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 184
... once the system becomes universal . Its exponents , even if they are able to recognize its deficiencies , see no way of overcoming them except by a further exten- sion of automation and cybernation . Thus a large - scale processing of ...
... once the system becomes universal . Its exponents , even if they are able to recognize its deficiencies , see no way of overcoming them except by a further exten- sion of automation and cybernation . Thus a large - scale processing of ...
Page 241
... once described war as the " health of the State " ; but more than this , it is the body and soul of the megamachine . The extent of the megamachine's activities can be judged by the fact that , once a large war comes to an end , it ...
... once described war as the " health of the State " ; but more than this , it is the body and soul of the megamachine . The extent of the megamachine's activities can be judged by the fact that , once a large war comes to an end , it ...
Page 342
... once the megamachine is in full operation , there is plenty of admonitory evidence , almost from the time that written records are available . Nothing is more striking throughout history than the chronic disaffection , the malaise , the ...
... once the megamachine is in full operation , there is plenty of admonitory evidence , almost from the time that written records are available . Nothing is more striking throughout history than the chronic disaffection , the malaise , the ...
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
absolute abstract achieved activities actually already ancient atom automatic automation Bacon become biological Christian civilization Comenius contemporary cosmic culture Descartes destruction dream economy economy of abundance effect effort 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 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