In Phaedrus, Plato, through Socrates, recounts a myth where an Egyptian god presents #writing as a gift to a king, claiming it will enhance wisdom and memory. The king disagrees, arguing that writing will weaken memory because people will rely on external symbols rather than internal thought processes. Instead of true understanding, they will gain only the illusion of knowledge. Socrates criticizes writing as inflexible and incapable of engaging in dialogue, unlike spoken discourse, which promotes real learning.

This centuries-old concern that a technology will diminish cognitive skills is what gives me hope for #AI in #education.

PS1: I wonder what Socrates would think of chatbots and their endless capability of engaging in dialogue 😇

PS2: Writing prevailed because it helped maintain peace. Wars ended when agreements were put in stone, eliminating "he said, she said."