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Why stop there? Maybe the decline started with the invention of writing. Here's Socrates: But when it came to writing Theuth said, 'Here, O king, is a branch o

by atdt 7y ago

Why stop there? Maybe the decline started with the invention of writing. Here's Socrates: But when it came to writing Theuth said, 'Here, O king, is a branch of learning that will make the people of Egypt wiser and improve their memories; my discovery provides a recipe for memory and wisdom.' But the king answered and said, 'O man full of arts, to one it is given to create the things of art, and to another to judge what measure of harm and of profit they have for those that shall employ them. And so it is that you, by reasons of your tender regard for the writing that is your offspring, have declared the very opposite of its true effect. If men learn this, it will implant forgetfulness in their souls; they will cease to exercise memory because they rely on that which is written, calling things to remembrance no longer from within themselves, but by means of external marks. What you have discovered is a recipe not for memory, but for reminder. And it is no true wisdom that you offer your disciples, but only its semblance, for by telling them of many things without teaching them you will make them seem to know much, while for the most part they know nothing, and as men filled, not with wisdom but with the conceit of wisdom, they will be a burden to their fellows.' (from Phaedrus)

kazinator 7y ago
But did the king have data showing that IQ's are dropping alongside the adoption of reading and writing? Being able to scribble memos to yourself probably does bring neglect to memorization; if you do nothing else with your literacy than replace your short and long term memory with writing, it's possible that your memory will stagnate. When we introduce literacy, people read a lot more than they write, and they remember a lot of what they read. That boosts their memory and learning, even if writing down notes is otherwise detrimental. In the modern age, you don't have to remember what you read, just the search engine keyword or piece of URL to find it again (and for the latter, there are bookmarks). Basically it's down to just remembering that you read something.

by atdt 7y ago

kazinator 7y ago

But did the king have data showing that IQ's are dropping alongside the adoption of reading and writing? Being able to scribble memos to yourself probably does bring neglect to memorization; if you do nothing else with your literacy than replace your short and long term memory with writing, it's possible that your memory will stagnate. When we introduce literacy, people read a lot more than they write, and they remember a lot of what they read. That boosts their memory and learning, even if writing down notes is otherwise detrimental. In the modern age, you don't have to remember what you read, just the search engine keyword or piece of URL to find it again (and for the latter, there are bookmarks). Basically it's down to just remembering that you read something.