When reading this interesting question, the following quote came to mind:

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn. ”

― Alvin Toffler

Thank you very much Konstantinos Karampelas , and that is a very good/true quote.

ES un tanto dejar de lado los conocimientos que nos pueden influir sobre la adquisición de nuevos aprendizajes o nuevas formas de ver la realidad, significaría suspender los juicios basados en esos conocimientos a manera de una "epoché" fenomenológica

Thank you Temístocles Muñoz López .Unfortunately i am unable to interpret your response as it is in a language that i am unfamiliar with. May i kindly and humbly ask if you can re-submit your response in english as i would love to know your views.

İ strongly believe, that learning goes in both directions... because we learn some things by being conditioned (in childhood, relationship , workplace, eg.).

Thus, unlearning certainly ideas or behaviours take much consciousness and effort. İ would definitely consider this as learning...and even more so.

Hi Flora Komlosi-Ferdinand .Thank you for your elegant answer. I agree entirely.

Sincerely, Sachin

I think it depends on what you choose to define as learning and unlearning.

Let me give you an example: If you once learned Pluto is a planet and you accepted that, the fact Pluto is no longer a planet does not mean you have to unlearn the fact pluto is a planet. You can add knowledge by changing your thought from "Pluto is a planet" to "Pluto was once considered to be a planet and is now no longer considered so because of...".

You could define this process as unlearning, however I think you can also make the case for defining this as an expansion of your previous knowledge/learning result. To me it comes down to if you see learning as a permanent, open process or as finite processes with an end goal.

El desaprender es la capacidad que tenemos los seres humanos de no ver el conocimiento acabado...aprendemos y logramos saberes pero los sucesos, el contexto evolutivo nos permite verlo de diferente manera y volverlo a construir ...es dejar nuestra zona de confort para aventurarnos en saberes nuevos teniendo ese aprendizaje como base pero no como fin último. Es una nueva forma se ver lo aprendido.

Yes, unlearning can be considered a form of learning. Unlearning involves letting go of previously held beliefs, knowledge, or behaviors in order to make room for new information and perspectives. In many cases, unlearning can be just as important as learning, especially when it comes to personal growth, professional development, or adapting to changing circumstances.

Unlearning often involves challenging assumptions, questioning established practices, and being open to changing one's mindset. It requires a willingness to reevaluate and adjust one's understanding of a particular subject or concept. By unlearning, individuals can make room for new ideas, approaches, and knowledge, which can ultimately lead to personal and professional development.

In the context of organizational learning, unlearning can be a critical part of adapting to change, innovation, or new strategies. Organizations may need to unlearn old processes or habits in order to embrace new ways of working and thinking.

Therefore, unlearning is a valuable part of the learning process, as it allows individuals and organizations to adapt to new information and evolve over time.

لا أعتقد أن هذه الفكرة صحيحة عمليا لأن التعلم عملية مقصودة وواعية غالبا. لذلك أعتبر هذه الفكرة مجرد فلسفة لجعل الافعل فعلا

Thank you Eike Emig . I am in support of your response. I do consider unlearning as a potential 'expansion' of the learning process. Thank you for the new knowledge on 'Pluto' as well :-)

Dear Berna Karina , Thank you for your response. However i am unable to interpret due to me not being familiar with the language. If you can re-submit your response in english, it would be most appreciated.

Thank you Osaze-Michael Usenbor for your comprehensive response. I do agree that unlearning is key for adapting and transitioning to an ever-changing environment.

Thank you أ.د. عائشة عبيزة for your response. However i am unable to interpret your response as i am unfamiliar with the language. May i kindly request you resend in English. Thank you

hi Doug Traylor . Thank you for your response and for the profound example relating to music. It is great to see that the process of ‘unlearning’ in order to ‘re-learn’ is applicable to almost any field and/or life in general. Through your response, I have learnt something about music today as well. Thank you.

Hi Sachin. If we agree that knowledge is provisional and continuously being constructed, the necessity to question/revisit/ rethink our currently held beliefs/systems becomes imperative. Unless we were ready to unlearn, we would not be able to accept newer findings and make progress. Unlearning is mandatory, in my view, to move forward, and yes, it is learning as it throws fresh perspectives and insights into the subject. This process is crucial to the advancement of all knowledge systems.

Yes, I consider unlearning as a part of learning process. The part of 'unlearning' and 'learning comes, according to me, when one is trying to learn something new. For example, to learn a new foreign language we need to unlearn the old pattern of how we learnt the other languages which is/are not similar to the foreign language we are learning at present. As unlearning is difficult to implement but not impossible. It is more of a process of improvement in one's learning and development journey be it personal or professional. It challenges the status quo but the only way to evolve and getting experiential knowledge. It requires willingness, consistency, practice and acceptance. Thank you!

Thank you John Kennedy, I share the similar sentiments that in order to progress, we may need to detach from older/outdated knowledge, views and perceptions. Hence unlearning is crucial to this process.

Many thanks Aarohi Dave . I am in support of your response. Thank you for providing a perspective from the Language paradigm. It is good to see the concept being applied to various paradigms whether it is personal and/or professional. The 4 factors you mentioned of willingness, consistency, practice to ‘acceptance’ is vital. We must look ahead to the value that new knowledge can bring in this regard.

Sachin Suknunan I believe unlearning is an important process or part of learning and it requires discipline and commitment from the learner. As researchers and educators, it would be difficult to expand our knowledge and horizon when we don't unlearn. However, unlearning sometimes does not have to be a total 'let go', sometimes what is needed is interconnection, bridging, and finding correlations between what we are learning and what we are unlearning. For example, the complete embracing of acculturation by an international student can as well become deculturation from their roots and background.

No. Unlearning is not a real thing. It's a catchy term that holds the same meaning as learning. You can see this in the comments. Everyone is suggesting its an "important step in learning more". Knowledge always builds on other knowledge. If you have bad technique with an instrument, you can learn the new technique that is superior and replace your old technique, but to understand why it is better, you still need to understand the old skills and knowledge.

Why use language that suggests people need to move backwards rather than forwards? "Unlearning" should be reserved for forcibly removing cognitive capacity through archaic means.

To gain knowledge, skills or attitude is learning and to loose these attributes is also learning both of them need cognitive and meta-cognitive skills

The statement unlearning is more difficult than learning new things highlights the challenge of changing our deeply ingrained beliefs, behaviors, and habits. Unlearning requires us to challenge our assumptions, question our long-held beliefs, and let go of old habits that may no longer serve us

Dear Stephen Maku , thank you for you comprehensive response. Yes I do agree that it does not have to be a complete ‘letting go/detachment’ but can be linked to new knowledge based on context. Thank you

Thank you Kyle Butella , for your response on how you view ‘unlearning’. As alluded to by others, and whether it is real or not, it is still a metaphorical term used to describe how we challenge deep-rooted knowledge, habits, beliefs and /or behaviours in order to accommodate new perspectives and approaches. Hence I agree when you say that ‘it holds the same meaning as learning’.

Thank you Mohamed Ahmed Agab . I do like your view/response in terms of the need for ‘cognitive and meta-cognitive skills’ for unlearning.

Dear Mrs.N.Adlin Shinija . Thank you. I strongly agree on the factors you mentioned about how unlearning relates to how we challenge deeply ingrained beliefs, behaviours, and habits etc. It comes down to the willingness to challenge such beliefs especially if they no longer serve us, as you have put it. It may further require lots of re-evaluation of historic and current beliefs/knowledge/behaviours etc. Hence, I see it unlearning as crucial for growth and discovery. Many thanks.

Not always