| Abstract: |
We enter the debate about the possibility of collaboration and of rich
exchanges among physically distant individuals by offering a literacy
perspective on communication to show how the dimensions of writing enable the
development of scientific communities. We illustrate this perspective with an
analysis of the correspondences of one philosopher and one scientist –
Descartes and Emilie du Chatelet, as well as with a description of one of the
most prominent communities of scientists and philosophers in Europe, the
Republic of Letters. Our findings show that writing is essential for the
expression and exchange of ideas, abstractions, complex thoughts,
demonstrations, arguments – in sum, for the entire scientific enterprise. We
discuss the implications of the literacy perspective and of our findings for
the current understanding of online intellectual communities. |