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On the Internet (Thinking in Action) Paperback – 31 Oct. 2008

by Hubert L. Dreyfus (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 23 ratings
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Can the internet solve the problem of mass education, and bring human beings to a new level of community? Drawing on a diverse array of thinkers from Plato to Kierkegaard, On the Internet argues that there is much in common between the disembodied, free floating web and Descartes' separation of mind and body. Hubert Dreyfus also shows how Kierkegaard's insights into the origins of a media-obsessed public anticipate the web surfer, blogger and chat room. Drawing on studies of the isolation experienced by many internet users and the insights of philosopher such as Descartes and Kierkegaard, Dreyfus shows how the internet's privatisation of experience ignores essential human capacities such as trust, moods, risk, shared local concerns and commitment.

The second edition includes a brand new chapter on ‘Second Life’ and is revised and updated throughout.

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  1. ISBN-10
    0415775167
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0415775168
  3. Edition
    2nd
  4. Publication date
    31 Oct. 2008
  5. Part of series
    Thinking in Action
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    12.9 x 1.12 x 19.8 cm
  8. Print length
    192 pages
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Product description

Review

Praise for the first edition:

"A well-crafted polemic…We need more teachers like Dreyfus himself, integrating the web into courses that are still deeply human." - Adam Morton, Times Literary Supplement

"...sharp and stimulating discussion of the promises of the Intenet. Going beyond the hype of the cybercrowd, Dreyfus a celebrated writer on philosophy and technology, asks whether the Internet can really bring humanity to a new level of community and solve the problems of mass education. Dreyfus' critique of huper learning provides much food for thought and raises the level of the discussions amongst concerned educators and technologists." - First Monday

"A clear discussion of the promises of the Internet...brings a philosopher's eye to bear on an issue that affects all of us." - Ubiquity

"Interesting and definitely much needed...a short and thought provoking book that can be read by any net enthusiast and/or scholar who is interested in the topics of learning, knowledge and identity in relation to the Internet." - Humanist

"At a time when bookstores and magazine stands are saturated with titles about the internet, it comes as no small, blessed relief to read one that is actually interesting and realistic, whose arguments are worth thinking about and engaging with Whether you're a novice to the internet or someone deeply involved with it - as a user or developer - On the Internet will engage you in topics ranging from the seemingly mundane (hyperlinks) to current trends toward distance learning." - Tech Directions

"This book is an important addition to the growing literature on the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet." - Revue Philosophique

About the Author

Hubert Dreyfus is Professor of Philosophy in the Graduate School at the University of California at Berkeley, USA.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Routledge; 2nd edition (31 Oct. 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0415775167
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0415775168
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.9 x 1.12 x 19.8 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 23 ratings

About the author

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Hubert L. Dreyfus

Hubert L. Dreyfus

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Hubert Dreyfus is Professor of Philosophy in the Graduate School at the University of California, Berkeley. After receiving his Ph.D. from Harvard University, he taught at MIT, before coming to Berkeley in l968. Dreyfus has been a Guggenheim Fellow, and has received research grants from both the National Science Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. He holds a Doctorate Honoris Causa from Erasmus University, Rotterdam, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

You can follow him on Twitter @hubertdreyfus; or on Facebook at “All Things Shining”.

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  • Donna Derry
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on 27 December 2016
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    Not a bad read.
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  • A. H. C. Hsiang, a.k.a., Birdey The Observer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Some Hard Facts about the Internet
    Reviewed in the United States on 4 March 2011
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    Despite a favorable finding that Internet has made life better (p. 137), at least one other survey indicates the opposite that it leads to greater isolation, indifference (p.137), depression and loneliness (p.3). It is in light of these studies that Prof. Dreyfus does a keen eye-opening analysis that weighs the benefits versus the dangers of Internet in our lives. He presents some interesting insights on the nature of conventional library-based versus online search methodology (p.13, 16), but I would like to focus more on his views in regards to the effects of Internet on education and human personality in general. Dreyfus's conclusion on distance education is that it has the ability to bring students to the level of competence, but not expertise (p.32-46). Emotional interactions between teachers and students as well as among students are essential for a learning process that leads to a thorough knowledge and practical skills usable in the field. Conscientious teachers will not settle or be satisfied with teaching remote students. Conscientious students acknowledge the limitation of online classes and yearn for an onsite instructor they can establish eye contacts with and treat as not merely a source of information, but also as someone who is willing to encourage, compliment, correct and rebuke them personally.

