Comment by espeed

There is a big difference between knowing something is true and understanding why it's true. A criteria one of the top preparatory schools in Dallas looks for when evaluating candidates for admittance is, does the student ask "Why?".

When you understand why something is true -- the reasons behind it -- you are relating it/connecting it to what you already know and understand. You're creating a Web of associations -- a mental framework you can build on -- you're not learning it in isolation. The most important question anyone can ask is "Why?".