Mechanical communication growth did not necessarily expand freedom and knowledge

Evidence

Innis’s attachment to the oral tradition finally, then, had a modern purpose: to demonstrate that the belief that the growth of mechanical communication necessarily expanded freedom and knowledge was both simplistic and mislead- ing. — James W. Carey, Communication as Culture- Essays on…, 650

Categorization

• XREF: This directly challenges technological-determinist optimism — connects to the transmission model of communication that Carey critiques throughout. — connects to: Behaviorist communication models turned social scientists into servants of power — James W. Carey, Communication as Culture- Essays on…, 588; Communication technology serves group monopolies of knowledge, not community — James W. Carey, Communication as Culture- Essays on…, 599; Improved communication technology increases misunderstanding between groups — James W. Carey, Communication as Culture- Essays on…, 640 (+9 more)
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — James W. Carey, Communication as Culture- Essays on…, 650

Broader Connections

• The telegraph displaced older languages, interactions, and city-state capitalism #exemplifies (0.75) — James W. Carey, Communication as Culture- Essays on…, 776
• Instrumentalized communication destroys the possibility of shared truth #expands (0.70) — James W. Carey, Communication as Culture- Essays on…, 378
• Improved communication technology increases misunderstanding between groups #qualifies (0.60) — James W. Carey, Communication as Culture- Essays on…, 640