Learn To Unlearn

 

What is learning ?

To understand unlearning first let us know what is learning process .

Learning is two fold process 

First step is to See or Observe  It is primary common knowledge about thing 

Second step is Detail knowledge about thing which we learn.

Let us understand this by example 

Suppose we see snake like thing lying on floor. Our primary observation is that  there is some thing which is similar to snake or rope. We are not sure what is it whether it is a rope or snake or something else. This is first step of learning.

Further we understand in detail that the snake like thing observed is actually a rope or a snake or some thing else . This is second step of learning. 

 Practically both steps of learning happen one after another. Many times the time laps between two steps is so small, that we feel both steps are happening at the same time.
Let us now understand Unlearning. 

Many times while learning we acquire only first stage of learning that is primary observation . We don't go further to second step of detail knowledge. We tend to assume first step of primary observation as learning. 

This first step primary observation is not true learning. But as we don't get or acquire further knowledge about it , we assume our primary observation as learning. Even many times the second stage that is knowledge we acquire is incomplete or not true w.r.t. reality.

All this half cooked information we need to correct this process is called as unlearning. Unlearning is actually Learning Process

As discussed above we understand the unlearning is actually learning process. 

It is process of correcting our belief to true facts. Let us understand this by example.
When we were small kids we observe Sun and Moon revolve around Earth. As we grow further and acquire knowledge we change our belief of Sun revolving around Earth and understand that Sun is stationery and our Earth is revolving around the Sun.
The example shows when we were small kid we assumed our primary observation of Sun revolving around the Earth as true fact. But as we grow and acquire knowledge we understood that our primary observation is not true fact it's only illusion. In reality Earth is revolving around earth . 

Here we unlearn our previous primary observation and learn true fact about Sun and Earth.

In above example as we grow and acquire knowledge about Moon revolving around Earth . So our primary observation is confirmed by detail knowledge we gain. 
However this is not end of learning ,Our current learning is based on knowledge we have . Who knows some time in future someone shall reveal that Earth is stationery and Sun & Moon are revolving around the Earth. At that point of time we need to unlearn old belief and learn new knowledge we acquired.

Learning and Unlearning is continuous process

One thing is sure learning and unlearning is continuous process. One need to be open to Unlearn false beliefs and Learn true beliefs.

Samyak thoughts by Arhaddas Upadhye