Main entry:

Mumford, Lewis, 1895-1990.

Title & Author:

Technics and civilization / Lewis Mumford.

Publication:

New York : Harcourt, Brace & World, [1963]

Description:

495 pages : illustrations ; 21 cm.

Series:

A Harvest book

Notes:
"A Harbinger book."
Includes bibliographical references (pages 447-474) and index.
1. Machines, utilities and "The Machine" -- Monastery and the clock -- Spaces, distance, movement -- Influence of capitalism -- From fable to fact -- Obstacle of animism -- Road through magic -- Social regimentation -- Mechanical universe -- Duty to invent -- Practical anticipations --Chapter II -- Profile of Technics -- De Re Metallica -- Mining and modern capitalism -- Primitive engineer -- From game-hunt to man-hunt -- warfare and invention -- Military mass-production -- Drill and deterioration -- Mars and Venus -- Consumptive pull and productive drive -- Chapter III Eotechnic Phase -- Technical Syncretism -- Technological complex -- New sources of power -- Trunk, plank and spar -- Through a glass brightly -- Glass and the ego -- Primary inventions -- Weakness and strength -- Chapter IV Paleotechnic phase -- England's belated leadership -- New barbarism -- Carboniferous capitalism -- Steam engine -- Blood and iron -- Destructionof environment -- Degradation of the worker -- Starvation of life --Doctrine of progress -- Struggle for existence -- Class and Nation -- Empire of muddle -- Power and time -- Esthetic compensation -- Mechanical triumphs -- Paleotechnic passage -- Chapter V Neotechnic phase -- Beginnings of neotechnics -- Importance of science -- New sources of energy -- Displacement of the Proletariat -- Neotechnic materials -- power and mobility -- Paradox of communication -- New permanent record -- Light and life -- Influence of biology -- Destruction of conservation -- Planning of population -- Present pseudomorph -- Chapter VI Compensations and reversions -- Summary of social reactions -- Mechanical routine -- Purposeless materialism: superfluous power -- Co-operation versus slavery -- Direct attack on the machine -- Romantic and utilitarian -- Cult of the past -- Return to nature -- Organic and Mechanical polarities -- Sport and the "Bitch-goddess" -- Cult of death -- Minor shock-absorbers -- Resistance and adjustment -- Chapter VII Assimilation of the machine -- New cultural values -- Neutrality of order -- Esthetic experience of the machine -- Photography as means and symbol -- Growth of functionalism -- Simplification of the environment -- Objective personality -- Chapter VIII Orientation -- Dissolution of "the machine" -- Toward an organic ideology -- Elements of social energetics -- Increase conversion -- Economize production -- Normalize consumption -- Basic communism -- Socialize creation -- Work for automaton and amateur -- Political Control -- Diminution of the machine -- Toward a dynamic equilibrium -- Summary and prospect -- Inventions.

Summary:

In Technics and Civilization, Mumford traces the development of technology, diving history into three epochs: eotechnic (middle ages), paleotechnic (industrial revolution), and neotechnic (present day with emphasis on science), and dividing technology into two camps: polytechnic (a technology style that rhymes with the human nature) and monotechnic, (technology for the sake of technology, oppressing humanity as it moves along it's own trajectory). Mumford also introduced the concept of the megamachine, a "rigid, hierarchical social organization".

ISBN:

015688254X (paperback)
9780156882545 (paperback)

Subject:

Technology and civilization.
Industrial arts History.
Technologie et civilisation.
Métiers Histoire.
Industrial arts.
Maatschappij.
Techniek.

Form/genre:

History.

Holdings:

Location: Library main 3115
Call No.: 9800
Status: Available