When obtaining knowledge Why or What is important?

[Doctor Amadeus]

What's more important when learning something to you learning WHAT is the right answer or WHY something is the right answer?

Also in your opinion, in learning or teaching is it more important to show your work or just give the right answer?

[vindicatorx]

I am one of the need to know why people.

[Doctor Amadeus]

I am one of the need to know why people.

Yeah I agree meaning and purpose is important.

[the game]

just knowing the answer doesn't prove you are knowledgeable. knowing why it's the answer is the basis of knowledge.

[--Code--]

I guess to me why and what are sorta the same thing. I want to know "what" makes it work. I want to know "why" it works. Same thing right?

For the second question, during school I struggled because I never wanted to do my homework or show my work, I thought it was bullshit. I knew the content even though I'd only show up to class half the time. I nearly failed high school because of this. I guess it kind of depends on the person, some people need to show their work and do the homework to learn, while others don't. This is why our education system is so fucked. They expect every kid to learn the exact same way. I know firsthand how that does NOT work.

[Dsonsion]

I place so much importance on the why, that I believe I should have chosen a more theoretical career instead of engineering.

[Reg]

I think knowing the "why" allows you to better understand the "what". So I have always been a "why" person.

[Jester Joe]

The why gives you the what.

I mean, think of it like in terms of math at least.

Someone could tell you the square root of 25 is 5, but once they tell you why, you'd be able to find out what the square root of 36 is.

...keeping it simple so the point is simple.

[Crissi]

what is meaningless without the why.

[--Code--]

what is meaningless without the why.

and the why is meaningless without the what...

[Dsonsion]

and the why is meaningless without the what...

And the what is love.

[Reg]

And the what is love.

Baby, don't hurt me.

[breadisfunny]

you also forgot the how.

[Doctor Amadeus]

and the why is meaningless without the what...

Nope if you know why you can always get to what.

[Xar226]

What's more important when learning something to you learning WHAT is the right answer or WHY something is the right answer?

I don't believe they can be separated in most practical cases. There's a reason something is the right answer, and without understanding that how can we know it is right? Likewise, how can we know why something is correct yet not know it is correct?

For the sake of argument, I'd say what is more important. Why is a great next step, but you can get pretty far in lots of areas just knowing the answer.

Also in your opinion, in learning or teaching is it more important to show your work or just give the right answer?

In teaching having students show their work is more important for two reasons: 1) You want to be sure they actually know how to get the answer and didn't just see it on another student's test or hit their calculator or remember it from a sample problem or something like that, and 2) Since we're trying to see if a student knows how to get the answer, if they did everything right but transposed a number or something goofy we should acknowledge that they did most of the question properly.

Obviously there are a lot of areas where showing work doesn't really apply and a test is either some kind of application of learning or a rote regurgitation of fact.

[Crissi]

and the why is meaningless without the what...

well, except the why tends to lead to other whats. Critical thinking!

[Kellhound]

The "what" is as important as the "why".

[Doctor Amadeus]

The "what" is as important as the "why".

Nope, untrue

[--Code--]

Nope, untrue

Yeah, it's true. You can't even start to question "why" without knowing "what" it is you're questioning. "Why" just expands your understanding of the "what". It goes both ways, why to the what and what to the why.

[breadisfunny]

Nope, untrue

such a convincing and compelling argument.