Science Forums 2

[ronthepon]

And, to your interpretation of understanding, I'd like to bring up the two little expressions I had heard in my young.

"Learn by heart"

"Figure it out"

I think that the second one corresponds to your understanding interpretation, no?

Maths. Physics. They are not a mere process of mugging up a bunch of formulas. True math and physics needs a good deal of understanding.

Biology. Physical chemistry. They do need a deal of mugging up, but even they have to be understood before mugging is the slightes bit significant.

And finally for chemical reactions and all that, though the basic processes are large in number and need to be learnt by heart, it needs understanding if application is in view.

So... a PhD does have to understand a good deal, and know 'by heart' a good deal more.