This is very well put. I must admit that even I, a trained philosopher (though an iconoclastic one) read differently than I do fifteen years ago before the nearly universal embrace of the smart phone. I read less closely, for briefer periods, and am rarely without my phone nearby.
But where I noticed it most was with my students. Fifteen years ago I could assign them an essay by Heidegger for example. Most would read it at least half way, free spoils understand it, but they would come to class excited to figure out why they didn’t understand. They we could have a discussion—get into it as the Americans say.
But this innate curiosity has disappeared. I no longer am able to sign Heidegger— he is too difficult and they are resistant to being presented with something they don’t already understand. A few years ago, I have three students a brilliant short piece by the late monk and poet Thic Nhat Hahn, a piece which described the concept of “interbeing”, of deep connection. I faced a pushback in my classes, a refusal. Students derided the essay, calling it to academic (it wasn’t), too abstract (perhaps but isn’t that the point, and boring. I no longer teach and put the reason to this moment. And Giovanni is correct, in the silence of language is where fascism lies.
Thank you for your comment, which I find particularly relevant also due to your experience and interaction with students. The “death of dialogue” is indeed very worrying to me even in everyday life. I often feel like an alien, alienated in a world I seem to have less and less skills and abilities to interact with. I still love to read and to write, often by hand, but seldom I do get letters in reply to mine. My main worry is the casual attitude, the carelessness, in large parts of society, and I might add in parts of the education system, inducing us to dismiss and retire valuable intellectual tools and communication skills. Thank you, again, for reading my humble essay and finding the time to comment.
This is very well put. I must admit that even I, a trained philosopher (though an iconoclastic one) read differently than I do fifteen years ago before the nearly universal embrace of the smart phone. I read less closely, for briefer periods, and am rarely without my phone nearby.
But where I noticed it most was with my students. Fifteen years ago I could assign them an essay by Heidegger for example. Most would read it at least half way, free spoils understand it, but they would come to class excited to figure out why they didn’t understand. They we could have a discussion—get into it as the Americans say.
But this innate curiosity has disappeared. I no longer am able to sign Heidegger— he is too difficult and they are resistant to being presented with something they don’t already understand. A few years ago, I have three students a brilliant short piece by the late monk and poet Thic Nhat Hahn, a piece which described the concept of “interbeing”, of deep connection. I faced a pushback in my classes, a refusal. Students derided the essay, calling it to academic (it wasn’t), too abstract (perhaps but isn’t that the point, and boring. I no longer teach and put the reason to this moment. And Giovanni is correct, in the silence of language is where fascism lies.
Thank you for your comment, which I find particularly relevant also due to your experience and interaction with students. The “death of dialogue” is indeed very worrying to me even in everyday life. I often feel like an alien, alienated in a world I seem to have less and less skills and abilities to interact with. I still love to read and to write, often by hand, but seldom I do get letters in reply to mine. My main worry is the casual attitude, the carelessness, in large parts of society, and I might add in parts of the education system, inducing us to dismiss and retire valuable intellectual tools and communication skills. Thank you, again, for reading my humble essay and finding the time to comment.
The internet should have opened, not closed minds.