Gessner’s argument against the printing press was that ordinary people could not handle so much knowledge. Gessner demanded those in power in European countries should enforce a law that regulated sales and distribution of books.
If so, I don’t understand the parallel you are trying to draw. Prior to the printing press, elites had access to 100s of books, and the average person had access to none. Whereas prior to AI romantic partners, elites and “proles” both have access to human romantic partners at similar levels. Also, I don’t think Gessner was arguing that the book surplus would reduce the human relationship participation rate and thus the fertility rate. If you’re referring to other “smart people” of the time, who are they?
Perhaps a better analogy would be with romance novels? I understand that concerns about romance novels impacting romantic relationships arose during the 18th and 19th centuries, much later.
Aside: I was unable to find a readable copy of Conrad Gessner’s argument—apparently from the preface of the Bibliotheca Universalis—so I am basing my understanding of his argument on various other sources.
Are you referring to the concerns of Conrad Gessner? From Why Did First Printed Books Scare Ancient Scholars In Europe?:
If so, I don’t understand the parallel you are trying to draw. Prior to the printing press, elites had access to 100s of books, and the average person had access to none. Whereas prior to AI romantic partners, elites and “proles” both have access to human romantic partners at similar levels. Also, I don’t think Gessner was arguing that the book surplus would reduce the human relationship participation rate and thus the fertility rate. If you’re referring to other “smart people” of the time, who are they?
Perhaps a better analogy would be with romance novels? I understand that concerns about romance novels impacting romantic relationships arose during the 18th and 19th centuries, much later.
Aside: I was unable to find a readable copy of Conrad Gessner’s argument—apparently from the preface of the Bibliotheca Universalis—so I am basing my understanding of his argument on various other sources.