why your Imagination alone would hardly suffice for any similar dreams.
Through a conversation at lunch the other day, I had an interesting talk with my learned Brother. And boy, did I really learn a lot from this respectable and intelligent person. It did make me realise how ignorant and insolent I’ve been all these while, and pondering on his words has given me new insights.
Brother: Knowledge is not Power. Imagination is. With Imagination, you can change (did he mean ‘take over’?) the world.
Yup…Imagination is the key in this fast paced, globally linked world. Imagination brings about innovation, creativity and invention. Together, these three components would result in change. This may sound a little idealistic and over optimistic, but wouldn’t it be great if we could shape this world into a better place with the changes brought about by our imagination? It suddenly seems like we finally have the power to control the destiny of the world we live in.
And guess what? Imagination is boundless, there is no upper limit as to how far we can stretch our mind to it. The word I had in mind was ‘infinite’. For a start, just some wild ideas here:
1) Having a greenhouse on the roof level of every high rise flat. Or a water collection tank. Then we will have our own veggies and water. It would be a great move to increase our self sufficiency.
2) Developing a machine that would recycle used cigarette butts into something useful. Say, sponge for floral arrangements or for cleaning.
3) A pill that could insolate the liver from the effects of excessive drinking without taking away the high of alcohol consumption.
We need to open the door to Imagination and tap into its limitless resources. First step to world dOmination.
But as seen from my wild little ideas, Imagination is a double edged sword that goes both ways. (1) has social benefits. (2) is a little shady because there is an element of smoking and its negative externalities although it creates a useful good. (3) totally violates moral principles because it is a drug which will mess up the minds of the population. My point is, Imagination may be harmful if not directed in right use.
As a side note, I think Knowledge is still essential. I mean, how do you expect to change the existing world if you do not even know what it is? All the above mentioned ideas, beneficial or otherwise, will remain as ideas, if we do not acquire the technical ‘know-hows’ to drive them into a reality. It remains as a base for Imagination to work upon as a super-structure. Taking us back to (3), if we did not have the medical knowledge that excessive drinking will cause liver problems, I doubt we would push for a new frontier by creating such a pill.
But I digress.
Brother, I think what is most important is neither Knowledge nor Imagination. Nor Power for that matter. What I feel is necessary for change is actually wisdOm. WisdOm is the tool which would empower us with the correct balance of Knowledge and Imagination such that they would be channelled towards positive usage. A person equipped with wisdOm would be able to foresee the social problems that (3) would cause and the following destruction which would ensue. Hence, he pulls the brake when his Imagination starts running wildly in that direction. Jerry Yen calls it ‘sense’ in Meteor Gardens. Whatever it is, I think it is the extra something which would put the world into our hands and allow us to make it a better place. For you and for me. Like the way I thought Jackson was singing about until I figured he was into sweet young boys.
Of course, everyone has a different idea of how the ideal world should be like. Would WisdOm be enough? That is why my dreams of world dOmination remains but a dream. And Brother, that is why your Imagination alone would hardly suffice for any similar dreams.
posted by sUmmEr heAt at 3:05 AM
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