[Apocryphon]

As I mention in the other comment, I wonder if the regurgitation of research idea was Asimov's take on far future galactic dark ages Scholasticism. Which would fit the theme of stagnation, sure.

[b112]

While none of us live in a bubble, I dislike the concept that alludes to non-original thought as the basis of ideas.

He could have merely looked around, thought to the future, and derived ideas... independently, from his own thoughts on the matter.