Fundamental based learning and thinking is one of the most effective ways to learn. Fundamentals are the core structural concepts on which surface level contextual technical concepts are laid. When you know the fundamentals, you can derive the right answers.
These core ideas are really important. They're often broad, deep and resonate with the person at much deeper levels than just technical information. These fundamentals form the philosophy which influence much of what you do with a subject.
These ideas are not formed in kind environments. They're subjective. They can't be formed with entirety, ever. They're evolving, with context and application. However, these ideas are mostly quite simple. They're usually the answers to the 'Why'
They may develop through books, conversations, experiences you've had since childhood, projects you work on.etc The purpose of these is realized only if you have the ability to avoid your personal bias and form a broader line of thought. This is real thinking. You come to these ideas by arguments, application and exposure in various forms. They are fundamental and thus can be applied to various other unrelated disciplines.
In the book Range, David Epstein has shown how some of the most radical innovations in any discipline came from analogies and fundamentals of different unrelated subjects. Be it medicine, technology, personal life or anything else.
One of the most important things is to learn the process of updating these. Fundamentals should always evolve with progress. When you're not allowing them to evolve, it'll result in something like blind followers of religious practices which were formed centuries ago.
With contextual application, you learn about the fundamentals deeper. Beyond a point, you have enough information to elevate these ideas. If a set of ideas were first-principles for my thinking and I make immense progress in X discipline using those, the fundamentals for the next generation can/should be different.
The next generation dosen't need to understand the 'Why' at my level, because it has evolved over time. It dosen't mean anything to them. Their 'why' and fundamentals may be a level higher than what I had. This is crucial and shows if we've progressed.
One of the reasons I feel the education system is the way it is, comes to the updating of fundamentals. Traditionally, we're still taught the fundamentals which have become obsolete for our application.
The ideas taught were the basis of innovation and production but their context has changed over time. Schools have not been able to update their curriculum with regard to the new fundamentals.
If we are taught the right fundamentals, innovation and progress will be a lot more faster and effective. I do believe that some concepts like in math and science are a good base for most other things you may do, there's way too much to be updated.
Be really mindful of the fundamentals that influence you, and make sure they're evolving.