With the rise of technology and the seemingly ever-changing face of the innovative, the debate rages on as to whether or not this time of exponential change is a blessing or a detriment to mankind. We've all heard the cranky adult carry on about how the internet is "frying our brains," with quick sound bites and snippets of information, and the tragic absence of the old dusty encyclopedia. The youth seem to feel just the opposite, since they are growing up un the midst of a technological revolution, and the world of technology is, quite literally, in their hands. Toddlers know how to effectively navigate their parents iPad, nine year olds have iPhones and all the social media that comes along with it, and teen lingo suddenly includes internet slang and abbreviations such as "LOL" and "OMG." There are certainly legitimate arguments for both sides of the technology debate-- one who fears its supposed divine ability to alter the way we think, and the other who swears on its wonders as an equalizer of education, and a medium of communication for people all over the world--neither have been proven right or wrong. So the question arises: is technology really making us stupid?
In A More Beautiful Question, Warren Beger provides a persuasive case for the extraordinary power a simple question holds and the pivotal role questions play in our everyday lives. Thought provoking and engaging, A More Beautiful Question pushes the reader to be comfortable with the fact that there isn't always an answer. Berger writes that, "we must learn to embrace ignorance" and accept that,, "the value of questions is going to keep rising as that of answers keeps falling." (Berger, 27)," |
"the internet is chipping away at [our] capacity for contemplation." (Carr)
He, of course, does not feel that technology is doing the human race any favors. However, Berger views it differently-- he emphasizes the extraordinary value of questions, and he feels the internet encourages us to ask, which is becoming increasingly important in a world that is rapidly growing more complex. It may seem odd that having a plethora of answers at our finger tips would make us less reliant on them, however Berger explains why this isn't the case, and how web searching can actually get us thinking more than we may realize, as he shares his own experience: |
"I have to reframe how I even think about using all of this technology. I find myself asking all kinds of fundamental questions. And as I do that, I eventually realize that the lenses I'm looking through to see the world around me are wrong-- and that I have to construct a whole new frame of reference," (Berger, 25).
"a questioner can thrive in these times of exponential change," (Berger, 28).
"By tapping into social networks, online sources of information, and digital communities, it is increasingly feasible, MIT Ito points out, for an individual to tackle a large challenge or question , or to launch an initiative movement. One can do so relatively quickly by pulling up resources [...] however, the main way you pull support from the network is by querying it. And you need to understand how to frame the question to get the best response," (Berger 28).