On the Problem of "Illiteracy" in the Contemporary Knowledge Society

Slavomír Gálik,Sabína Gáliková Tolnaiová

doi:10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6s4p230

Abstract

The authors of this paper study a paradox in the contemporary knowledge society - fall in level of erudition that is here despite the evident information and technology expansion. They blame the Internet to be the cause of this which, despite a number of positives such as possibility for fast communication, search for information, entertainment and similar also brings some risks. The authors describe six risks that they believe present bad influence on contemporary erudition: 1st reduction of knowledge to mere atomised information; 2nd reduction of knowledge to only expressible and useful knowledge; 3rd fixation to just results; 4th weakening in abstract, linear and logical thinking; 5th weakening of the connection to the past and future; 6th acceleration and cumulation in information flow. The authors state that it is only support of real erudition, bound with understanding and wisdom, that can eliminate these risks, generated by communication on the Internet. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6s4p230

Highlights

Modern society is characterised as information, or knowledge society, bound with change from industrial society to postindustrial society
The goal of this paper is to examine in detail why the level of erudition is decreasing, despite the fact that there is an evident information and technological development
The principle of economic growth is in opposition with classical erudition that relies on tacit knowledge, contextuality and wisdom

Summary

Introduction

Modern society is characterised as information, or knowledge society , bound with change from industrial society to postindustrial society. Sudden development of information technologies, the Internet, greatly promoted emerging of optimistic scenarios concerning economical and erudition rise in the society. This trend, though not so optimistic thanks to the fiasco and revision of the Lebanon agreement from 2005, is still present. 38) speaks, in the context of university education, about the general crisis in university education system This hints our modern knowledge society encounters some serious mistakes that are dealt with inadequately. The authors will study this problem from the position of techno-media determinism, from the technology's determining influence on cultural changes, which is presented by information technology, especially the Internet

Media Influence on Human and Culture

Internet’s Influence on Contemporary Illiteracy – on Some Risks

Conclusion