4 ms·

I was talking about movable type rather than printing in general. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movable_type https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movable_type Edi

I was talking about movable type rather than printing in general. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movable_type https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movable_type Edit: And an example in 1920 doesn't really apply to the early days of movable type. There's a big difference between pre and post industrial revolution. BTW in early 20th century, China entered its own Enlightenment because of shattered state control and those efficient printing machines Western colonials brought in.

thaumasiotes 8y ago
Yes, I know. Check out the very first sentence of my comment: > For this thesis, you need to show that movable type in specific, rather than printing in general, was necessary and sufficient for the scientific revolution. My whole point is that movable type doesn't offer much in the way of civilizational advantages compared to block printing, so it's very odd to attribute Europe's success to its writing system. I agree that it makes sense to attribute the choice of movable type over block printing to the writing system. But saying that this choice "determined the trajectory of history" seems like a stretch. Movable type vs. block printing is a choice of no great consequence.
- zachguo 8y ago
  I updated my previous comment before you posted this. The link between the Renaissance and moving type is quite uncontroversial. The impact of democratization of the press is hard to underestimate.
  - thaumasiotes 8y ago
    > I updated my previous comment before you posted this. No, you didn't. > The link between the Renaissance and moving type is quite uncontroversial. The impact of democratization of the press is hard to underestimate. You seem to be vacillating between "printing" and "movable type". The link between the Renaissance and printing is uncontroversial.
thaumasiotes 8y ago
> BTW in early 20th century, China entered its own Enlightenment because of shattered state control and those efficient printing machines https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_learning https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_learning was... earlier than "the early 20th century". What are you referring to? What exactly are you arguing happened?
- zachguo 8y ago
  I was talking about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Culture_Movement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Culture_Movement. It's only possible due to the democratization of the press.

thaumasiotes 8y ago

Yes, I know. Check out the very first sentence of my comment: > For this thesis, you need to show that movable type in specific, rather than printing in general, was necessary and sufficient for the scientific revolution. My whole point is that movable type doesn't offer much in the way of civilizational advantages compared to block printing, so it's very odd to attribute Europe's success to its writing system. I agree that it makes sense to attribute the choice of movable type over block printing to the writing system. But saying that this choice "determined the trajectory of history" seems like a stretch. Movable type vs. block printing is a choice of no great consequence.

zachguo 8y ago
I updated my previous comment before you posted this. The link between the Renaissance and moving type is quite uncontroversial. The impact of democratization of the press is hard to underestimate.
- thaumasiotes 8y ago
  > I updated my previous comment before you posted this. No, you didn't. > The link between the Renaissance and moving type is quite uncontroversial. The impact of democratization of the press is hard to underestimate. You seem to be vacillating between "printing" and "movable type". The link between the Renaissance and printing is uncontroversial.

thaumasiotes 8y ago

> BTW in early 20th century, China entered its own Enlightenment because of shattered state control and those efficient printing machines https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_learning https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_learning was... earlier than "the early 20th century". What are you referring to? What exactly are you arguing happened?

zachguo 8y ago
I was talking about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Culture_Movement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Culture_Movement. It's only possible due to the democratization of the press.