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R. P. Feynman on the difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something.

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Scientific method & science communicationEducation & learningPhilosophy & ethics

What it is

A two-minute clip of Richard Feynman on the difference between knowing the name of something and actually knowing it. He uses the example of knowing a bird's name in every language and still knowing nothing about the bird.

Why Hacker News recommends it

It is the standard reference whenever a thread turns to rote labels versus real understanding.

  • 2 people recommended it
  • 2 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2010, last 2014

What HN commenters said

  1. “Feynman also knows the difference "between knowing the name of something and knowing something"”

    Feynman on knowing names versus knowing things

    ckuehne, 2010-07 · Recommendation · in “Where does a tree get its mass?”

  2. “Learn the thing itself, but the name tells you very little. Watch this”

    Learn the thing itself, not its name

    ars, 2012-12 · Recommendation · in “Half the Facts You Know Are Probably Wrong”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: feynman, understanding, learning, epistemology, education

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