Mihai Nadin argues that the decline of literacy is neither a moral failure nor a temporary educational crisis, but an inevitable consequence of a changing human pragmatics. As human civilization transitions from small, stable, and linear communities to a globally interconnected, high-speed society, the rigid constraints of classical literacy no longer support the efficiency required for survival and development. The author contrasts the historical figure of Melanchton, who mastered permanent texts in a stable world, with Zizi the hairdresser, who navigates a fluid, present-focused, and media-rich digital reality. Language, which evolved from direct biological expressions into linear written systems, is now being supplemented and superseded by non-linear, visual, and computational sign systems.
This shift affects every dimension of human existence, including politics, economics, education, and social interactions, transforming citizens into netizens. Rather than lamenting the loss of traditional reading and writing skills, the text calls for an active understanding of this new pragmatic framework. The civilization of illiteracy is characterized by multiple partial literacies that operate at unprecedented speeds, demanding new cognitive skills and decentralized organizations. Ultimately, Nadin suggests that the human species is simply outgrowing the Gutenberg paradigm, opening new avenues for creativity and efficiency in an increasingly complex world.
