Discover the fascinating origins of writing, starting with cuneiform and its evolution in civilization. Delve into the impact of generative AI on traditional writing and education, raising concerns about learning and trust. Explore journaling as a vital tool for emotional processing and the dual motivations driving writers, from personal expression to political purpose. Investigate Derrida's intriguing theories that challenge the dominance of speech over writing, revealing the profound complexities of communication and authorship.
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insights INSIGHT
Writing's Value
Writing helps organize thinking and explore thoughts not typically explored in speech.
It introduces a pause, allowing reflection before expression.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Longhand Dissertation
David Peña-Guzman handwrote his dissertation, finding the slow process beneficial.
Longhand writing forces slower, more deliberate thinking and idea development.
insights INSIGHT
Typing vs. Creativity
Typing can limit creativity due to reliance on familiar sentence structures.
ChatGPT excels at formulaic writing like cover letters, potentially offering ethical assistance.
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Perception and Language in a More-Than-Human World
David Abram
In this major work of ecological philosophy, David Abram draws on diverse sources including the philosophy of Merleau-Ponty, Balinese shamanism, Apache storytelling, and his own experience as a magician to reveal the intricate relationship between human perception and the natural world. The book delves into the character of perception and the sensual foundations of language, highlighting how even abstract language echoes the natural world. Abram argues that humans have severed their ancient reciprocity with nature and explores what it would take to recover a sustaining relation with the earth.
Of grammatology
Jacques Derrida
In *Of Grammatology*, Jacques Derrida critiques traditional Western philosophy by challenging the binary oppositions and logocentrism that underpin it. He argues that these oppositions, such as speech vs. writing, are not fixed but interdependent and can be deconstructed. Derrida uses the works of Rousseau and Lévi-Strauss to illustrate his points and proposes a new science of writing, or grammatology, which seeks to understand the complex play of signs and meanings. The book is a seminal work in deconstruction and has had a significant impact on contemporary philosophy, literary theory, and intellectual history[1][2][4].
Why I Write
George Orwell
In 'Why I Write', George Orwell reflects on his development as a writer, from his early childhood fascination with words and storytelling to his later political writings. The essay outlines four primary motives for writing: sheer egoism, aesthetic enthusiasm, historical impulse, and political purpose. Orwell discusses how these motives influenced his own work, particularly after the Spanish Civil War, which solidified his commitment to writing against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism.
Animal Farm
George Orwell
Published in 1945, 'Animal Farm' is a novella that allegorically represents the Russian Revolution and the subsequent rise of Stalinism. The story begins with Old Major, a boar, inspiring the animals of Manor Farm to rebel against their human oppressor, Mr. Jones. After the rebellion, the animals rename the farm 'Animal Farm' and establish a utopian society based on the principles of equality and solidarity, known as Animalism. However, as time passes, the pigs, led by Napoleon and Snowball, consolidate power and gradually corrupt the original ideals, leading to a dystopian regime that mirrors the oppressive human rule they initially rebelled against. The novel critiques totalitarianism and the corrupting nature of power, reflecting Orwell's experiences and views on the Soviet Union under Stalin's rule.
The Entanglement: How Art and Philosophy Make Us What We Are
The Entanglement: How Art and Philosophy Make Us What We Are
How Art and Philosophy Make Us What We Are
Alva Noë
Alva Noë's "The Entanglement: How Art and Philosophy Make Us What We Are" explores the profound connections between art, philosophy, and human experience. Noë argues that art and philosophy are not separate domains but are deeply intertwined, shaping our understanding of ourselves and the world. He examines how artistic practices, such as painting, dance, and writing, reveal the nature of consciousness and perception. Noë's work challenges traditional notions of representation and subjectivity, emphasizing the dynamic and embodied nature of human experience. The book offers a compelling and insightful perspective on the role of art and philosophy in shaping human identity and understanding.
The Phaedrus
The Phaedrus
Plato
In 'The Phaedrus,' Plato presents a dialogue between Socrates and Phaedrus that delves into several key themes. The discussion begins with Phaedrus reading a speech by Lysias that argues a non-lover is preferable to a lover. Socrates critiques this speech and then delivers two of his own speeches on love, one of which is a palinode that praises the divine nature of love. The dialogue also explores the art of rhetoric, critiquing the Sophists for using rhetoric to manipulate rather than seek truth. A central allegory, the charioteer myth, describes the soul as a charioteer driving two horses, symbolizing the struggle between reason and desire. The dialogue emphasizes the transformative power of true love, guiding the soul towards divine wisdom and truth, and underscores the importance of the soul's immortality and its self-motion[2][3][4].
You might want to jot down some notes on this one! In episode 122, Ellie and David explore where writing began, the value of writing, and our reasons for writing. Is the widespread use of generative AI technologies, such as ChatGPT, a threat to creative and academic writing? How did writing originate in cuneiform, and how does Derrida's deconstruction of logocentrism encourage us to reconsider the privileging of speech over writing? Listen to it all write here, write now! Plus, in the bonus, they get into some of our most pernicious myths and misconceptions about writing. They talk about the tortured writer trope, the solitary nature of writing, and the connection of writing to class.
Works Discussed: David Abram, The Spell of the Sensuous Geoffrey Bennington and Jacques Derrida, Jacques Derrida Jacques Derrida, “Freud and the Scene of Writing” Jacques Derrida, Of Grammatology Jacques Derrida, “Signature Event Context” Jacques Derrida, Structure, Sign, and Play in the Discourse of the HumanSciences Joan Didion, “Why I write” Walter Ong, Orality and Literacy George Orwell, “Why I write” Plato, The Phaedrus Alva Noë, The Entanglement, How Art and Philosophy Make Us Who We Are Peter Salmon, An Event, Perhaps: A Biography of Jacques Derrida Andrew Robinson, The Story of Writing
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