Don’t memorize like a computer

Preface: I wrote a piece on why we ought to memorize and practice rote learning. This piece is based on feedback I received about how rote learning for an exam a day before is pointless as once the exam is done, the knowledge is gone. This is a good point and not one I addressed in the earlier piece. Rote learning is a tool and ought to be used in a certain manner otherwise it’ll cause more harm than good.

Bottom line: Remember, recollect and/or recognize to serve a bigger, long term goal. Do this with intent. These skills should always be applied with context. Context, not abstraction, is out super power as conscious human beings.

Here is the main piece:

Remembering as a human is special because we remember with context. If that context is taken away, what is remembered has no life to it. In such a situation, we are similar to a computer that just stores a bunch of ones and zeros, whereas reality is more nuanced.

Rote learning for short term gains — say for an exam, an annual performance review, a sales call — will have no gains in the long term.

Human memory is not meant to be like that of a computer. It is alive and is shaped by our experiences and inner motifs. It’s what gives us our sense of self; which is always changing. A consequence of this feature is that, it is meant to change. Memorizing, remembering, recognizing — these are all tools. How you use these tools is an expression of your own self. Use them wisely.

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