[GuiA]

Richard Feynman said something to the effect of your first paragraph which stuck with me:

"You can know the name of a bird in all the languages of the world, but when you're finished, you'll know absolutely nothing whatever about the bird... So let's look at the bird and see what it's doing — that's what counts. I learned very early the difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something."

[thewisedude]

Why is it that knowing what bird does is the only thing that counts? Maybe sometimes knowing the name of the bird in a different language could help - say if you go to a different country and have to communicate in the local language.

I also think its important to question the statements made by smart people. Times changes, what was applicable when the statement was made might not be valid anymore!