The Myth of the Machine: The pentagon of powerHarcourt, Brace & World, 1970 - Technology and civilization An in-depth look at the forces that have shaped modern technology since prehistoric times. Mumford criticizes the modern trend of technology, which emphasizes constant, unrestricted expansion, production, and replacement. He contends that these goals work against technical perfection, durability, social efficiency, and overall human satisfaction. Modern technology fails to produce lasting, quality products by using devices such as consumer credit, installment buying, non-functioning and defective designs, built-in fragility, and frequent superficial "fashion" changes. "Without constant enticement by advertising," he writes, "production would slow down and level off to normal replacement demand. Otherwise many products could reach a plateau of efficient design which would call for only minimal changes from year to year." |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 80
Page 117
... already been assembled in dream . What Francis Bacon did in " The New Atlantis ' was to suggest for the first time the kind of organization that would make it possible for these dreams to come true ; not merely to fulfill them , but to ...
... already been assembled in dream . What Francis Bacon did in " The New Atlantis ' was to suggest for the first time the kind of organization that would make it possible for these dreams to come true ; not merely to fulfill them , but to ...
Page 154
... already initiated by the invention of the electric telegraph , the dynamo , and the electric motor . In terms of this variegated , infinitely rich planetary heritage , the prospects offered by the bare mechanical world picture were already ...
... already initiated by the invention of the electric telegraph , the dynamo , and the electric motor . In terms of this variegated , infinitely rich planetary heritage , the prospects offered by the bare mechanical world picture were already ...
Page 281
... already identified both the ancient and the modern types . What is remarkable is that after ten years ' study I can support Muller's statement with a long list from other scientific exponents , some no less eminent than Muller . What is ...
... already identified both the ancient and the modern types . What is remarkable is that after ten years ' study I can support Muller's statement with a long list from other scientific exponents , some no less eminent than Muller . What is ...
Contents
NEW EXPLORATIONS NEW WORLDS | 3 |
RETURN OF THE SUN GOD | 28 |
THE MECHANIZED WORLD PICTURE | 51 |
Copyright | |
14 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
absolute abstract achieved activities actually already ancient atom automatic automation Bacon become biological Christian civilization Comenius communication contemporary cosmic culture Descartes destruction dream economy economy of abundance effect electronic energy environment established evolution existence experience exploration extermination fact fantasies final forces Francis Bacon functions further future Galileo habitat Henry Adams idea ideology immense increase industrial institutions intelligence invention Kepler knowledge labor limited machine man's mass production mechanical world picture megamachine megatechnics ment merely method military mind mode modern moral myth nature nineteenth century noösphere Norbert Wiener nuclear observed once original Patrick Geddes physical planet plenitude political absolutism population possible potentialities power complex power system practical present progress purpose Pyramid Age quantity reality result scientific scientists social society space subjective symbolic technical Technics and Civilization technocratic tion totalitarian transformation turn ultimate utopia whole York