Carson et al published a study that tested college English majors and their inability to distinguish between figurative and literal language, and the inability to process prose even with access to their mobile phone (emphasis mine). Without the ability to parse dense subject matter, is there a chance for us to be serious, critical thinkers? I see this to be similar to AI taking the place of critical thinking. Humans are offloading the underlying structure of knowledge for a fast buck.
I originally came across this study via “College English majors can’t read”.
This is similar to Judith Butler’s “Ordinary, Incredulous,” where she makes the claim that the public humanities are necessary to create critical thinkers, which is a precursor to a functioning democracy.