Deep Thoughts: Is it possible to learn too much?
First of all: I want to define “too much” for this specific answer just to help others see my viewpoint. Too much of something will probably influence you negatively (implied by the three-letter word “too”, otherwise it would be “not enough”).Now, I’ve found myself in a few situations after doing research about different things that would fit the above-mentioned definition. Either I get angry, depressed or just delusional. Take molecular biology for example: First, when you start getting into the matter, you just think about the appearance of enzymes, DNA, organelles etc. like they are depicted in your textbook. Later, when you dive deeper into the biochemical aspect of the subject you start to realize that everything is made up of those tiny “things” (strings, quarks, elementary particles…depending on the level of detail you’re starting off) that interact and react with each other in an incredibly complex way to form what we call nature.That’s the time you start sitting in the commuter train and try to imagine and perceive this complexity but only have to realize that you will never have the capacity to fully realize what reality is all about. Of course this effect is temporarily and can range from a few seconds of drifting off to multiple weeks filled with sleepless nights. You come to terms with that and keep going, digging deeper into the matter eventually. Hypothetically I think there might be a point where you got to accept that you’ve reached a wall of knowledge. A point where you can no longer recover from the conflict of metal abilities and perception and just try to make sense of everything you know.I hope this text makes some sense to others but hey…the title asked for deep thought didn’t it?EDIT: I didn’t proofread this. If you find any typos, keep them, I don’t need them. :P
Is it possible to learn three languages at once?
What will happen is, you will start confusing them and intermix them. When you learn a language, you are learning it on top of another language and another over it. I speak 4 languages and find that I have to sort of work down through them when I'm trying to think of a word I don't usually use. The plus side is... if you can't think of the word in, say, Spanish.. then you can try French and someone will catch it and correct you, but you get the point across. Learning 3 languages at one time is really too much... you won't learn ANY of them really well.
One man said, “Much learning has made me mad”… Is it possible to know too much?
No. Along with facts, it is important to learn/know the strategies and perspectives necessary to keep it all from overwhelming. There is advantage in everything; wisdom seeks out the advantage and focuses there.
Is it possible to learn fighting techniques just by watching too many martial arts movies?
Possible to learn techniques? Yes. Will you learn them correctly? Not unless they are explaining how to execute the technique on the movie. Knowing how to move your arms in the same way isn't the same as knowing why you do that technique. For example you may need to know the ideal angle of your forearms, What muscles to keep solid and what muscles to relax, Where your fingers should be, Why you stand a particular way, Whether to breath in or out, Do you need to lower your body as your arm goes out, Elbow position,foot position and the list could go on.
Is it possible to learn calculus in one month? (by yourself)?
You must be a mathematics genius. I self learned calculus, physics, and rocketry for a while. It did not last long. But I still remember it. But why do you limit it to one month?
Can i learn to do the splits aged 18?
Yes. If you stretch every day for 15-30 minutes you should see them very quickly. Just go slowly and don't push yourself too hard or you'll do more harm than good. One of my students got her first split at 38 and all it took was dedication. She's also a 'bigger' girl. The best way to get a split is simply by doing a split. Get as low as you can comfortably go and hold it for 15 seconds. DO NOT 'BOUNCE'. Release, relax, and try again. If you can't hold it for a full 15 seconds then you're pushing yourself too low. Do this every day for two weeks and you should have your split in no time.
Can you ever learn too much?
Not exactly. However... ...learning changes you. When you learn a lot, you are no longer the 'you' that you were when you started learning. So learning could be seen as a destructive mechanism. It knocks down and destroys preconceptions. It's very cathartic. It also distances you from the ignorant who maybe were once your friends. So learning comes at a price, a price most people, but not everyone, is willing to pay.