    The most important diagnosis that Dreyfus provides is on the subject of telepresence and disembodied interactions (ch.3-5). What makes a human being unique and distinguishes us from machines is that we not only have an intellect, emotion and will, but also the ability for them to interact with each other within ourselves as well as with other human beings. The Internet may have an impressive and seemingly infinite intelligence to provide almost any information we need and the technology to bring people all over the world closer together via social networks, text, voice and video communications. But it doesn't have emotion and will and in my opinion, will never replace a true human emotion and face-to-face, physical interaction with a virtual one. A virtual interaction not only lacks these qualities but also poses some dangers as well. First, it tends to deceive us into thinking that the Internet provides all our emotional needs (p. 68-69, 136). Second, it discourages commitment (or unconditional commitment as Dreyfus puts it) and risk-taking (or bold experimentation to use Dreyfus's term, p.102-105) due to the comfortable and risk-free nature of online engagements. Third, it numbs our ability to discern what is important. It makes us lazy and indifferent to real needs. As a corollary of the second danger, it tends to paralyze us into perpetual observers and disable us from doing anything useful (p.76-77, 79, 81). The last thing we want to happen is we care more about our online friends who live thousands of miles away at the expense of neglecting our family in our household or the people who live in our neighborhood. The Internet is the best means to escape from reality.

    In summary, Dreyfus warns against inordinate infatuation with the Internet that tends to adversely affect our human personality. I can think of at least three things we can do in response if we believe his conclusion is true. First, we ought to labor to seek physical rather than virtual interactions as much as possible. Prefer face-to-face conversations with people who are present physically in front of us to the use of electronic mediums such as chat rooms or applications like Second Life. Seek as close personal interactions as possible. For example, a video is better than a phone conversation. A phone conversation is better than a text message or chatting on Facebook. Second, we ought to labor to find wise mentors who live nearby. Seek counsel and learn from them often instead of relying solely on the Internet. There are information and skills that can only be acquired from people directly through a personal interaction. Third, we ought to prefer physical to online activities. It is more beneficial for our health to go hiking at the real Yosemite than the virtual one we find in Second Life. Serving meals at a homeless shelter is a greater blessing to others than counseling people online. Dreyfus does not imply that the Internet is totally worthless. He just encourages us to use it wisely, such as to advance the causes that are dear to us (p. 137), to communicate with our loved ones who live in a distant place, and to receive education when face-to-face learning is prohibitive.
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  • J. G. Lewis
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Essay on the Computer/Internet Age, and the Meaning of Life
    Reviewed in the United States on 23 October 2013
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    This is one of the best essays I have read so far in the Routledge collection. Very well organized, and it went into reasonable depth. Additionally, Professor Dreyfus writes in a manner in which the reader is invited to draw his own conclusions.... In chapter 4 Kierkegaard's philosophy is covered nicely, and weaved into the topic: Dreyfus generally agrees with him. The conclusion arrived at is that computers and the Internet can do very much, but are no replacement for real life activities, and in all circumstances - this assuming perfect, or near so, virtual reality. The human being is too complex a creature for a machine to adapt to, and copy, even in principle, according to Dreyfus, though it may come close and perform many useful functions and ends. I found his reasoning superb; the essay is highly recommended.
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  • Gavril Torrijos
    3.0 out of 5 stars Outdated.
    Reviewed in the United States on 14 January 2016
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    Pretty well written. Dreyfus provides clear logic and historical examples for all of his arguments. Unfortunately, I don't think an update in 2009 was appropriate for a book first written in 2001 when the subject was the internet. After 8 years, especially considering the invention of the smartphone, many of these arguments should have been reconsidered (one has been and another chapter has been added).

    This book is a good jumping point for discussions on the internet, but I do think Dreyfus' (in his 80s) age shows. As a 20-something I can quickly see aspects of his arguments which I think he can't simply because of the generational divide.

