The Myth of the Machine: Technics and human developmentAn 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 38
This relation was reciprocal : the increasing use of artillery in warfare called for
better scientific data to make sighting more accurate , and this in turn called for
the spyglass to supplement the naked human eye . Precisely the same kind of ...
This relation was reciprocal : the increasing use of artillery in warfare called for
better scientific data to make sighting more accurate , and this in turn called for
the spyglass to supplement the naked human eye . Precisely the same kind of ...
Page 62
Absolute entities that exist by themselves are only plausible figments of the
human mind : all that can be called ' real ' is the outcome of a multitude of
sustained transactions and interrelations between the human organism and the
environment ...
Absolute entities that exist by themselves are only plausible figments of the
human mind : all that can be called ' real ' is the outcome of a multitude of
sustained transactions and interrelations between the human organism and the
environment ...
Page 67
It was only when it concentrated on quantity to the exclusion of quality , and upon
piecemeal knowledge to the exclusion of form , pattern , functional organization ,
design , that the weakness of the original emphasis on so - called primary ...
It was only when it concentrated on quantity to the exclusion of quality , and upon
piecemeal knowledge to the exclusion of form , pattern , functional organization ,
design , that the weakness of the original emphasis on so - called primary ...
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Contents
NEW EXPLORATIONS New WORLDS | 3 |
RETURN OF THE SUN GOD | 28 |
THE MECHANIZED WORLD PICTURE | 51 |
Copyright | |
14 other sections not shown
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Common terms and phrases
abstract accepted achieved activities actually already ancient authority automatic automation became become beginning brought century civilization collective communication complex continued culture demands Descartes destruction direct economy effect effort energy environment equally established existence experience exploration expression fact final forces functions further future give hand human idea improvements increase industrial institutions intelligence invention knowledge later least less limited living machine man's mass material means mechanical megamachine megatechnics merely method military mind mode moral nature necessary never objective observed once operation organic original past perhaps physical possible power system practical present production progress proved remained result scientific scientists seemed sense single social society space subjective success sufficient symbolic taken technical thought tion turn ultimate United universal whole world picture York
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Myth of the Machine: Technics and human development Harvest book Volume 1 of The Myth of the Machine, Lewis Mumford The Myth of the Machine; Technics and Human Development, Lewis Mumford |
| Author | Lewis Mumford |
| Publisher | Harcourt, Brace & World, 1967 |
| Original from | the University of Michigan |
| Digitized | 5 Nov 2007 |
| ISBN | 0151639736, 9780151639731 |
| Length | 342 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |