PDFs:
The Crisis of Comprehension and the Restoration of Deep Reading
The Crisis of Comprehension and the Restoration of Deep Reading (Cognitive Map)
Dr Neville Buch
Abstract
The current state of literacy in the general population is characterized by an “immense regression” and a systemic loss of sufficient comprehension. This essay explores why individuals are increasingly unable to read in depth, identifying causes such as institutional denoetization, the rise of symbolic misery through digital distraction, and a credential society that prioritizes vocational fitness over substantive learning. It argues that reading sufficiently—engaging with a text’s intended semantics—is essential for restoring human authorship, avoiding historical forgetfulness, and achieving Aristotelian flourishing. Finally, the essay outlines how individuals can reclaim their reading capacity through the POLICE model of self-critique, the practice of enlarged thought, and a transition from “Junior” to “Senior” states of social accountability.
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Featured Image: Relaxed Neville on Mrs Macquaries’ Chair, The Domain, Sydney, Australia, 25 November 2023. Can you read the text historically, philosophically, sociologically?
Neville Buch
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