On the Gymnastics of Memory: Stiegler, Positive Pharmacology, and Illiteracy

Here I shall write about the late Bernard Stiegler (1952–2020) and contextualize this important philosopher’s work with respect to concrete, everyday pedagogical issue of language learning. To demonstrate Stiegler’s applicability education studies, address character amnesia (提筆忘字, tibiwangzi in Chinese, literally “pick up pen, forget character”), a relatively recent phenomenon experienced China Japan, which is concerned loss ability remember Chinese ideograms. use as striking heuristic example explain growing crisis literacy, that read write. Tibiwangzi Stieglerian vital importance. In light, my focus will be on learning literacy couch analysis regarding terms both thoughts tertiary, exteriorized memory neuroscientist Maryanne Wolf’s concern neurological cognitive effects reading. intend apparent rupture or disruption between traditional writing systems (alphabetic writing) digital technologies argue pharmacological understanding technology therefore consideration light neuroscience, technologies, necessary it can spark timely critical research into perceived literacy. am making case for what naming gymnastics memory.