There is a well-known true argument, which is knowing the name of something doesn’t mean you truly know something. But this claim is too ignorant about the importance of knowing the name of something. From my point of view though, knowing the name of something is exactly the first step of truly knowing something.
The definition of knowing something is controversial, but the one I like is – if you can describe something fully by making connection to some well known facts. When we describe something, either concrete (apperance, some plots or images) or abstract (mathematical expression, symbols) things occur at our mind, and then what we really describe is those things occurred. The name is one of the most important abstract content, one might be classified as a symbol. The abstract things are then connected to a concrete physical image very tightly. The name to the concrete picture is the key to a locker full of treasures.
The name is one of the most informative symbols. From the name, you can start to ask many questions. Sometimes, the name reveals the deep truth of the object itself, sometimes the name might result from certain historical reasons(though from time to time, we might see confusing names as well, but solving that confusion and understanding why can also help us learn). All the information will then lead you to explore more about the object.
The philosophy of learning is – to give yourself more time, more practice to get familiar with the new thing, until you are so familiar with it that you don’t need to think long to connect the object to some concrete picture. When the picture has not yet been completed, the name can act as an alternative comfort.
To know the significance of name is important, because we all tend to stay in our own comfort zone. When a new name occurs, the natural action we take is ignore it. A new thing, of which the usefulness is not clear, isn’t attractive to us at all. But remembering the symbol itself, which might facilitate your communication with people in that field and the formation of a concrete picture, may help you learn it faster. In graduate school, our advisors might help us identify the names we need to know, but after that, it’s up to ourselves to explore the diversity of science and engineering and the philosophy here is of significance.
However, it’s likely one might get satisfied by just knowing the name, and that means that person never really know that thing, because he/she has no concrete picture in mind.
Rui & Photonics 