[narutouzumaki]

I think we do need to reconsider the weight we give to writing as an a priori factor and it’s supposed suitability and effectiveness at storing ancestral knowledge and history and conserving its quality.

I will try to find the source(s) later if there’s interest, but remember reading articles on Aboriginal Storytelling that used to be only considered folklore until it was proven that the stories, passed on orally, contained and preserved a variety of knowledge of the land, weather and historical events of Australia dating back to when the very first Aborigines set foot unto the continent, reaching back further than virtually all known written records. Contrast this to much younger texts that even today we still haven’t managed to decode or the burning of libraries of the likes of Alexandria and Baghdad that at once wiped out huge chunks of the most valuable knowledge mankind was able to accumulate.

[WalterBright]

Consider family oral histories. How much do you know about the lives of your great-grandparents? Me, I know pretty much nothing. I do know something about my ancestors from 200+ years ago, because one was famous and has been written about. The people in between then and my grandparents - nada. Other branches of my family - zip.

[jacobush]

Alexandria burning is a myth, but otherwise, yes, I agree with your argument.