Plato's discussions with Claude
If men learn this, it will implant forgetfulness in their souls; they will cease to exercise thought, because they rely on that which is generated, calling things to mind no longer from within themselves, but by means of artificial prompts. What you have discovered is a recipe not for intelligence, but for its imitation. And it is no true wisdom that you offer your disciples, but only its semblance, for by providing them with answers without reasoning, they will seem to understand much, while for the most part they understand nothing, and as men filled not with wisdom, but with the conceit of wisdom, they will be a burden to their fellows.
Plato: Great! Could you make that gender neutral?
Claude: Sure, good catch! Here it is:
If people learn this, it will implant forgetfulness in their souls; they will cease to exercise thought because they rely on that which is generated, calling things to mind no longer from within themselves, but by means of artificial prompts. What you have discovered is a recipe not for intelligence, but for its imitation. And it is no true wisdom that you offer your disciples, but only its semblance, for by providing them with answers without reasoning, they will seem to understand much, while for the most part they understand nothing, and as those filled not with wisdom, but with the conceit of wisdom, they will be a burden to their peers.
– Clint Jacobsen, Durango
