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 122
... mass production of scientific knowl- edge went hand in hand with the mass production of inventions and prod- ucts derived from science . Thus the scientist came to have a new status in society , equivalent to that occupied earlier by ...
... mass production of scientific knowl- edge went hand in hand with the mass production of inventions and prod- ucts derived from science . Thus the scientist came to have a new status in society , equivalent to that occupied earlier by ...
Page 169
... mass society ( democratic participa- tion ) to a far larger population . To discuss the proliferation of inventions during the last two centuries , the mass production of commodities , and the spread of all the technologi- cal factors ...
... mass society ( democratic participa- tion ) to a far larger population . To discuss the proliferation of inventions during the last two centuries , the mass production of commodities , and the spread of all the technologi- cal factors ...
Page 323
... mass production made possible was to achieve sufficient stability to continue its expansion . This change of outlook ... mass market for mass production , in such a complex machine as even the cheap Model T Ford , it was necessary to ...
... mass production made possible was to achieve sufficient stability to continue its expansion . This change of outlook ... mass market for mass production , in such a complex machine as even the cheap Model T Ford , it was necessary to ...
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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