Near the end of the Phaedrus, Justin, Socrates criticizes books and writing. He says that books are incapable of dialogue because they always say the same thing, and therefore they're not really delivery systems for education. As often in Plato, there are varieties of irony involved. After all, we're reading that in a written text.

But Plato has a point, and it was the one I was making: education requires dialogue and not simply presentation. It requires questions. It requires adaptation and communication from the teachers. It often requires mistakes and correction. Technology can do some of those things, but not as well as people.

And people have to earn something to live.

Perhaps you are an autodidact and can learn quickly from a presentation. If so, you're very, very rare. Research in psychology and sociology tends to show that lecture and presentation are the least effective modes of educational delivery. Students retain the most through active engagement, through discussion, through writing, and through dialogue. Yes, there are engaged modes of online learning--quick surveys, etc.--but those are rudimentary forms of interaction.

I regret that I lost your sympathies and sounded elitist and entitled to you, Justin, but I'll stand my ground on the fundamental value of dialogue and interpersonal education. If you have a TikTok that would convince me otherwise, I will gladly view it.

Thanks for reading and responding, my friend. I hope you take no umbrage at this; I intend none. I appreciate you.