想象力比知识更重要——从相对论的起源谈起

IMAGINATION IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN KNOWLEDGE——DISCUSS FROM THE BIRTH OF THE THEORY OF RELATIVITY

文章介绍了爱因斯坦相对论的起源,并对学校教育进行了思考.相对论起源于爱因斯坦对光速问题与相对性问题的研究,从相对论的起源与建立不难发现,其中最具关键性作用的并非人们的既有知识,而是爱因斯坦超乎寻常的想象力.相对论的起源充分证明,在推动科学发展的知识创新活动中,想象力与创新精神比知识更重要.人的知识是有限的,然而想象力是无限的,想象力与创新精神是知识进化的源泉.学校教育的目的不仅在于传授知识,更重要的在于激发人的想象力与培养人的创新精神.

In this paper, the origin of Einstein＇s theory of relativity are studied, and the school education are considered. Theory of relativity originated from Einstein＇s study on the speed of light and relativity problems. From the origin and the establishment process of the theory of relativity, it is not hard to find that the most crucial part is not the knowledge people have al- ready mastered, but the Einstein＇s extraordinary imagination. The origin of the theory of rela- tivity proved well that the imagination and innovation spirit are much more important than knowledge itself in knowledge innovation activities, which promote the development of sci- ence. The knowledge is limited for human while the imagination is not. Imagination and inno- vation spirit are the sources of knowledge evolution. Therefore, the purpose of school educa- tion is not only to impart knowledge, hut also more importantly to stimulate people＇s imagina- tion and cultivate people＇s creativity spirit.