Elogio de la palabra

Within the general criticism of the modern digital age that the neurobiologist Lamberto Maffei has been formulating in recent years, and for the moment reflected in his works "Praise of slowness" and "Praise of rebellion" (both published in this collection), the author now focuses on our quintessential medium of expression both verbally and in writing. In this "Praise of the word", Maffei remembers that it is our way of expressing ourselves that distinguishes us as humans and that the word is the tool that helps us to communicate both with others and with ourselves, as well as the element backbone of civilization. The growing and compulsive submission to 'smartphones' and social networks, the omnipresence of the internet and other digital media, however, seems to be promoting an increasing depreciation of the word, as well as of the conversation, which undermines the foundations themselves of our nature.