In the article, The Written Word Literacy in Transition: Wolfson College Lectures 1985 by Gerd Baumann, the writer Walter j. Ong has provided the advantages and disadvantages of literacy in society. In the article there is a compelling reason to believe that both literate and oral cultures are important and must be exercised on a regular basis in society. Although literate and non-literate cultures are extremely different, each method has contributed to the advancement of the society. In this summary, you will discover the differences between literate and non-literate cultures as well as the opinion about each method from Walter J. Ong. Ong states that literacy is imperious and is …show more content…
The author believes that personal relationships in oral cultures are created through stories. Also, non- literate cultures use numbers in addition to challengers to remember and process the information while literate cultures analyze stories. As the article continues, Ong argues the views of Plato to be similar to the arguments that are made against technology in today’s society. Plato argues that literacy is artificial, manufactured, and inhuman. His opposition about writing is similar to Ong’s opinion against computers. He also believes that Plato’s argument of literacy does not answer reader’s questions.
Ong’s continues his argument of literacy in regards to potential inaccuracies in witings. He believes that books can print an inaccuracy that can never be undone, which is the same issue when information is entered online with the use of the Internet. Ong also believes that the effect of literacy causes the loss of memory and weakens the mind.
The most significant defect of literacy is that it has alienated individuals in society.
Ong