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 202
... fact that the goods of civilization are cumulative , rather than successive : but once movement away from the past became the criterion of progress , the function of accumulation was turned over to museums . 2 : EVOLUTION AND ...
... fact that the goods of civilization are cumulative , rather than successive : but once movement away from the past became the criterion of progress , the function of accumulation was turned over to museums . 2 : EVOLUTION AND ...
Page 216
... fact that conscription on a national scale was so contrary to the New World mores that even its temporary application in the American War Between the States had caused violent draft riots . In the United States this mode of organization ...
... fact that conscription on a national scale was so contrary to the New World mores that even its temporary application in the American War Between the States had caused violent draft riots . In the United States this mode of organization ...
Page 282
... fact no genera- tion before our own has ever been so fatuous as to imagine it possible to live exclusively within its own narrow time - band , guided only by informa- tion recently discovered ; nor has it ever before this accepted as ...
... fact no genera- tion before our own has ever been so fatuous as to imagine it possible to live exclusively within its own narrow time - band , guided only by informa- tion recently discovered ; nor has it ever before this accepted as ...
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 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