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 202
4 : THE MAGNIFICATION OF PERSONALITY The marks of this cosmic
mechanical order can be easily recognized . To begin with , as noted before ,
there was a change of scale . The habit of ' thinking big was introduced with the
first human ...
4 : THE MAGNIFICATION OF PERSONALITY The marks of this cosmic
mechanical order can be easily recognized . To begin with , as noted before ,
there was a change of scale . The habit of ' thinking big was introduced with the
first human ...
Page 258
... and Persia , clear across to Palestine , Greece , and eventually Rome , the new
spirit ignited : a seemingly spontaneous combustion . And in each place a new
kind of personality sprang up and fathered a succession of similar personalities .
... and Persia , clear across to Palestine , Greece , and eventually Rome , the new
spirit ignited : a seemingly spontaneous combustion . And in each place a new
kind of personality sprang up and fathered a succession of similar personalities .
Page 260
Facing the heavily armored personalities produced by kingship , these prophets
were spiritually naked and physically unarmed ; so many ... The new leaders
were bold enough to present this stripped personality as a model for imitation .
Facing the heavily armored personalities produced by kingship , these prophets
were spiritually naked and physically unarmed ; so many ... The new leaders
were bold enough to present this stripped personality as a model for imitation .
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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 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 |