We are in an age that assumes the narrowing trends of specialization to be logical, natural, and desirable. Consequently, society expects all earnestly responsible communication to be crisply brief. . . . In the meantime, humanity has been deprived of comprehensive understanding. Specialization has bred feelings of isolation, futility, and confusion in individuals. It has also resulted in the individual's leaving responsibility for thinking and social action to others. Specialization breeds biases that ultimately aggregate as international and ideological discord, which, in turn, leads to war.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Fuller contends that society's demand for brief, specialized communication prevents deep understanding and breeds isolation. He believes this trend leads to bias, discord, and ultimately war by shifting responsibility away from individuals.
- In plain terms
- Specialization and brevity in communication prevent deep understanding and lead to isolation and conflict.
- What can you take from it?
- Prioritize comprehensive understanding over brief specialization to avoid social fragmentation.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does brevity in communication prevent critical thought?
- How does specialization impact global cooperation?
Another view
The link between specialization and war is asserted strongly without detailed evidence in the text.
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