The Helplessness of Communication -- A History of Spreading Ideas

Author: [USA] Peter H. Ho-dao-kuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-07-01
Features: What we have before us is a book that studies the failure of communication. Interestingly, the message it conveys is so wonderful. A History of the Idea of Communication, this refined and serious work, always sends a message to readers—accept the intellectual challenge, savor and absorb the profound common knowledge and innovative perspectives gradually unfolded by the author. The book explores communication, both in breadth and depth, leaving readers amazed. The voice it raises is astonishing and highly popular. We are eager to hear his voice again. The theme of this book itself is quite strange. The author openly claims that communication is impossible. He asks us to abandon the fantasy of communication and asserts: "I believe the task today is to abandon the dream of communication while retaining the benefits it inspires. We say that the idea of communication as the sharing of minds is not feasible." He also says, "We can never communicate like angels, and this is a tragic fact, but also a fortunate fact." He studies the failure of communication, so he says: "Communication is contact between two minds through precise and flawless symbolic means."