Before the printing press, transcribing books was an arduous task, and not many people in society were able to read in the first place. After the press was invented, however, literacy rose substantially, and while reading was still often relegated to wealthy elites, people had much easier access to pamphlets, newspapers, and books. Thus, we saw the emergence of a much more literate society. Novelists like Charles Dickens achieved celebrity status. Newspapers and periodicals exploded. But if there was such a thing as a “pre-literate” society (which accounted for much of human history), does that entail the coming of a “post-literate society”? Given the new revolutions in digital technology and artificial intelligence, a good number of public intellectuals and writers Read More ›

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