Questions for Chapter 3: Tools of the Mind
- Questions for Chapter 3: Tools of the Mind
- What is a tool of the mind, according to Carr?
- Explain what Carr means by intellectual technology. What other intellectual technologies does Carr describe in addition to Maps and clocks? Why does he think these are particularly important?
- Think of another “intellectual technology” that Carr does not mention that has dramatically affected culture (make sure you think about “intellectual” technologies not just technology in general). Explain the technology and how it has changed culture (not just had an effect on people but actually changed the culture like a map or clock has).
- Why does Carr discuss the determinists and instrumentalists. What are the determinists views and the instrumentalistis views. Which are you and why?
- Carr discusses neuroplasticity and its effects in this chapter as well. What points is his making about the relationships of neuroplasticity to tools of the mind?
- How do intellectual technologies influence you? Include in your answer both good and bad influences.
- Carr states that clocks and maps shared an intellectual ethic. Find in the book where he discusses this and write down the page numbers. What did he mean by sharing an “intellectual ethic”? Why does a society’s intellectual ethic matter? How does this ethic relate to tools of the mind?
- What do you think is our current society’s intellectual ethic?
- What are the effects of maps and clocks on language both written and oral? How are these effects different from the effects of other intellectual technologies on language? Explain the differences according to Carr. Why did Carr focus on this issue?
- Explain the shift from the oral to a literary culture. Why was Socrates against this shift and Plato for it? Why is this shift important to Carr’s argument?
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