Myth: Memorization is not needed

Myth

Memorization is not needed. We can Google almost anything

Fact 2020

Associative memory underlies the power of the human mind. External sources of knowledge are a poor substitute. Two facts stored in human memory can instantly be put together and bring a new idea to life. The same facts stored on the web will remain useless until they are put together inside a creative mind. A mind rich in knowledge, can produce rich associations upon encountering new information.

Each months brings new technological breakthroughs that reduce the burden on our memory. However, the less we need to memorize, the more time we have for learning knowledge of high applicability and high abstractness. The less we need to cram facts, the more we can work on our problem solving capacity. When computers outpace human intelligence, we may finally give up on memorization. However, it might also be the time when human intelligence is no longer necessary for further progress. For comparison, see below for how things changed in the last two decades

Fact 2000

It is interesting to look at the same myth as described in the early days of the new millennium. It shows that many areas of memorization are indeed made obsolete with the arrival of new technology. We can now communicate in foreign languages without learning those languages. Tests like SAT or GRE are becoming less relevant. The best minds cannot easily be identified with tests. Poking fun at George Bush may be seen as a bad school habit. In the era of Trump, many would gladly trade those little hiccups for having the W back. At the same time, humans are still needed. While artificial intelligence can take over a great deal of medical diagnosis, humans have more time for personal touch, social interaction, tough medical cases and scientific research.

Only research is the last refuge of abstract thinking and intelligence were facts and rules may make a difference between stagnation and a breakthrough.

Last but not least, what parents choose for their kids says little about the future. The future can be found in the young independent mind. Compulsory schooling must end

Here is the original ancient answer:

Archive warning: Why use literal archives?

If all students followed the suggestion that memorization is not needed, we would live in a different world. Here is a humorous take on how this world might look like.

• If memorization was not needed, we could travel around the world without learning languages. After all, finding out words in a dictionary takes mere seconds
• If memorization was not needed, students of medicine would not need to cram details of human anatomy and physiology. Instead they would learn to use state-of-the-art expert systems with all answers built in. If you asked: What's up doc? You will hear: I have no idea but wait ... I will check it out on my computer
• If memorization was not needed, all exams such as SAT, GRE, TEOFL, FCE, GCSE, USMLE, etc. would be a great waste of human time and resources. Students should rather come to exams with their link to the web and figure out answers ad hoc. Or they would just read out relevant paragraphs from a textbook
• If memorization was not needed, nobody should poke fun at George Bush Jr. for his lack of knowledge of the heads of state of Chechnya, Taiwan, or Pakistan. After all, he can find those names in seconds on the web. If using external storage was permissible, nobody should blame George W. for mixing up Slovakia with Slovenia, or refer to Kosovars as Kosovarians, East Timorese as East Timorians, or Greeks as Grecians (NB: the word Grecians is considered correct too)
• If memorization was not needed, you could be a rocket scientist at NASA tomorrow! After all, rocket scientists follow well-known rules written in well-known manuals organized in a very well-known manner. If you need to plot the trajectory for Galileo to beam images of Europa back to Earth... no problem... take the Advanced Calculus textbook, figure it out, and send your billion dollar mission on course

The advantage of keeping knowledge in your head as compared to keeping it in external sources can metaphorically be compared to the advantage of going from primary through secondary to university education as opposed to getting a week-long course on digging info from external sources. Nearly all parents seem to prefer to choose the former for their kids

Myth busting is an important mission at SuperMemo Guru. We tackle myths about memory, learning, creativity, SuperMemo, and incremental reading. Please write if you want a myth busted or if you disagree