Writing & Forgetfulness: Remedy / Poison

"In Phaedrus, Plato repeats an ancient story of the origin and judgement of writing. The inventor of writing, Theuth, present it to King Thamus of Egypt as a remedy for forgetfulness. The king rejects his invention on the grounds that it will induce forgetfulness, not remedy the condition. The word that they use for writing, pharmacon (drug), means "remedy" as well as "poison"". -Vincent B. Leitch