The Importance of Practical Knowledge

Thales is said to be an individual who is very interested in the stars. Here he is falling into a well. And indeed, some have looked at this in particular that paper I cited earlier. That knowledge which seems impractical today may in several hundred years become incredibly practical. The astronomy and the geometry of these ancient Greek philosophers might have seemed absolutely ridiculous and of no practical use whatsoever to somebody at the time. But then they would sort of be built upon in generations to form the foundation of all existing technology, navigational techniques, and everything like that.