Neil Postman Informing Ourselves To Death Analysis
In the speech “Informing Ourselves to Death” given by Neil Postman, he talks about the danger of computer technology that people are not aware of. Firstly, the speaker gives explanation of two characteristics of new technologies, including computer technology. One that he claims is that every technology has both positive and negative impacts on people, and “sometimes, it [a new technology] destroys more than it creates” (Postman 1). The other is that a new technology makes difference between those who make use of and those who do not take any advantage from, which he describes as “winners” and “losers” (Postman 1). According to the speech, new technology will not always work as people believe it to do, and sometimes, no one can predict the
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He explains that people lived in the Middle Ages had “logic of...theology” that was the standard of their view of everything (Postman 4). Therefore, he claims the world for them was “comprehensive” (Postman 4). In contrast, he considers people in the present do not have “consistent conception” (Postman 5) or “spiritual or intellectual order” (4). He mentions that the development of science “did…harm to theology,” which made the world “incomprehensive” and led people lose their “sense” (Postman 4). He insists lack of the “consistent, integrated conception” made people today cannot unbelieve things, for they cannot deny anything perfectly (Postman 5). Further, Postman argues about changes in information and computers. In Middle Age, information was of “scarcity” and “a resource…to solve…problems of their [people’s] environment” (Postman 5). The speaker believes, however, the invention of printing press triggered “information explosion,” and information lost “relation to the solution of problems” (Postman 5). He insists that computer technology made the explosion so great that people cannot manage them, for people do not have enough information literacy and keep developing the technology to “increase the supply of information” (Postman 6). In conclusion, Postman states that both information and computer do not help humans to solve problems, and even, the computer
He explains that people lived in the Middle Ages had “logic of...theology” that was the standard of their view of everything (Postman 4). Therefore, he claims the world for them was “comprehensive” (Postman 4). In contrast, he considers people in the present do not have “consistent conception” (Postman 5) or “spiritual or intellectual order” (4). He mentions that the development of science “did…harm to theology,” which made the world “incomprehensive” and led people lose their “sense” (Postman 4). He insists lack of the “consistent, integrated conception” made people today cannot unbelieve things, for they cannot deny anything perfectly (Postman 5). Further, Postman argues about changes in information and computers. In Middle Age, information was of “scarcity” and “a resource…to solve…problems of their [people’s] environment” (Postman 5). The speaker believes, however, the invention of printing press triggered “information explosion,” and information lost “relation to the solution of problems” (Postman 5). He insists that computer technology made the explosion so great that people cannot manage them, for people do not have enough information literacy and keep developing the technology to “increase the supply of information” (Postman 6). In conclusion, Postman states that both information and computer do not help humans to solve problems, and even, the computer