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 79
Page 201
... further this unqualified faith in a corresponding human improve- ment . Naturally , the belief in the inevitability of progress tended for a while to bring further evidence of it into existence , just as an unqualified belief in a witch ...
... further this unqualified faith in a corresponding human improve- ment . Naturally , the belief in the inevitability of progress tended for a while to bring further evidence of it into existence , just as an unqualified belief in a witch ...
Page 288
... further programming his existence so as to permit no unforeseen departures or rebellions . Radical alterations that kings and priests never succeeded in performing except by evisceration scientists now confidently propose to do on the ...
... further programming his existence so as to permit no unforeseen departures or rebellions . Radical alterations that kings and priests never succeeded in performing except by evisceration scientists now confidently propose to do on the ...
Page 317
... further developments in computer design and miniaturization that would confirm with appropriate instruments his technocratic transcendentalism and religious absolutism . Where , then , is the fallacy in this religio - technocratic ...
... further developments in computer design and miniaturization that would confirm with appropriate instruments his technocratic transcendentalism and religious absolutism . Where , then , is the fallacy in this religio - technocratic ...
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 noƶsphere 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