On this episode of Making Sense with Sam Harris, Christine Rosen shares insights on the cognitive and societal impacts of technological change. The discussion explores the implications of handwriting's decline on memory, focus, and embodied cognition. Rosen and Harris also delve into the double-edged nature of digital tools—providing efficiency yet diminishing sensory experiences—and the role of social media in fueling misinformation, polarization, and the erosion of shared reality.
The conversation further examines how digital technology destabilizes traditional journalism, politics, and trust in institutions. Rosen advocates for reviving local coverage, fact-checking influential voices, and exploring new models like Substack for high-quality, independent reporting—underscoring the importance of reliable media in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
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1-Page Summary
Christine Rosen and Sam Harris delve into the cognitive repercussions following the decline of handwriting in education and everyday life.
Christine Rosen discusses how handwriting is a form of embodied cognition where the mind and body collaborate, impacting skills related to memory formation and recall. These skills develop through the focused practice of handwriting. She notes that if we abandon this practice, we may lose not just penmanship but also significant cognitive abilities.
Sam Harris adds that handwriting naturally integrates a stage of mindful reconsideration and editing, which is absent in typing due to its faster nature. Harris also highlights how handwriting notes in classes forces students to summarize information, which leads to a more effective encoding in memory.
Rosen raises the point that, by neglecting handwriting, we risk losing the capacity to read historical documents, which often feature cursive script. She emphasizes the personal aspects of handwriting, like discerning personality through the pressure of the pen on paper, and fears the loss of these deeply human traits as handwriting wanes.
Rosen then pivots to the broader cultural shift towards digital tools and the implications of this transition on our embodied human experiences.
Rosen suggests that while digital tools bring connectivity and efficiency, they may not necessarily contribute to happiness, health, or social well-being. This overreliance on technology could degrade the quality of our sensory experiences and diminish our awareness of being physically embodied.
She notes the trade-offs in technology's rise, particularly as children's activities shift from physical interactions to technology-centered experiences. The saturation of technology in young people's lives, combined with the decline of handwriting, exemplifies a lack of thoughtful consideration of these trade-offs.
The cognitive and cultural implications of technological change
As digital technology and social media platforms entwine with everyday life, the consequences of their use stir public debate. Renowned voices have expressed concerns about the divisive nature of these platforms and their broader impact on society and politics.
Sam Harris and Christine Rosen highlight significant ways in which social media fuels the spread of misinformation and conspiracy thinking. Harris suggests boycotting social media and notably platform X, which he labels a digital sewer that's become the epicenter of radical politics and crazy conspiracies. The platform's owner has been accused of amplifying its worst tendencies, contributing to the misinformation epidemic.
Rosen addresses the erosion of trust, particularly citing the right's belief that the government may be actively working against people. This distrust has been weaponized by social media, enabling conspiracy theories to take root and grow.
Tucker Carlson's tactics after leaving Fox News are highlighted as a case study. His hyperbolic and conspiratorial tone into supposed hidden truths confirms the biases of an audience already disenchanted with institutions.
The conversation on platform X reflects the political culture of conspiracy, where misinformation like Pizzagate takes hold and causes real-world actions. This is aggravated by Harris's noting that we are becoming a "Pizzagate culture politically," where narratives based on misinformation trigger activities such as the purported rescuing of nonexistent children from non-existent basements.
Rosen stresses that social media fosters an environment where extreme and false narratives are amplified, partly due to the lack of barriers to entry and difficulties in verifying truth, further contributing to societal division and conspiracy culture.
Rosen and Harris emphasize that social media's structure, which rewards anger and hostility for greater engagement, has become a catalyst for polarization. The "do your own research" mantra often fronts the descent into speculative beliefs and conspiracy theories. Unlike traditional platforms, where facts hold higher reverence, social media users can craft their version of reality, corroding the shared understanding critical to functioning democracies.
The societal and political effects of social media and digital technology
Christine Rosen addresses the decline of local journalism and its consequences, as well as the potential for new journalistic models to restore high-quality reporting.
Rosen emphasizes the importance of reviving local news, pointing out that much of the corruption and significant events take place at the local level, but coverage is dwindling as local newspapers disappear. This lack of local news coverage leads to a trust deficit. As local issues like pothole repairs go uninvestigated, the public's ability to hold local leaders accountable diminishes and civic engagement suffers. Rosen also notes that reductions in the media environment, such as the shrinking of foreign bureaus and impending layoffs, affect coverage of important community issues.
Continuing, Rosen reflects on the career trajectory of Tucker Carlson, considering it representative of the media’s disconnection from average Americans. She discusses the potential benefit of philanthropic investment in journalism, especially at the local level, where it is most needed. She advocates for cultivating a new generation of journalists from a broader range of backgrounds to bring more diverse perspectives to media.
Rosen cites platforms like Su ...
The state of journalism and the need for media reform
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