Making Sense with Sam Harris #392 — Technology & Culture
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Nov 19, 2024 
Christine Rosen, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and columnist for Commentary Magazine, dives deep into the interplay between technology and culture. She discusses the decline of handwriting in schools and its cognitive implications. The conversation delves into the trade-offs of technology use, especially in information consumption. Rosen also examines the impact of social media on identity and trust, while calling for a revival of local journalism to combat misinformation. Ayaan Hirsi Ali's courage and the political landscape under Trump add further intrigue.
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Defending the Human
- Technology encourages us to mediate experiences, devaluing embodied human connection.
- We measure experiences by data and compare ourselves, impacting happiness and social skills.
Lost Art of Cursive
- Sam Harris's daughter couldn't read cursive, highlighting a loss of connection to history.
- Handwriting's decline impacts memory and patience, as explored in Rosen's book.
Typing vs. Writing
- Typing's speed eliminates a crucial editing stage in writing, changing cognitive processes.
- Handwriting forces summarization and deeper encoding during note-taking, unlike typing.