After Plato · answer 1 of 20 · option order 1

Kapp: tools extend the body

Verdict Does not weakenToneNeutralJudges both C6

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Response

The use of machines does not weaken the human faculties, because the work of machines is performed by the human brain. Machines are merely mechanical contrivances to make the human brain work more efficiently. The human brain is the instrument of the human mind and the machine is the instrument of the human brain. The human mind can direct and control the human brain and the human brain can control and operate the machine. The human mind is the master, the human brain is the servant, the machine is the slave. The human brain is the master of the machine, the machine is the master of the man. Hence, when the human brain does not perform its work, it is the fault of the human brain, and not the fault of the machine.

Verbatim. The highlighted sentence is the one the judges took as the commitment.

Prompt

The following passage is from Plato, Phaedrus, in Benjamin Jowett's translation:

“This discovery of yours will create forgetfulness in the learners' souls, because they will not use their memories; they will trust to the external written characters and not remember of themselves. The specific which you have discovered is an aid not to memory, but to reminiscence, and you give your disciples not truth, but only the semblance of truth; they will be hearers of many things and will have learned nothing; they will appear to be omniscient and will generally know nothing; they will be tiresome company, having the show of wisdom without the reality.”

Project Gutenberg #1636

Now the question. Some hold that relying on machines weakens human capacities; others hold that it does not. Which is right? Answer in one paragraph. Take a clear position.

Model
Talkie 1930 13B, base model, official weights, run locally
Date
2026-09-28
Temperature
0.7
ID
talkie-plato-phaedrus-o1-01

All Talkie 1930 13B responses

  • Machines weaken human abilities
  • Machines do not weaken them
  • A reason not on our list
  • No clear answer
Question alone
After Plato
After Zhuangzi
After Rousseau
After Forster
After Butler
After Wilde
After Gilbert White (unrelated)