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 31
For among the basic properties of ' matter , ' we know now , is one that for long
was ignored by the physicist : the propensity for forming more complex atoms out
of the primordial hydrogen atom , and more complex molecules out of these ...
For among the basic properties of ' matter , ' we know now , is one that for long
was ignored by the physicist : the propensity for forming more complex atoms out
of the primordial hydrogen atom , and more complex molecules out of these ...
Page 39
For the purposes of abstract thought alone , the brain contains ten thousand
times as many components as the most complex computer today . That vast
numerical superiority will doubtless diminish with miniaturization in electronics .
For the purposes of abstract thought alone , the brain contains ten thousand
times as many components as the most complex computer today . That vast
numerical superiority will doubtless diminish with miniaturization in electronics .
Page 196
It is a structure with a complex interior , consisting of a series of passages at
different levels that lead into the final burial chamber . Yet every part of it was built
with a kind of precision that , as Breasted properly emphasized , belongs to the ...
It is a structure with a complex interior , consisting of a series of passages at
different levels that lead into the final burial chamber . Yet every part of it was built
with a kind of precision that , as Breasted properly emphasized , belongs to the ...
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Contents
PROLOGUE | 3 |
THE MINDFULNESS OF MAN | 14 |
IN THE DREAMTIME LONG AGO | 48 |
Copyright | |
11 other sections not shown
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Common terms and phrases
achieved activities advances ancient animal association became become beginning body brain called cave century cities civilization collective command complex continued culture divine domestication dream earlier earliest early economy effective effort environment equally established evidence existence experience expression fact forces functions further give hand human hunting important improvement increase institution interpretation invention kind king kingship knowledge labor language later least less limited living machine magic man's material means mechanical megamachine merely military mind myth nature necessary neolithic never noted observation once operations organization original paleolithic performed perhaps period personality physical plants play possible practice present primitive production reason recorded remained ritual seems sexual significant social society speech stone symbolic technical thousand tion took turn village whole 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 | 2 Jun 2008 |
| ISBN | 0151639736, 9780151639731 |
| Length | 342 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |