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Another more historic example in the same mold: >>If men learn [to read], it will implant forgetfulness in their souls. They will cease to exercise memory beca
by Topfi 2y ago
Another more historic example in the same mold:
>>If men learn [to read], 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.<<
Plato, 400-300 BC
Basically, learning to read and write would lead to an overreliance and provide only a "semblance of wisdom", rather than "true wisdom".
[0] https://fs.blog/an-old-argument-against-writing/ https://fs.blog/an-old-argument-against-writing/
- wouldbecouldbe 2y agoHe wasn’t wrong; we did lose the skill for memorising large oral works. He just missed the upside.
- twelve40 2y agohaha the man probably would have been absolutely devastated to learn that his posterity has degenerated to the point of using Google while coding... or god forbid, interviewing.
- brvsft 2y agoI don't know that much about literacy rates and social competition in ancient Greece, but I suspect it may have been in Plato's personal interests that others remain illiterate.