Kristóf Nyíri:

Changes in communication technologies have over and over again in the course of history resulted in changes in the nature of scientific thought. In particular, the printing press, in the specific European context, played a central role in giving rise to the development of modern science. Printed scientific texts, to a greater or lesser degree, have been regularly accompanied by diagrams and pictures; however, the text always dominated the image. And while the logic of the linear text was conducive to strict reasoning, it also fostered excessive specialization and compartmentalization within science. The philosopher and sociologist Otto Neurath, a leading member of the Vienna Circle, was among the first to suggest that, with the help of a pictorial language, a new unity within science could be achieved. The talk will attempt to show how the emergence of computer graphics and multimedia computer networking might lead to a fulfilment of Neurath's vision.