Writing

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Jan 28, 2025

Discover the fascinating origins of writing, starting with cuneiform and its evolution in civilization. Delve into the impact of generative AI on traditional writing and education, raising concerns about learning and trust. Explore journaling as a vital tool for emotional processing and the dual motivations driving writers, from personal expression to political purpose. Investigate Derrida's intriguing theories that challenge the dominance of speech over writing, revealing the profound complexities of communication and authorship.

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ANECDOTE

Rewriting Agony

David Peña-Guzman's writing agony involves constant rewriting and waiting for inspiration.
He views writing as an endless, sometimes adversarial process.

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ANECDOTE

Shifting Writing Habits

Ellie Anderson shifted from procrastinating and minimal editing to a regimented writing practice.
She now overwrites and cuts extensively, finding it improves her writing.

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ANECDOTE

ESL Anxiety

David Peña-Guzman's ESL status fuels his rewriting anxiety and fear of inadequacy.
He strives for a native English fluency that may be unattainable.

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Navigating Writing in the Age of AI

01:52 • 18min

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The Evolving Landscape of Journaling

20:20 • 2min

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Exploring the Dual Motivations for Writing: Egoism and Political Purpose

21:58 • 4min

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The Origins and Misunderstandings of Cuneiform Writing

25:29 • 2min

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The Power of Writing in Civilization

27:08 • 15min

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Derrida on Speech and Writing

42:31 • 17min

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#3296

• Mentioned in 14 episodes

The Spell of the Sensuous

Perception and Language in a More-Than-Human World

David Abram

In this major work of ecological philosophy, David Abram draws on diverse sources including the philosophy of Merleau-Ponty, Balinese shamanism, Apache storytelling, and his own experience as a magician to reveal the intricate relationship between human perception and the natural world. The book delves into the character of perception and the sensual foundations of language, highlighting how even abstract language echoes the natural world. Abram argues that humans have severed their ancient reciprocity with nature and explores what it would take to recover a sustaining relation with the earth.

#8861

• Mentioned in 6 episodes

Of grammatology

Jacques Derrida

In *Of Grammatology*, Jacques Derrida critiques traditional Western philosophy by challenging the binary oppositions and logocentrism that underpin it. He argues that these oppositions, such as speech vs. writing, are not fixed but interdependent and can be deconstructed. Derrida uses the works of Rousseau and Lévi-Strauss to illustrate his points and proposes a new science of writing, or grammatology, which seeks to understand the complex play of signs and meanings. The book is a seminal work in deconstruction and has had a significant impact on contemporary philosophy, literary theory, and intellectual history.

#17914

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

Why I Write

George Orwell

In 'Why I Write', George Orwell reflects on his development as a writer, from his early childhood fascination with words and storytelling to his later political writings. The essay outlines four primary motives for writing: sheer egoism, aesthetic enthusiasm, historical impulse, and political purpose. Orwell discusses how these motives influenced his own work, particularly after the Spanish Civil War, which solidified his commitment to writing against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism.

#89

• Mentioned in 189 episodes

Animal Farm

George Orwell

Published in 1945, 'Animal Farm' is a novella that allegorically represents the Russian Revolution and the subsequent rise of Stalinism. The story begins with Old Major, a boar, inspiring the animals of Manor Farm to rebel against their human oppressor, Mr. Jones. After the rebellion, the animals rename the farm 'Animal Farm' and establish a utopian society based on the principles of equality and solidarity, known as Animalism. However, as time passes, the pigs, led by Napoleon and Snowball, consolidate power and gradually corrupt the original ideals, leading to a dystopian regime that mirrors the oppressive human rule they initially rebelled against. The novel critiques totalitarianism and the corrupting nature of power, reflecting Orwell's experiences and views on the Soviet Union under Stalin's rule.

#102922

The Entanglement: How Art and Philosophy Make Us What We Are

How Art and Philosophy Make Us What We Are

Alva Noë

Alva Noë's "The Entanglement: How Art and Philosophy Make Us What We Are" explores the profound connections between art, philosophy, and human experience. Noë argues that art and philosophy are not separate domains but are deeply intertwined, shaping our understanding of ourselves and the world. He examines how artistic practices, such as painting, dance, and writing, reveal the nature of consciousness and perception. Noë's work challenges traditional notions of representation and subjectivity, emphasizing the dynamic and embodied nature of human experience. The book offers a compelling and insightful perspective on the role of art and philosophy in shaping human identity and understanding.

#6948

• Mentioned in 7 episodes

The Phaedrus

Plato

In 'The Phaedrus,' Plato presents a dialogue between Socrates and Phaedrus that delves into several key themes. The discussion begins with Phaedrus reading a speech by Lysias that argues a non-lover is preferable to a lover. Socrates critiques this speech and then delivers two of his own speeches on love, one of which is a palinode that praises the divine nature of love. The dialogue also explores the art of rhetoric, critiquing the Sophists for using rhetoric to manipulate rather than seek truth. A central allegory, the charioteer myth, describes the soul as a charioteer driving two horses, symbolizing the struggle between reason and desire. The dialogue emphasizes the transformative power of true love, guiding the soul towards divine wisdom and truth, and underscores the importance of the soul's immortality and its self-motion.

You might want to jot down some notes on this one! In episode 122, Ellie and David explore where writing began, the value of writing, and our reasons for writing. Is the widespread use of generative AI technologies, such as ChatGPT, a threat to creative and academic writing? How did writing originate in cuneiform, and how does Derrida's deconstruction of logocentrism encourage us to reconsider the privileging of speech over writing? Listen to it all write here, write now! Plus, in the bonus, they get into some of our most pernicious myths and misconceptions about writing. They talk about the tortured writer trope, the solitary nature of writing, and the connection of writing to class.

Check out the episode's extended cut here!

Works Discussed:
David Abram, The Spell of the Sensuous
Geoffrey Bennington and Jacques Derrida, Jacques Derrida
Jacques Derrida, “Freud and the Scene of Writing”
Jacques Derrida, Of Grammatology
Jacques Derrida, “Signature Event Context”
Jacques Derrida, Structure, Sign, and Play in the Discourse of the Human Sciences
Joan Didion, “Why I write”
Walter Ong, Orality and Literacy
George Orwell, “Why I write”
Plato, The Phaedrus
Alva Noë, The Entanglement, How Art and Philosophy Make Us Who We Are
Peter Salmon, An Event, Perhaps: A Biography of Jacques Derrida
Andrew Robinson, The Story of Writing

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