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Every time a new technology comes around, people say society is going down. Socrates famously claimed that writing text down on paper provides only the semblan

Every time a new technology comes around, people say society is going down. Socrates famously claimed that writing text down on paper provides only the semblance of wisdom, not true understanding, because it allows for passive consumption of information rather than active engagement with it. For Socrates, true knowledge came from dialogue and internal reflection, not from external, static texts. It’s ironic that nowadays we put reading books on a pedestal and designate it as the antidote to social media! No one today would argue that reading a book is a poor use of one’s time.

skywhopper 2y ago
Socrates was hardly universally correct, and he was certainly wrong about this. Even his own students didn’t take this particular idea seriously.
pera 2y ago
Papyrus had existed for at least a couple of thousands of years before Socrates so I'm not sure I understand your argument
bayindirh 2y ago
I think there's a misunderstanding on Socrates quote. There are many things where one can get a superficial understanding of how something is done, or what's the effect of some experience upon the self. On the other hand, these understandings will be superficial and won't be able to capture the whole details, nuances and personal differences. One person may be aware that physical activity is good by reading a book, but can never understand "how, how much, and in what way" unless they do exercises themselves. Somebody can read a programming or project management book end to end, but they'll face the reality and experience the highs and lows of the trade only and when they put their hands on the keyboard or join a project as a manager. On this aspect Socrates is absolutely correct. Book and written media is a starting point, not a destination. AI will be beneficial if we treat it as the absolute baseline and do our own thinking and building upon it. The people who think what AI emits is the ultimate and final destination will be doomed.

skywhopper 2y ago

Socrates was hardly universally correct, and he was certainly wrong about this. Even his own students didn’t take this particular idea seriously.

pera 2y ago

Papyrus had existed for at least a couple of thousands of years before Socrates so I'm not sure I understand your argument

bayindirh 2y ago

I think there's a misunderstanding on Socrates quote. There are many things where one can get a superficial understanding of how something is done, or what's the effect of some experience upon the self. On the other hand, these understandings will be superficial and won't be able to capture the whole details, nuances and personal differences. One person may be aware that physical activity is good by reading a book, but can never understand "how, how much, and in what way" unless they do exercises themselves. Somebody can read a programming or project management book end to end, but they'll face the reality and experience the highs and lows of the trade only and when they put their hands on the keyboard or join a project as a manager. On this aspect Socrates is absolutely correct. Book and written media is a starting point, not a destination. AI will be beneficial if we treat it as the absolute baseline and do our own thinking and building upon it. The people who think what AI emits is the ultimate and final destination will be doomed.