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I can imagine somebody in the 1400s talking about being the last generation to remember life before books, and what a freeing time it was where people actually

I can imagine somebody in the 1400s talking about being the last generation to remember life before books, and what a freeing time it was where people actually had to talk with each other to get information.

HarryHirsch 10y ago
That issue already came up in Platon's Phaedrus. The issue that is brought up is that reading about a subject is not the same as immersion brought about by interaction with that subject. It brings about an illusion of learning. Says Platon. Sound familiar, no? http://www.english.illinois.edu/-people-/faculty/debaron/482/482readings/phaedrus.html http://www.english.illinois.edu/-people-/faculty/debaron/482...
- Mendenhall 10y ago
  I think Platos/Socrates point holds still. You can read exactly how to build a house having never built one and "know" how to build a house. There is a vast difference between that and actually whats learned while building a house. I have learned a lot by reading but it always pales to what I learned from doing. I would trust the person more who built ten houses compared to a person who read every word written about building them but never built one.
  - HarryHirsch 10y ago
    You see the effect every year, with students attempting the transition from teaching labs to actual research. In research you have to step back and use your knowledge in unfamiliar context. It is a big jump.
- deleted 10y ago
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dghughes 10y ago
Or the Egyptian King Thamus.