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 241
... megamachine exercises more effective con- trol over large populations than any merely political unit can profess . Nietzsche once described war as the " health of the State " ; but more than this , it is the body and soul of the megamachine ...
... megamachine exercises more effective con- trol over large populations than any merely political unit can profess . Nietzsche once described war as the " health of the State " ; but more than this , it is the body and soul of the megamachine ...
Page 267
... megamachine leaves open is whether this destruction shall be swift or slow : the negative goal is in- corporated in the basic ideological assumptions that govern the system . The artists of the present generation , who have exposed this ...
... megamachine leaves open is whether this destruction shall be swift or slow : the negative goal is in- corporated in the basic ideological assumptions that govern the system . The artists of the present generation , who have exposed this ...
Page 303
... megamachine . Paradoxically , then , the greatest gains that have been achieved through command of nuclear reaction have been purely spiritual ones : an enriched conception of cosmic realities : a deeper insight into the nature of the ...
... megamachine . Paradoxically , then , the greatest gains that have been achieved through command of nuclear reaction have been purely spiritual ones : an enriched conception of cosmic realities : a deeper insight into the nature of the ...
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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