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 122
Sexual intercourse , the earliest mode of social communion and cooperation ,
was now directed and enriched by mind . Since representations of the male
phallus are sometimes found in the same cave as female forms with open vulvas
— an ...
Sexual intercourse , the earliest mode of social communion and cooperation ,
was now directed and enriched by mind . Since representations of the male
phallus are sometimes found in the same cave as female forms with open vulvas
— an ...
Page 147
In reconstructing the process of domestication , we would do well to treat the
increased consciousness of sexuality , an ... The first evidence of this deepened
sexual consciousness , as I have already pointed out , may have borne fruit in the
...
In reconstructing the process of domestication , we would do well to treat the
increased consciousness of sexuality , an ... The first evidence of this deepened
sexual consciousness , as I have already pointed out , may have borne fruit in the
...
Page 339
... woman ' s , 121 ; woman ' s , 148 Sexual activity , encouragement to , 122
Sexual characteristics , woman ' s special , 147 Sexual intercourse , enrichment
of , 122 Sexual symbolism , paleolithic , 20 Sexuality , neolithic , 160 Shaker
colonies ...
... woman ' s , 121 ; woman ' s , 148 Sexual activity , encouragement to , 122
Sexual characteristics , woman ' s special , 147 Sexual intercourse , enrichment
of , 122 Sexual symbolism , paleolithic , 20 Sexuality , neolithic , 160 Shaker
colonies ...
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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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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