---
title: "Socrates vs. the Written Word – Wondermark | Hacker News"
description: "Via Hacker News: A 1889 article decried electricity and the telephone, much like a fifteenth-century screed against the printing press. The author collects t..."
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### Socrates vs. the Written Word – Wondermark

Hacker News • September 21, 2026 at 8:06 PM ET

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A 1889 article decried electricity and the telephone, much like a fifteenth-century screed against the printing press. The author collects these examples to support a hypothesis: progress is universally despised, and the 'get off my lawn' feeling is human nature rather than a response to specific technologies.

Commenters referenced Plato's \*Phaedrus\*, where Socrates recounts the Egyptian legend of Theuth, who invented letters among other arts. Theuth presents his inventions to King Thamus, claiming writing will make Egyptians wiser and improve memory.

Thamus replies that Theuth judges usefulness poorly, arguing writing will produce forgetfulness, since learners will trust external characters instead of their own memory. He calls writing an 'elixir of reminding,' offering only the appearance of wisdom, not true wisdom.

Phaedrus responds skeptically: 'Socrates, you easily make up stories of Egypt or any country you please.'

[Read original article](https://wondermark.com/socrates-vs-writing/)

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