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 178
But the success of mechanization was gauged in terms of lessening the ratio of
man - hours to the units of production , until finally , with complete automation and
cybernetic control , only the minimum supervision of the whole plant remained ...
But the success of mechanization was gauged in terms of lessening the ratio of
man - hours to the units of production , until finally , with complete automation and
cybernetic control , only the minimum supervision of the whole plant remained ...
Page 389
Despite the insufficiency of any one set of observations to account for the
evolution of life , the total mass , when Darwin put it together , revealed a
concrete pattern of utmost complexity , in which every aspect of the whole in
space and time ...
Despite the insufficiency of any one set of observations to account for the
evolution of life , the total mass , when Darwin put it together , revealed a
concrete pattern of utmost complexity , in which every aspect of the whole in
space and time ...
Page 404
the younger generation : the notion that in order to avoid the predictable
calamities that the power complex is bringing about , one must destroy the whole
fabric of historic civilization and begin all over again on an entirely fresh
foundation .
the younger generation : the notion that in order to avoid the predictable
calamities that the power complex is bringing about , one must destroy the whole
fabric of historic civilization and begin all over again on an entirely fresh
foundation .
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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 |