Nurturing the Beginner's Mind

"...It is a sublime experience to be able to learn like a beginner. And that is true even when I already know something very, very, very well. Yes, even when I have mastered something, there is always something to learn anew. And do you know why it is so? It has to do with the fact that learning is like remembering, rather, it is a remembering. I mean, re-membering, to be precise. That is unlike computer memory, that stores information and can be recalled, human memory can never be recalled. It can only be re-membered."

"That is, each act of memory retrieval is singular and unique. Each time we re-member something, it is different from any previous act of re-membering. This brings newness and freshness to learning. And memories are, never, ever, static but dynamic, constantly evolving. Yes, however oxymoronic it may seem, memories constantly evolve and therefore, never, ever, remain the same. That's why, once one has an insight into this process, memories remain no more memories at all but become acts of learning. And learning is not really an act of learning per se but an act of re-membering..."

-- Dr. B S Ramachandra: Leonardo and Da Vinci - The Tao of Meta-Learning

Heisenberg, somewhat ruffled by his previous encounter with the mathematician, hesitantly went to meet with the professor of theoretical physics. Immediately he reached the professor's office he was assured into his presence. The professor greeted Heisenberg with a warm smile and asked him the purpose of his visit. Reassured by the professor's words, Heisenberg told him everything, his great passion for theoretical physics, his attempts to learn the fundamentals, his readings of current research and his attempts to find a mentor.

The professor was surprised and happy at Heisenberg's keen aspiration and his endeavours towards research. He congratulated and encouraged him and said that it was a great idea to be wanting to do research from the high school stage itself. He invited him to join his research group then and there and start coming to his institute from the very next day. Werner Heisenberg while yet a high school student was already embarking on his research studies in theoretical physics.

Lindemann, though a great mathematician could not feel the power of the beginner's mind in the young Heisenberg and almost snuffed off the brilliant theoretical physicist in the making. Arnold Sommerfeld, on the other hand, saw it and gave a great head start to young Heisenberg.

Arnold Sommerfeld was one of those few who had the uncanny ability to identify and nurture the beginner's mind in young students. No wonder twenty one of his students made significant and important contributions. Four of his doctoral students - Werner Heisenberg, Wolfgang Pauli, Peter Debye, Hans Bethe - and three of his post-doctoral students - Linus Pauling, Isidor Rabi, Max Von Laue - went on to become Nobel laureates. 

Leonardo: That was really fascinating to know. I am sure Heisenberg's experience with Sommerfeld would have induced the same kind of spirit, that is, to be able to understand and appreciate the beginner's brain-mind!

Da Vinci: To a large extent, that was true, Leonardo. Let me tell you another anecdote that illustrates this: You have, no doubt, heard of Jagadish Mehra, the renowned historian of physics and biographer?

Leonardo: Of course, Da Vinci, I have read his books, "Climbing the Mountain," the scientific biography of Julian Schwinger and "The Beat of a Different Drum," the scientific biography of Richard Feynman.

Da Vinci: Well, Jagadish Mehra is also the official historian of the development of Quantum Theory that he wrote with Helmut Rechenberg. When Jagadish Mehra was a beginning doctoral student he won a fellowship that gave him an opportunity to meet with Pauli, Heisenberg and other luminaries in theoretical physics. He was deeply interested in documenting the development of Quantum Theory. He first went to meet Wolfgang Pauli. Pauli severely discouraged him and said it was impossible to write a history of Quantum Theory as most of its creators were still alive and some active. Highly disappointed and discouraged, Jagadish Mehra almost thought of giving up the idea altogether. He next went to meet Werner Heisenberg. Contrary to Pauli, Heisenberg told him that his idea was very good. For, what could be more exciting than to write a history of Quantum Theory, especially as most of the creators were alive and some active. The contrast between Pauli and Heisenberg was striking. Jagadish Mehra was so encouraged and inspired by Heisenberg's words that he went on to become one of the greatest historians of physics.

Leonardo: So, Pauli and Heisenberg were so strikingly different in their outlook!

Da Vinci: Nevertheless, both were great in their own ways and their roles were complementary. Pauli's role was in destroying ignorance by being the conscience keeper of theoretical physics as he became known while Heisenberg's role was in inspiring the creation of new knowledge. 

Da Vinci: And the greatest mathematician of all times, Carl Friedrich Gauss also had this attitude towards the beginner's brain-mind. As he said, "If others would but reflect on mathematical truths as deeply and continuously as I have, they would make my discoveries. It is not knowledge, but the act of learning, not possession but the act of getting there, which grants the greatest enjoyment. When I have clarified and exhausted a subject, then I turn away from it, in order to go into darkness again; the never-satisfied man is so strange if he has completed a structure, then it is not in order to dwell in it peacefully, but in order to begin another. I imagine the world conqueror must feel thus, who, after one kingdom is scarcely conquered, stretches out his arms for others."

Leonardo: Da Vinci: I am curious to know about the way Pauli and Heisenberg approached their beginning students. Could we talk about that?

Da Vinci: That is in itself very exciting. Why don't we take that up in our next dialogue, Leonardo?

Leonardo: Yes, of course, Da Vinci.