People differ in their outlooks on the world and, consequently, reach different conclusions as to what constitutes good or useful. Because imagination is a uniquely human ability, some people claim that imagination is a more valuable asset than experience. I believe, however, that experience is more valuable than imagination

Throughout history, mankind has struggled to find new ways of living. Early man followed the dictates of nature, and, for most of his existence, his existence was governed by his surroundings. After developing agriculture, men began to work the land, and in doing so, they developed an emerging civilization. Today, people work to maximize their productivity in order to increase their standard of living. However, people have changed. In modern times, people are no longer content with merely living their lives; they want to be entertained. From the invention of the radio and the television to the rise of video games and the Internet, entertainment has become the driving force behind the lives of most human beings. For this reason, I have difficulty believing that people would be willing to forgo the entertainment and entertainment opportunities afforded by experience in order to imagine rather than experience. Although imagination allows people to inspire new works of art and new technology, this imagination is, for the most part, useless. Imagining a great movie or novel that has not yet been written is not the same thing as experiencing one. An artist can create something original that has never been seen before, but an imaginative person cannot create anything useful unless that experience has already been done. There are exceptions, such as when an artist comes up with a new technique or tool that greatly advances the way his work is viewed. However, these are rare occurrences, and they are the exception, not the rule

Experience teaches a person how to interact with the world around him; he knows how to relate to others, how to work, and how to perform basic tasks. Imagining solutions to problems is of little use unless a person has the skills necessary to solve them. Experience allows him to gain those skills, and, if necessary, to practice them until he masters them. The skills learned through experience are invaluable, and a person’s imagination is of little use without those abilities

Experience also builds a person’s confidence and teaches him to set goals. A person who has confidence in himself is far more likely to succeed than his imaginative counterpart. One man is not likely to invent something that will revolutionize the world; he needs the help of others. If one person’s imagination leads to the invention of a new invention, this inventor will have the satisfaction of knowing that he accomplished something great, but the inventor’s inventions will be useless if no one believes in them. Imagining something that will never be possible is of little benefit. Furthermore, a person needs set goals in order to achieve success. Without goals, a person cannot know what he is working toward. Without goals, a person cannot succeed in life. Imagining something is great, but unless a person defines what his goal is, that imagination will be useless

Experience also prepares a person for the challenges that lie ahead. A person who has never lived through the hardships of the Great Depression, for example, or experienced the hardships of the Vietnam War would have been ill-prepared to deal with the problems that he faced. A person who has dealt with those hardships, however, will have learned important lessons about perseverance and the value of hard work. Imagining what life might be like without those hardships, however, would be of little use. The hardships that people face throughout the course of their lives allow them to build skills and gain experiences that help them to deal with the challenges that lie ahead

Imagination, while undoubtedly important, is of no benefit without experience. Experience teaches a person how to interact with the world around him, how to solve problems, and how to achieve goals. Imagination is, however, a powerful tool that allows people to envision new possibilities. When combined, imagination and experience provide people with the tools they need to succeed in life.