Philosophy
Nicholas Carr's book The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains has the thesis that pervasive computer use is rewiring our brains in such a way that we are made less able to concentrate for long periods of time, formulate and comprehend long, intricate arguments, and to engage in sustained deep reading. His argument hinges on experiments in neuroplasticity, the nature of on-line writing and web site design, and the ways in which we engage with text we are reading. He motivates the argument with a couple of anecdotes, people we would think do serious deep reading who claim that they no longer do or can now that they use on-line sources as primary modes of information gathering.
I'm curious about the selection of such anecdotes. Are they representative. So, you, reader of at least one blog, most likely more, do you find that since you have begun using electronic means of information collecting that your ability to engage in deep reading of longer texts has been affected? Is it harder to concentrate on books?
- Is Language A Technology?
Came across this sentence in Nicholas Carr's The Shallows: "Language itself is not a technology." his argument is that because it is "native to our species" that it is not an artifact and anything that is not an artifact cannot be a technology. Is...
- Philosophy: Brain In A Vat Argument ? Truth Revealed
Brains in a vat? That sounds terrifying, doesn?t it? Brain in a vat argument is one of the newest thought experiments in philosophy of mind (discussed by John Pollock). Many people raise objection to the brain in a vat theory but are there in fact any...
- Some Thoughts By Sam Leith On The End Of Books
"Is this the end for books?" Do you know what wilfing is? Have you heard of keitai shosetsus? Sam Leith on what to expect if the Kindle really does kill off the printed book by Sam Leith August 14th, 2011 guardian.co.uk In 1996, the...
- Jan Swafford's Thoughts On "real Books"
"Bold Prediction" Why e-books will never replace real books. by Jan Swafford June 29th, 2010 Slate Because we perceive print and electronic media differently. Because Marshall McLuhan was right about some things. In case you don't recall one of...
- Libraries May Disappear At Schools?
This is not a good idea at all. Libraries are more than a repository of books. It is a research facility...skills are learned. Besides it is a great place to meet others. "Do School Libraries Need Books?" February 10th, 2010 The New York Times Keeping...
Philosophy
Do You Find It More Difficult to Read Books?
Nicholas Carr's book The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains has the thesis that pervasive computer use is rewiring our brains in such a way that we are made less able to concentrate for long periods of time, formulate and comprehend long, intricate arguments, and to engage in sustained deep reading. His argument hinges on experiments in neuroplasticity, the nature of on-line writing and web site design, and the ways in which we engage with text we are reading. He motivates the argument with a couple of anecdotes, people we would think do serious deep reading who claim that they no longer do or can now that they use on-line sources as primary modes of information gathering.
I'm curious about the selection of such anecdotes. Are they representative. So, you, reader of at least one blog, most likely more, do you find that since you have begun using electronic means of information collecting that your ability to engage in deep reading of longer texts has been affected? Is it harder to concentrate on books?
- Is Language A Technology?
Came across this sentence in Nicholas Carr's The Shallows: "Language itself is not a technology." his argument is that because it is "native to our species" that it is not an artifact and anything that is not an artifact cannot be a technology. Is...
- Philosophy: Brain In A Vat Argument ? Truth Revealed
Brains in a vat? That sounds terrifying, doesn?t it? Brain in a vat argument is one of the newest thought experiments in philosophy of mind (discussed by John Pollock). Many people raise objection to the brain in a vat theory but are there in fact any...
- Some Thoughts By Sam Leith On The End Of Books
"Is this the end for books?" Do you know what wilfing is? Have you heard of keitai shosetsus? Sam Leith on what to expect if the Kindle really does kill off the printed book by Sam Leith August 14th, 2011 guardian.co.uk In 1996, the...
- Jan Swafford's Thoughts On "real Books"
"Bold Prediction" Why e-books will never replace real books. by Jan Swafford June 29th, 2010 Slate Because we perceive print and electronic media differently. Because Marshall McLuhan was right about some things. In case you don't recall one of...
- Libraries May Disappear At Schools?
This is not a good idea at all. Libraries are more than a repository of books. It is a research facility...skills are learned. Besides it is a great place to meet others. "Do School Libraries Need Books?" February 10th, 2010 The New York Times Keeping...