6.3 Conclusions Quiz

Question 1 of 5
While each new technology is often hailed superior by many, equally prevalent are expressions of fear of any real or imagined negative consequences. Carr refers to Socrates’ fears of the development of writing in Plato’s Phaedrus. Carr writes, “[Socrates] feared that, as people came to rely on the written word as a substitute for the knowledge they used to carry inside their heads, they would, in the words of one of the dialogue’s characters, ‘cease to exercise their memory and become forgetful’” (233). Essentially this ancient example emphasizes the persistent modern-day fears that new technologies are causing a dumbing down of the people who use them. If people come to rely on computers to spell words correctly for them through spellcheck, for example, then people will forget how to spell words, or not bother to learn how to spell them in the first place. However, while spelling may very well be in decline, word processing technology enables more extensive revision and easier transmission of information among people. Therefore, focusing exclusively on negative consequences of new technologies blinds people from seeing their knowledge-expanding possibilities.
Question 2 of 5
While each new technology is often hailed superior by many, equally prevalent are expressions of fear of any real or imagined negative consequences. Carr refers to Socrates’ fears of the development of writing in Plato’s Phaedrus. Carr writes, “[Socrates] feared that, as people came to rely on the written word as a substitute for the knowledge they used to carry inside their heads, they would, in the words of one of the dialogue’s characters, ‘cease to exercise their memory and become forgetful’” (233). Essentially this ancient example emphasizes the persistent modern-day fears that new technologies are causing a dumbing down of the people who use them. It is interesting to trace the process of how such fear has remained the same with each new writing technology. First, drawing and writing instruments were invented, including ink, pencils, etc. Scribes were the ones who controlled texts, and only those in power were literate. When the printing press was invented, text was more widely distributed and more ordinary people became literate. This continued with the typewriter, copying machine, and other mechanisms to publish writing. Now the Internet, and social media specifically, have really democratized literacy with the global consumption and dissemination of information at the click of a button. Therefore, focusing exclusively on negative consequences of new technologies blinds people from seeing their knowledge-expanding possibilities.
Question 3 of 5
While each new technology is often hailed superior by many, equally prevalent are expressions of fear of any real or imagined negative consequences. Carr refers to Socrates’ fears of the development of writing in Plato’s Phaedrus. Carr writes, “[Socrates] feared that, as people came to rely on the written word as a substitute for the knowledge they used to carry inside their heads, they would, in the words of one of the dialogue’s characters, ‘cease to exercise their memory and become forgetful’” (233). Essentially this ancient example emphasizes the persistent modern-day fears that new technologies are causing a dumbing down of the people who use them. The extent to which people never gain or actually lose skills and knowledge due to new technologies depends on how that technology is used. For example, the way people use a new writing technology like spellcheck can be classified into two categories. One way is to allow the program to automatically correct misspelled or incorrect words for the writer. Another way is to use the feedback from the computer indicating that a word is misspelled or incorrect and look up the word in a dictionary and study how it is spelled and its meaning. In the first instance, the writer uses the program mindlessly in place of his or her own thinking; however, in the second instance the technology is used as a tool to aid the writer’s independent learning. Therefore, focusing exclusively on negative consequences of new technologies blinds people from seeing their knowledge-expanding possibilities.
Question 4 of 5
While each new technology is often hailed superior by many, equally prevalent are expressions of fear of any real or imagined negative consequences. Carr refers to Socrates’ fears of the development of writing in Plato’s Phaedrus. Carr writes, “[Socrates] feared that, as people came to rely on the written word as a substitute for the knowledge they used to carry inside their heads, they would, in the words of one of the dialogue’s characters, ‘cease to exercise their memory and become forgetful’” (233). Essentially this ancient example emphasizes the persistent modern-day fears that new technologies are causing a dumbing down of the people who use them. In comparison, what if the discovery of penicillin was curbed because of fears that innocent bacterial infections would be killed? Scientific knowledge, which leads to technology, is predicated on progress and invention—and much trial and error and failure along the way. Therefore, focusing exclusively on negative consequences of new technologies blinds people from seeing their knowledge-expanding possibilities.
Question 5 of 5
While each new technology is often hailed superior by many, equally prevalent are expressions of fear of any real or imagined negative consequences. Carr refers to Socrates’ fears of the development of writing in Plato’s Phaedrus. Carr writes, “[Socrates] feared that, as people came to rely on the written word as a substitute for the knowledge they used to carry inside their heads, they would, in the words of one of the dialogue’s characters, ‘cease to exercise their memory and become forgetful’” (233). Essentially this ancient example emphasizes the persistent modern-day fears that new technologies are causing a dumbing down of the people who use them. However, technology is defined as applied knowledge. Technology represents the fruits of our human knowledge, as a species or our specific civilizations. New technologies are the result of the expansion of human knowledge. Therefore, focusing exclusively on negative consequences of new technologies blinds people from seeing their knowledge-expanding possibilities.