Standing On the Shoulders of Giants
Sir Isaac Newton once said,
“If i had seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
I have long held the belief that it is far more difficult to create something from scratch, than to expand and improve something that has already been made. At least, with improvements, you already have a general idea of the mechanics of whatever you are working on, as well as knowing precisely how the end result should turn out.
Creators, thinkers, and inventors did not have such luxuries. They had to constantly consider new avenues of possibilities, some seeming so ludicrous that they would never work. There is a lot of work invested into the modern marvels of technology and all of the discoveries humanity has made, both in social sciences and natural sciences.
This is not to discredit the innovators and new minds who do refine and improve the ideas of old. In reviewing and analyzing the works of the intellectual giants, we are exposed to their genius. We learn so much more than we could have on our own, because these greats have distilled the universe’s components into lessons that we can use and apply to solve the problems of today.
Indeed, some would argue that, being so far removed in the past, these thinkers are obsolete. Take a look at Sigmund Freud. He was the most renown psychologist in his time, but most of his ideas have long since been disproven. Despite this, the way which he approached the question of psychology has been largely influential and aided the study of the mind greatly.
The sheer volume of achievement should not be the standard gauge for merit. We should not let our vast technological, societal, and scientific advances allow us to grow complacent and arrogant. There is much more to be learned, and in many places to be sought. Creation allows for expansion. Small creations yield great expansions.
This article was inspired by this poem.
