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." |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 39
Page 104
... of causal insight and seasoned observation disclosed by this life - preserving
routine shows a high order of mind . Here the strategy of survival was worked out
through close observation of such a farfrom - obvious process as evaporation ...
... of causal insight and seasoned observation disclosed by this life - preserving
routine shows a high order of mind . Here the strategy of survival was worked out
through close observation of such a farfrom - obvious process as evaporation ...
Page 136
That was a far more improbable discovery than penicillin : only a spirit of
experiment and a gift for close observation could have made this correlation :
even then it remains astonishing , indeed mysterious , like the folk belief , justified
in the ...
That was a far more improbable discovery than penicillin : only a spirit of
experiment and a gift for close observation could have made this correlation :
even then it remains astonishing , indeed mysterious , like the folk belief , justified
in the ...
Page 308
Humboldt ' s observation that " man is man by virtue of language alone " is both
earlier and sounder than the belief that tool - making shaped his whole
development . Huxley , Julian S . Man Stands Alone . New York : 1927 . Returns
with ...
Humboldt ' s observation that " man is man by virtue of language alone " is both
earlier and sounder than the belief that tool - making shaped his whole
development . Huxley , Julian S . Man Stands Alone . New York : 1927 . Returns
with ...
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Contents
PROLOGUE | 3 |
THE MINDFULNESS OF MAN | 14 |
IN THE DREAMTIME LONG AGO | 48 |
Copyright | |
11 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
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 |