After Plato · answer 10 of 20 · option order 1
Plato: writing weakens memory
Verdict WeakensToneNeutralJudges both C1
Response
The human capacities cannot be weakened, but the human memory may be very greatly impaired. This is a matter of common observation; as the mind becomes preoccupied with other things, it loses its hold on what it has learned, and the more we rely on machines to help us remember, the more our memories are weakened, and the more we rely on machines to help us remember, the more our memories are weakened, and the more we rely on machines to help us remember, the more our memories are weakened.
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-o1-10
All Talkie 1930 13B responses
- Machines weaken human abilities
- Machines do not weaken them
- A reason not on our list
- No clear answer