May 17, 2025

The ratio of literacy to illiteracy is constant, but nowadays the illiterates can read.

Alberto Moravia (1907–1990), Italian novelist and journalist, Observer (1979), in The Cynic’s Lexicon, Jonathon Green, ed. (London: 1986), p.151

If you are reading this, we can assume you are literate. But what are your sources of information? Are you a critical thinker? Can you understand how others might consider your sources suspect? Can you see any truth in their sources?

Moravia’s insight is an important one. Literacy allows for ready access to alternative sources of information, but not necessarily any more accurate information. Given the wealth of information (and misinformation and disinformation) on offer these days, improving the critical literacy of the citizenry must be a priority.