Learning is the action of acquiring and retaining knowledge, skill or information about any subject.
The word learn derives from the Latin apprehendere composed of the prefixes ad – which indicates “towards”, prae – which refers to “before” and hendere which means to grab or catch.
Learning has as synonyms the words: memorize, study, educate, train, educate and as antonyms we have: forget, ignore, erase, turn off.
Learning means acquiring knowledge through intellect or experience. Learning through the intellect is dominated by rationalism. On the other hand, knowledge through experience or empiricism requires practice and the more you practice, the more you learn.
The importance of seeking the balance between learning only through the intellect or only through experience was discussed by Aristotle and Confucius reflects this idea in his work The four books with the following phrase: “Learning without thinking is useless. Thought without learning is dangerous”.
Learning implies also knowing how each one acquires knowledge. The phrase learn to learn, for example, tells us that we must learn to educate ourselves.
Learn and apprehend
Learning and apprehension have the same etymology and were used as synonyms. Today, the word apprehend, in the context of education, is used to emphasize deeper and lasting learning.
