The literate mind

Abstract

Homo sapiens ' ability to invent and culturally transmit technologies has had an enormous impact on planet earth. Human technologies, ranging from starting a fire, stone tools, farming and the wheel, to genetic engineering and deep learning networks, have reshaped all aspects of our lives. One such technology, writing, invented about six thousand years ago in Mesopotamia, has played a particularly key role. It is difficult to overstate its importance for the course of human history. The characterstics of written language are thought to have created a need for more precise definitions of terms and more logical analyses of concepts (Havelock & Havelock, 1963), facilitating critical debate and encouraging more abstract thinking