The Conflict Between Conceptual and Visual Thought and the Future of Science

Abstract

The language and contents of the mass-communications industry, and the products produced through and for commercial computerized information systems and networks, may appeal to relatively undeveloped aspects of our intellectual and spiritual faculties and could degrade rationalism and thus Jeopardize the production of scientific knowledge. In particular, recent decades have seen a shift away from conceptual-linguistic symbolism, historically used for scientific research and communication, to iconic symbolism and visual language, which may be poorly suited to scientific thought. The essay invites us to ponder in frank discussion the relationship between complex computing and telecommunications and both the content and the vehicles of learning and scientific research for the 21st century. As a step in this unfolding critical conversation, the author offers 12 theses for criticism and discussion. They probe the revolutionary role that could be played by complex computing in reverting an apparent contemporary social tendency toward irrationality, lack of criticism, disconnection from social action, and disqualification of intellectual work. Key Phrases: iconic symbolism ; visual thought; technology and thought; complex computing and cognition; communications revolution and deintellectualization of knowledge; communication technologies and cognition.