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." |
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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 125
... already deeply embedded . Hidden within this whole movement of thought , we can now see - but for long disguised by the variety of immediately fascinating discoveries and service- able practices that it furthered - were two guiding aims ...
... already deeply embedded . Hidden within this whole movement of thought , we can now see - but for long disguised by the variety of immediately fascinating discoveries and service- able practices that it furthered - were two guiding aims ...
Page 379
... already unfolding . In his Introduction to Darwin's ' Origin of Species , ' George Gaylord Simpson points to this ap- proaching transformation . " The astronomical and physical revolutions were already well advanced in the early ...
... already unfolding . In his Introduction to Darwin's ' Origin of Species , ' George Gaylord Simpson points to this ap- proaching transformation . " The astronomical and physical revolutions were already well advanced in the early ...
Contents
NEW EXPLORATIONS NEW WORLDS | 3 |
RETURN OF THE SUN GOD | 28 |
THE MECHANIZED WORLD PICTURE | 51 |
Copyright | |
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absolute abstract achieved activities actually already ancient atom automatic automation Bacon become biological Christian civilization Comenius communication contemporary cosmic culture demands 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 ideological 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 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