Yes, I agree 1000%. It's expensive in this world for one to find significant time to simply think, and it seems to be very rare these days, but that's probably the most important thing in making revolutionary advances. I assume this very site is the result of someone having much time to simply think freely.
Of course you should also mention the flip side dangers of rationalism, how you actually have to walk the streets to draw an accurate map, you can't just sit in a room with your eyes closed, and so on. But there's a great point to be made here that is usually understated.
Stop Learning, by Jacob Barnett. This is an 18 minute video, and I think there's a lot to be said for getting the material in the order given.
However, if you'd rather have text, here it is in rot13. Wnpbo Oneargg pbzrf bss nf naablvat. Ybhq, ohzcgvbhf, naq ynhtuf ng zbfg bs uvf bja wbxrf. Ur'f nyfb n zngu cebqvtl, naq unf nhgvfz. Ur gnyxf nobhg ubj ur jnf qvntabfrq nf orvat hanoyr gb yrnea gb gnyx, ohg orpnhfr ur unq gvzr gb guvax, ur fgnegrq rkcybevat zngu. Vg'f abg fb onq gb snvy svatre-cnvagvat. Ur gnyxf nobhg Arjgba naq Rvafgrva nf univat orra oybpxrq bss sebz yrneavat sbe n juvyr (cynthr dhnenagvar naq cngrag bssvpr erfcrpgviryl), fb gung gurl unq gvzr gb guvax. Ur erpbzzraqf gnxvat gvzr gb guvax nobhg jung lbh pner nobhg.
Would anyone happen to remember the alternate history story where the plague doesn't come to England, so Newton has professorial duties and never discovers anything?