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 82
Page 175
As a matter of fact , during later ages kingship not merely seeped back into more
primitive tribal societies , but its technical and institutional complex spread , by
one means or another , over the whole planet , from China and Cambodia to
Peru ...
As a matter of fact , during later ages kingship not merely seeped back into more
primitive tribal societies , but its technical and institutional complex spread , by
one means or another , over the whole planet , from China and Cambodia to
Peru ...
Page 272
What the monastery began , the medieval guilds carried through ; for they not
merely laid down a fresh basis for association in craft and trade , but they
restored to work the esthetic and moral values , conditioned by religion , that
governed the ...
What the monastery began , the medieval guilds carried through ; for they not
merely laid down a fresh basis for association in craft and trade , but they
restored to work the esthetic and moral values , conditioned by religion , that
governed the ...
Page 280
When the Royal Society was founded in London in the middle of the seventeenth
century , merchants and bankers took a leading part in it , not merely as providers
of funds , but as active experimenters in the new science . The notion that ...
When the Royal Society was founded in London in the middle of the seventeenth
century , merchants and bankers took a leading part in it , not merely as providers
of funds , but as active experimenters in the new science . The notion that ...
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 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 sense 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 |
| Length | 342 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |