ChatGPT on printing, arithmetic, the clockwork universe, and the steam engine

Tyler Cowen with a double!  He's got a longish (for him) post entitled, Existential risk, AI, and the inevitable turn in human history, in which he rehearses a standard (McLuhanist) view of the printing press as driver of social change and makes the standard mistake of failing adequately to distinguish between intellectual invention and conceptual dissemination. The post engendered a lot of discussion.

So, I thought I'd bump this post to the top of the pile. In it I try to disabuse ChatGPT of this standard view of the printing press by prompting it to think about Arabic numerals.

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Over there at Marginal Revolution Tyler Cowen has a post entitled, Who was the most important critic of the printing press in the 17th century? His opening paragraph:

Bacon’s arguments against the printing press were not based on religious or political opposition, but on epistemological and ethical concerns about the quality, quantity, and authority of printed knowledge. Bacon discussed the printing press in his seminal work, The Advancement of Learning (1605), where he identified three inventions that had changed the world: gunpowder, the compass, and the printing press. He acknowledged that these inventions had enabled the expansion of human power, discovery, and communication, but he also warned that they had also introduced new dangers, errors, and corruptions.

He then goes on to list Bacon’s four objections and offered some comments of his own, concluding with:

Bacon’s critique of the printing press was influential and controversial in his own time and beyond, as it challenged the prevailing views and values of the humanist and scholastic traditions of learning, and proposed a new vision and method of knowledge production and dissemination.

That was then, this is now!

The thing is, Cowen made it all up, no doubt with the help of the Chatster. I didn’t pick up on it immediately as my knowledge of Bacon is slim, though I do recall reading something of his in graduate school. But the Marginal Revolution commentariat had Cowen’s number and called him on it, which is no doubt what Cowen was waiting for.

Anyhow, a couple of days ago I’d asked ChatGPT about the importance of the printing press and several other things – metaphor and analogy, arithmetic, the clockwork universe, and the steam engine. Here’s that session without further comment.

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Tell me about the role of the printing press in European society and culture starting with Gutenberg.

The printing press, invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century, played a revolutionary role in the dissemination of knowledge and ideas in European society and culture. Prior to the printing press, books were typically produced by hand, making them expensive and time-consuming to produce, and limiting their availability to a select few.

Gutenberg's invention of the movable type printing press made it possible to produce books and other printed materials in large quantities and at a much lower cost. This made it possible for more people to have access to information and ideas, and helped to fuel the spread of literacy and education.

One of the earliest and most famous examples of the printing press's impact was the printing of the Gutenberg Bible, which was completed around 1455. This was the first book to be printed with movable type, and it helped to establish the printed book as a major cultural and intellectual force.

In the decades and centuries that followed, the printing press continued to play a vital role in the development of European society and culture. Printed materials became more widely available, and this helped to create a shared culture and knowledge base across different regions and countries.

The printing press was also instrumental in the spread of religious ideas, with the Protestant Reformation being a prime example. Protestant leaders used the printing press to spread their ideas and to challenge the authority of the Catholic Church, which had previously held a monopoly on religious texts.

The printing press also helped to spur the growth of scientific inquiry and the development of new ideas in fields such as astronomy, medicine, and physics. Scientists and philosophers could share their ideas and findings with a much wider audience, and this helped to foster a more collaborative and dynamic intellectual community.

Overall, the printing press played a transformative role in European society and culture, helping to democratize knowledge and ideas, and fueling major intellectual, religious, and scientific movements.

What did McLuhan have to say in “The Gutenberg Galaxy”?

Marshall McLuhan's book "The Gutenberg Galaxy" was published in 1962 and is a seminal work on the impact of the printing press on Western culture. In the book, McLuhan argues that the printing press fundamentally changed the way humans perceive and understand the world, and that it led to a profound transformation in human consciousness.

One of the key ideas in the book is McLuhan's concept of "the global village," which he sees as a product of the printing press. According to McLuhan, the printing press made it possible for people to share information and ideas across large distances, creating a sense of interconnectedness that was previously impossible. This, in turn, led to the development of a global consciousness, in which people began to see themselves as part of a larger whole.

McLuhan also argues that the printing press created a culture of individualism, in which people were encouraged to think and act independently. This was in contrast to the earlier culture of the oral tradition, in which knowledge and information were shared communally and were subject to constant revision and reinterpretation.

Another important concept in the book is McLuhan's idea of "media ecology," which refers to the ways in which different forms of media shape human perception and understanding. McLuhan sees the printing press as a key player in the development of modern media, and argues that it paved the way for the emergence of new forms of media such as radio, television, and the internet.

Overall, "The Gutenberg Galaxy" is a complex and wide-ranging book that explores the impact of the printing press on Western culture from a variety of different angles. While some of McLuhan's ideas have been criticized as being overly simplistic or reductionist, his work remains a major influence on the study of media and culture.

What do you think about printing as a metaphor and analogy? That is, you have a finite number of different kinds of elements, the pieces of type, but can produce an infinite variety of texts from them.

I think that the printing press is a powerful metaphor and analogy that can be used to illustrate the potential of combining a finite set of elements to create an infinite variety of outcomes. The concept of using a limited set of individual pieces, such as typeface and ink, to create an infinite number of unique printed documents can be seen as a metaphor for creativity and innovation.

This idea can be applied to many different areas of life, including art, design, engineering, and problem-solving. In each of these areas, a limited set of building blocks can be used to create an infinite variety of outcomes. This can be seen as a reflection of the power of human ingenuity and the potential for creative solutions to emerge from limited resources.

At the same time, it is important to recognize that the printing press metaphor has its limits. While it is true that a limited set of typefaces and ink can be combined to create an infinite variety of printed documents, the printing press itself is a product of a highly complex and specialized technological system. The process of designing and producing the typefaces, ink, and printing press itself required a significant investment of time, resources, and specialized knowledge.

Additionally, while the printing press made it possible to produce large numbers of printed documents, it did not make those documents universally accessible. Literacy rates were still relatively low in many parts of Europe, and printed materials were often too expensive for many people to afford. Thus, the printing press did not fully democratize knowledge and information, but it did make significant strides in that direction.

Do you see a link between printing as metaphor and analogy and the use of Arabic numerals in calculation? The introduction of Arabic numerals gave Europe a system of calculation where a finite number of elements – the numerals plus the decimal point and the arithmetic operators – allowed the creation of any number whatsoever. That was not possible with Roman numerals.

Yes, I see a link between the printing press as a metaphor and analogy, and the use of Arabic numerals in calculation. Both of these innovations demonstrate the power of combining a finite set of elements to create an infinite variety of outcomes.

With Arabic numerals, a limited set of digits and arithmetic operators can be combined in an almost endless variety of ways to represent any number. This is in contrast to the Roman numeral system, which is much less efficient and requires the use of many more symbols to represent even relatively small numbers. The efficiency and versatility of the Arabic numeral system have made it an essential tool in fields such as mathematics, science, and finance, and have helped to fuel the development of modern technology.

Similarly, the printing press demonstrates the power of combining a finite set of elements to create an infinite variety of outcomes. The use of movable type allowed for the creation of an almost endless variety of printed documents, each of which could be reproduced in large quantities. This made it possible to disseminate knowledge and information on a scale that had previously been unimaginable, and helped to fuel the growth of literacy, education, and intellectual inquiry.

Both the printing press and the Arabic numeral system demonstrate the power of human ingenuity and the potential for creative solutions to emerge from limited resources. They also highlight the importance of developing efficient and versatile systems for organizing and communicating information, which can help to accelerate progress and drive innovation.

What about the idea of the clockwork universe?

The idea of the clockwork universe is a philosophical concept that emerged in the 17th and 18th centuries, primarily in the work of thinkers such as Isaac Newton and René Descartes. It is based on the idea that the universe can be understood as a vast machine that operates according to predictable, mechanical laws.

According to this view, the universe is like a giant clock that has been wound up and set in motion, with all of its parts operating in perfect harmony and precision. Everything that happens in the universe, from the motion of the planets to the behavior of individual atoms, can be explained in terms of these mechanical laws.

The clockwork universe idea had a profound impact on Western thought and culture, and helped to fuel the development of modern science and technology. It also had important philosophical implications, particularly with respect to questions of determinism and free will.

