How to Learn Almost Anything
Updated: 05 Mar 2025
The structure of any human knowledge has two parts—objects and functions. Any field can be simplified by considering it an interplay between the objects of study and their associated functions. This framework of thinking is what I’ve been using to study many fields.
Objects — when approaching any knowledge, identify what is being discussed. What is the subject or the main focus? Once identified, you can attach properties to that object. These properties provide details that characterize it. For example: Is it red? Is it invariant? Is it immutable? Is it acidic?
Examples of objects from different field of study:
- Cell in biology
- Elements, molecules in chemistry
- Mass, charges, strings in physics
- Data type (number, string) in computer science
- Characters (e.g. Tyrion, Cersei) in literature
Functions — after identifying the objects within a field and their properties, it’s time to determine the functions associated with them. For example, what can the objects do? What actions can be performed on them? What are their methods? A function, in this context, takes an object as input and produces another object as output. In simpler terms, what transformations occur?
Example of object’s function:
- Cell division transforms a cell
- Chemical reactions change molecules
- Lorentz force translate or rotate charges
- Squared function increases a number
The interplay between objects and functions creates a domain of knowledge. The interplay between mathematical objects and mathematical transformations is mathematics. The interplay between experimental/physical facts and dynamical rules is known as physics. Chemistry is the interplay between chemicals and chemical reactions. Computer science is the interplay between data types and functions or methods. The world is an interplay of its objects and functions. Once you get these two things into a coherent picture, you can study almost any field. This framework of thinking simplify the almost incomprehensible information of the world.
To learn almost anything these are the steps:
- Find a field you want to master
- Find its different object of study and examine it’s different functions.
- Create a picture of the dynamic interplay between the object and functions.
- Finally, recreate the object in terms of the function, and the function in terms of the objects.
It’s important to note that learning is distinct from understanding. Learning often involves memorization and the ability to navigate a topic in a conventional manner. Understanding, however, demands a different, often elusive skill. It goes beyond simply recognizing the intricate relationships between objects and functions. One recognizes understanding by its depth, its abstract nature, and the difficulty in articulating it to others. It often feels like an inherent gift, granting the ability to conceive novel approaches.
I will be writing a series of articles of the application of these framework of thinking.