The Myth of the Machine: The pentagon of powerHarcourt, Brace & World, 1967 - Technology and civilization An 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 30
... Pyramid Age . But four centuries were needed before the great pharaonic invention of the Pyramid Age , the megamachine , could be assembled again . The association of the new astronomy with the revival of divine king- ship and ...
... Pyramid Age . But four centuries were needed before the great pharaonic invention of the Pyramid Age , the megamachine , could be assembled again . The association of the new astronomy with the revival of divine king- ship and ...
Page 180
... Pyramid Age was devoted to pyramid building itself , including the extensive mortuary cities that were necessary to ensure the performance of the required rituals . But this ancient power complex likewise produced masterpieces of ...
... Pyramid Age was devoted to pyramid building itself , including the extensive mortuary cities that were necessary to ensure the performance of the required rituals . But this ancient power complex likewise produced masterpieces of ...
Page 300
Lewis Mumford. CHAPTER ELEVEN The Megatechnic Wasteland 1 : AIR - CONDITIONED PYRAMIDS Though the Pyramid Age had a static conception of Heaven , its dynamism was as methodical and relentless as that of our own technocratic age . Each ...
Lewis Mumford. CHAPTER ELEVEN The Megatechnic Wasteland 1 : AIR - CONDITIONED PYRAMIDS Though the Pyramid Age had a static conception of Heaven , its dynamism was as methodical and relentless as that of our own technocratic age . Each ...
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absolute abstract achieved activities actually already ancient atom automatic automation Bacon become biological Christian civilization Comenius communication contemporary cosmic culture Descartes destruction dream economy economy of abundance effect electronic energy environment established evolution existence experience exploration extermination fact fantasies final forces Francis Bacon functions further future Galileo habitat Henry Adams idea ideology immense increase industrial institutions intelligence invention Kepler knowledge labor limited machine man's mass production mechanical world picture megamachine megatechnics ment merely method military mind mode modern moral myth nature nineteenth century noösphere Norbert Wiener nuclear observed once original Patrick Geddes physical planet plenitude political absolutism population possible potentialities power complex power system practical present progress purpose Pyramid Age quantity reality result scientific scientists social society space subjective symbolic technical Technics and Civilization technocratic tion totalitarian transformation turn ultimate utopia whole York