CMNS 110 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Thoth, Technological Change, Truism
8 Jun 2017
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Document Summary
In plato"s phaedrus - story about thamus. King of great city of upper egypt. Story: thamus once entertained god theuth, who was inventor of many things, Theuth exhibited inventions to king thamus, claimed they should be widely known & available to egyptians. In thamus" response - several sound principles from which we may begin to learn how to think w/ wise circumspection about technological society. Thamus" error - believing that writing will be burden to society & nothing but burden. For all his wisdom, fails to imagine what writing"s benefits might be. We may learn that it is mistake to suppose that any technological innovation as one- sided effect. We are currently surrounded by many theuths. One-eyed prophets who see only what no technologies can do & are incapable of imagining what they will undo. Gaze on technology as lover does on beloved. Seeing it as w/o blemish & entertaining no apprehension for future.
