“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” — Albert Einstein (From the interview: Viereck, G.S. 1929. “What Life Means to Einstein: An Interview by George Sylvester Viereck”. Cosmopolitan Magazine.)

The debate concerning the roles of imagination and knowledge has been a recurring topic throughout history, often without yielding concrete or satisfying answers. As recorded in the history of global development, science has played a pivotal role in driving various phenomenal innovations and discoveries, particularly during the Industrial Revolution of the 17th and 18th centuries.

The developments and innovations born from Science can be seen in the emergence of various patents and disciplines, such as: Antibiotics created by Alexander Fleming, the first Telecommunication Device designed by Alexander Graham Bell, the development and alignment of Medical Science with Religious Principles by Ibn Sina (Avicenna), and the concepts of literary studies—established by William Shakespeare—that remain the foundation of drama to this day.

Knowledge, especially Scientific Knowledge, is often considered the pinnacle of scholarship through the ages. In Aristotle's view, Knowledge is seen as a mirror of reality, participating in organizing chaos into order. However, the argument presented by Einstein, known as one of the world's most renowned Physicists, regarding the importance of imagination, has sparked a re-reflection within societal and academic orders.

Academic principles, which rely on science and the certainty of historical records, are indeed important; however, knowledge tends to have a weakness: it is limited to what is already known or can be known. On the other hand, Imagination is the primary foundation that allows someone to possess the curiosity to create a concept capable of changing the world.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is fundamentally very limited, while at the same time, imagination opens our path to seeing the world from various unique perspectives," stated Albert Einstein.

Einstein believed that we can rebuild the world beyond the limits of logic to produce renewable and authentic innovations. Dreams and imagination indeed know no bounds, and with them, we can craft the canvas of the world in accordance with UNDIRA's vision. Because of this, Einstein deeply valued curiosity, creativity, and the courage to think outside the box—even if it seemed absurd—with the hope of producing positive outputs for our surroundings.

Ultimately, the debate between imagination and knowledge ignited by Einstein offers us a crucial conclusion: that education must not stop at boundaries defined merely by formulas and theories. True education is an effort to develop a personal vision with integrity towards the future, where an academic transforms into a pioneer of innovation who is not only authentic but also beneficial to the nation and state.

This spirit aligns with the core values of Universitas Dian Nusantara (UNDIRA), which are guided by being Visionary, having Integrity, and being Professional. UNDIRA not only equips its students with knowledge and readiness to face the dynamics of the industrial world in 2030, but also actively encourages character development so that graduates are capable of providing problem-solving measures through various creative and innovative solutions.

The courage to look toward the future (visionary) with a commitment to advancing the nation is the primary goal of the academic community. By translating dreams—not merely as concepts but as ideas that can become reality—UNDIRA is committed to producing a young generation that will contribute to a better world.

Source of References: 

The Power of Imagination  - DJKN 

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