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The author dedicated more than 95% of the article to telling us that the typewriter changed Nietzsche's consciousness, but only a few sentences to vaguely descr

The author dedicated more than 95% of the article to telling us that the typewriter changed Nietzsche's consciousness, but only a few sentences to vaguely describe what those changes were. And even then, what was described was more of a stylistic element, rather than a substantial one. I would've loved to see more concrete examples of the evolution of Nietzsche's writings and ideas pre- and post-typewriter adoption, and maybe what does that mean for Nietzsche's legacy as a whole.

dang 2y ago
This article might be better: Friedrich Nietzsche and his Typewriter – a Malling-Hansen Writing Ball http://www.malling-hansen.org/friedrich-nietzsche-and-his-typewriter-a-malling-hansen-writing-ball.html http://www.malling-hansen.org/friedrich-nietzsche-and-his-ty... (via https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6100076 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6100076, but no comments there)
quantadev 2y ago
Yeah the title was a little Click-Baity, compared to what it really contained.
madaxe_again 2y ago
I think it’s far more likely that his blindness influenced his writing style than his choice of writing implement. If you can’t go back and read what you just wrote, it results in a concision of thought - formulate a sentence in your mind, transcribe. Repeat. When you can read back what you’re writing, it lends much more scope for punning, for long, tangential sentences - as the paper becomes your short term memory. This holds particularly true for a not only blind but aging mind, with a slowly diminishing capacity for short-term recall. So, did the typewriter turn him into a machine-man? No. His blindness mandated a modification to his mode of expression, and the transcription technology he chose. I can’t help but think of the allegory of the tightrope walker and the jester, reading this.
- stuart73547373 2y ago
  i thought he was only blind in one eye
  - madaxe_again 2y ago
    Seems to have been a combination of ophthalmic issues and severe migraine photosensitivity - apparently he could only bear to read or write in short snatches.

dang 2y ago

This article might be better: Friedrich Nietzsche and his Typewriter – a Malling-Hansen Writing Ball http://www.malling-hansen.org/friedrich-nietzsche-and-his-typewriter-a-malling-hansen-writing-ball.html http://www.malling-hansen.org/friedrich-nietzsche-and-his-ty... (via https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6100076 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6100076, but no comments there)

quantadev 2y ago

Yeah the title was a little Click-Baity, compared to what it really contained.

madaxe_again 2y ago

I think it’s far more likely that his blindness influenced his writing style than his choice of writing implement. If you can’t go back and read what you just wrote, it results in a concision of thought - formulate a sentence in your mind, transcribe. Repeat. When you can read back what you’re writing, it lends much more scope for punning, for long, tangential sentences - as the paper becomes your short term memory. This holds particularly true for a not only blind but aging mind, with a slowly diminishing capacity for short-term recall. So, did the typewriter turn him into a machine-man? No. His blindness mandated a modification to his mode of expression, and the transcription technology he chose. I can’t help but think of the allegory of the tightrope walker and the jester, reading this.

stuart73547373 2y ago
i thought he was only blind in one eye
- madaxe_again 2y ago
  Seems to have been a combination of ophthalmic issues and severe migraine photosensitivity - apparently he could only bear to read or write in short snatches.