[coldtea]

>Can we agree that writing did have negative impacts, but given the trajectory of human civilization since then, that the benefits have outweighed the costs?

Sounds reasonable, but then again, the work of philosophy (or thought in general) is to question what sounds reasonable.

For example, why should we have to be that proud of the "trajectory of human civilization since then"?

Sure, we since had computers and brain surgery.

We also had nazi concentration camps, 2 wolrd wars, colonialism, Stalinism, the nuclear arms race, and global warming. Oh, and Justin Bieber.

If a WW III thing was to happen in the next 50 years, taking most of the population with it, I'm sure more than a few people will think "Damn, we were better off before all that technological shit -- perhaps even writing enabled us for more that we were good to handle".

[dusklight]

A (partial) end to slavery. Significantly improved lives for women as far as being raped and domestic violence goes. A significant number of people moving from the working class to the middle class Democracy vs having a violent war frequently when there is a question of succession. A significantly reduced fear of violent death, or violence in general really. Unless you don't think slaves are people, I really think people are much better off nowadays compared to pre-writing.