    Overall it's not a bad book, but for the subject I think it's past relevance.
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  • Mike Pettengill
    2.0 out of 5 stars Dryfus fails to see the benefit the Internet brings as a research device and a gateway to opportunity
    Reviewed in the United States on 30 October 2011
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    Hubert Dreyfus has attempted to take the Internet and its infinite and astronomically diverse uses and summarize it into a 134-page book. In the best of circumstances this is a difficult task.

    Dreyfus does not contest that the Internet is filled with an exorbitant amount of information. He tells us, "At a recent count, it had over a billion pages and it continues to grow at the rate of at least a million pages a day." Dreyfus explains to the reader that he is concerned the Internet tempts many of its users to adopt an entirely new way of life and existence, "Web surfers embrace proliferating information as a contribution to a new form of life in which surprise and wonder are more important than meaning and usefulness."

    In his analysis of the Internet's impact on our culture Dreyfus makes two major mistakes - 1) He judges the new technology of the Internet by comparing it to older and very different forms of data collection, and 2) He arrives at sweeping conclusions about most users of the Internet by maligning a few extreme and fringe proponents of the World Wide Web.

    The majority of Internet users would volunteer that the Internet is not a perfect resource, but simply an additional tool. Few people believe that search engines, as an example, are anything other then a place to begin your research. However, Dreyfus alludes to the fact that all search engines are poor forms of data collection when he criticizes, "But searching for a Web page with specific intellectual content using Web search engines can be very difficult, sometimes impossible." He also states, "...it should be no surprise that no one has been able to program a computer to respond to what is relevant." The Internet is a supplement, not a replacement to other forms of knowledge gathering.

    Dreyfus also criticizes the practice of distance learning on the Internet. His flaw exists in the assumption that distance learning was intended to be an equal and ideal substitute for classroom and lab learning. "There must be something more than information consumption going on in distance learning or there is no point in adding the Internet to the canned lecture.", Dreyfus says. He also states, "...mastery would seem to be out of reach of the distance learner." Few people would contend they want a mechanic, plumber or doctor who learned their trade online. Conversely, in instances where knowledge is sought by people who are limited by finances, distance or time, distance learning is an acceptable, and possibly equal, alternative to in-class instruction.

    The author implies that opinions of fringe fanatics and supporters of the Internet are representative of the views and intentions of all. Dreyfus quotes industry consultant Esther Dyson when he writes, "Cyberspace is the land of knowledge, and the exploration of that land can be a civilization's truest, highest calling." Dreyfus also expresses concern that there are those who seek an alternate cyber life, "My question is a more speculative one: what if the Net became central in our lives? What if it becomes, as the developers of Second Life hope it will become, what Joseph Nye, Dean of Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, calls an `irresistible alternative culture'? What if the Internet gave us access to a virtual second life? To the extent that we came to live a large part of our lives in cyberspace, would we become super- or infra-human?"

    There can be little doubt that there are those who use the Internet who wish for our culture to become over dependent on what they are promoting. Businesses, cause oriented activists and fame seekers would love noting more than to have us park in their corner of the digital domain. Yet, like everything, healthy use of the Internet as a tool requires discipline of time and sites surfed. Our intimate friendships should not be confined to chat rooms and social media. Our fact gathering should not include blogs and Wikipedia.

    Dreyfus takes the leap that since there are those who abuse the Internet and there are web pages that lend themselves to abusive behavior, there is therefore little redeemable from the Internet. Anything, taken to excess, is harmful. Starbucks, as an example, has created a world that invites the consumer to create a Starbucks focused life. Walk into a Starbucks and you will find free wifi, comfortable chairs, food and drinks. They sell music, coffee, social causes and news. Starbucks uses websites, advertisement, gift cards and smart pone apps to make sure we are thinking about them even when we are not there. If a consumer desired, she could create an unhealthy existence centered on Starbucks. That does not make all things Starbucks malicious. If I show restraint and only walk into Starbucks once a week to treat myself to a nonfat latte, Starbucks is providing me with a simple service.

    In On the Internet Hubert Dryfus uses extreme views and bombastic logic to disparage the Internet. There are countless flaws with the Internet and mans sinful nature can definitely magnify and exacerbate those failings. Unfortunately, in using over exaggerations and rash generalizations Dryfus' book misses the mark. Dryfus fails to see the benefit the Internet brings as a research device and a gateway to opportunity.
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