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Socrates' Critique of Writing

The cluster centers on references to Socrates (via Plato's dialogues, especially Phaedrus) criticizing writing as a tool that weakens memory and genuine thought, often drawing parallels to modern technologies like AI and LLMs.

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Top Contributors

dr_dshiv (66) 082349872349872 (37) marginalia_nu (25) yters (25) watwut (25)

Keywords

HN ancientgreekphilosopher.com QUESTION BC wikipedia.org plato bc writing marcus condemned philosopher memory think question writings gods

Sample Comments

sinuhe69 • Sep 3, 2024 • View on HN

Hey, Plato did suggest it also!

sz • Jan 3, 2011 • View on HN

I'd like to see Socrates' take on this.

JoeAltmaier • Jan 14, 2012 • View on HN

Read something about Socrates sometime.

andi999 • Oct 21, 2021 • View on HN

I don't remember Plato mentioning that :-)

sjg007 • Dec 22, 2019 • View on HN

Is it your "thinking" Plato's ? Or Socartes? It's probably is better to QUESTION rather than form your own INTERPRETATION. At least a dialog is formed. Maybe the acients were more informed then we are.

Animats • May 10, 2016 • View on HN

Sounds like Aristotle had a bad day with Socrates.

marginalia_nu • Jul 2, 2023 • View on HN

Socrates would have questions about this.

epaga • Jan 20, 2016 • View on HN

"Let me put it this way - ever heard of Plato? Socrates? Morons."

abanayev • Nov 25, 2022 • View on HN

Good thing Plato was able to write this down.

AnimalMuppet • Oct 13, 2017 • View on HN

Socrates would want us to not take anyone's word for it, including Socrates'. Plato might want the same.