On the one hand, the clockwork universe idea suggests that everything that happens in the universe is predetermined by the laws of nature and the initial conditions of the universe. This can be seen as a form of determinism, in which human beings are seen as passive observers of a universe that is unfolding according to an inevitable and predetermined plan.

On the other hand, some thinkers have argued that the clockwork universe idea does not necessarily imply determinism, and that there is still room for human agency and free will within a mechanistic universe. For example, some have suggested that human beings are themselves part of the clockwork machinery of the universe, and that our actions and decisions are themselves determined by the laws of nature and the initial conditions of the universe.

Overall, the clockwork universe idea is a complex and controversial concept that continues to generate debate and discussion among philosophers, scientists, and scholars of all kinds.

Can you draw connections between the idea of the clockwork universe, printing technology, and arithmetic?

There are several connections that can be drawn between the idea of the clockwork universe, printing technology, and arithmetic.

First, the clockwork universe idea suggests that the universe operates according to predictable, mechanical laws. This idea helped to fuel the development of modern science and technology, including printing technology and arithmetic. By understanding the world as a vast machine that operates according to predictable laws, thinkers were able to develop systems for organizing and communicating information that could be used to advance knowledge and promote progress.

Printing technology, in particular, played a critical role in disseminating knowledge and information on a large scale. The printing press made it possible to reproduce written materials in large quantities, making it easier to share ideas and spread knowledge. This helped to fuel the growth of science, philosophy, and other areas of intellectual inquiry, and contributed to the development of the clockwork universe idea.

Similarly, arithmetic played a critical role in the development of the clockwork universe idea. By understanding the world in terms of mathematical laws and principles, thinkers were able to develop a more precise and rigorous understanding of the universe. The use of Arabic numerals, in particular, allowed for the development of more efficient and versatile systems for performing calculations, which helped to accelerate the growth of science and technology.

Overall, the connections between the clockwork universe idea, printing technology, and arithmetic highlight the importance of developing efficient and versatile systems for organizing and communicating information. By understanding the world as a vast machine that operates according to predictable laws, and by developing systems for sharing and processing information more efficiently, thinkers were able to accelerate progress and drive innovation in a wide range of fields.

What happens when you add the steam engine to this mix? The steam engine is an autonomous device that has its own source of power. I’m thinking of its value as an analogy and metaphor.

The steam engine is a powerful and influential technology that played a critical role in the Industrial Revolution and the development of modern industry. As an autonomous device that has its own source of power, the steam engine can be seen as a powerful metaphor and analogy for a wide range of social, political, and economic processes.

One way to think about the steam engine as a metaphor is to consider its role in transforming the way people think about power and work. Before the steam engine, most forms of power were derived from human or animal labor, which placed significant constraints on the scale and scope of economic activity. With the advent of the steam engine, however, it became possible to harness vast amounts of power from a single machine, which enabled the development of larger and more complex forms of industry.

As a metaphor, the steam engine can be seen as a symbol of the power and potential of human ingenuity and technological innovation. By developing machines that can operate autonomously and generate their own power, human beings have been able to transform the world in ways that were once unimaginable. This metaphor can be applied to a wide range of social, political, and economic processes, from the development of new technologies to the growth of global trade and commerce.

At the same time, the steam engine can also be seen as a symbol of the dangers and challenges that arise when human beings seek to harness and control vast amounts of power. The steam engine was associated with many social and environmental problems, including pollution, exploitation of workers, and the displacement of traditional forms of industry. As such, it can also be seen as a cautionary tale about the risks and trade-offs involved in pursuing progress and technological innovation.

Overall, the steam engine is a powerful and multifaceted metaphor and analogy that can be used to explore a wide range of social, political, and economic issues. Whether viewed as a symbol of progress or a warning about the risks of unchecked growth and development, the steam engine remains an enduring and influential icon of human innovation and achievement.

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A cautionary note: While that all seems plausible to me – I know something about these topics, though it's been years since I read McLuhan, I'm reluctant to take ChatGPT at face value on this kind of thing. At the very least, I want to see some references. But even that isn't sufficient to guard against hallucination. Maybe the references are real, but what ChatGPT attributes to them is not.