This is a really important article and I liked what you said towards the beginning when you said, “We live in an age of maximum information but minimum reflection.” I consider myself a “reader” and there have been many times when the focus is just trying to get through the book just to say I’ve read it, and so even reading Great books, when read inappropriately in my opinion, is rather vain. But, there have been many times also when I’ve taken a lot of time on a book and cared more about having it go through me and change me. At such times I notice I read less but think and write about it more. I’m reading Les Miserables right now for the first time and I was reminded of a certain part when you were talking about how figuring out meaning in the age of AI is an issue (I think it provided an answer). I won’t go into that because this reply is too long already, but I agree, reading great books, or The Great Books is more important than ever and I wish more people had that opinion. Thanks for the article!
"our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end." Walden, Thoreau. I'm reading Walden, and came to this article during a quick pause. So, I guess, I tend to agree with Thoreau here - technology is great, but it doesn't fundamentally solve the human condition.
As for the 'Great Books':
The main point of Great Books is that they are atemporal, doesnt matter when you read them, you can learn something from them simply because they focus on the things we all share.
Very fine essay. Agree that Hobbes would like AI better and that Hobbes is right. What would the author recommend as a short syllabus of “great books.”
Lovely reminder of all learned in liberal arts colle. The relevance continues. I do miss my grat professors and dorm discussions How can that experience be resumed in our digital world
This is a really important article and I liked what you said towards the beginning when you said, “We live in an age of maximum information but minimum reflection.” I consider myself a “reader” and there have been many times when the focus is just trying to get through the book just to say I’ve read it, and so even reading Great books, when read inappropriately in my opinion, is rather vain. But, there have been many times also when I’ve taken a lot of time on a book and cared more about having it go through me and change me. At such times I notice I read less but think and write about it more. I’m reading Les Miserables right now for the first time and I was reminded of a certain part when you were talking about how figuring out meaning in the age of AI is an issue (I think it provided an answer). I won’t go into that because this reply is too long already, but I agree, reading great books, or The Great Books is more important than ever and I wish more people had that opinion. Thanks for the article!
"our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end." Walden, Thoreau. I'm reading Walden, and came to this article during a quick pause. So, I guess, I tend to agree with Thoreau here - technology is great, but it doesn't fundamentally solve the human condition.
As for the 'Great Books':
The main point of Great Books is that they are atemporal, doesnt matter when you read them, you can learn something from them simply because they focus on the things we all share.
Very fine essay. Agree that Hobbes would like AI better and that Hobbes is right. What would the author recommend as a short syllabus of “great books.”
Lovely reminder of all learned in liberal arts colle. The relevance continues. I do miss my grat professors and dorm discussions How can that experience be resumed in our digital world