In 1963, Lewis Mumford delivered a speech titled Authoritarian and Democratic Technics, later published in Technology and Culture, where he outlined a provocative and far-reaching thesis: that technological development has followed two distinct and competing paths throughout history—one authoritarian, the other democratic.
This is such a wonderful essay, Mumford was so right. We need to re embed technology into our societal values and take back control. The bigger lie of the system is There Is No Alternative, there is, and we need to highlight alternative examples.
Are we actively shaping technology to serve human values, or are we merely submitting to the logic of an impersonal, self-expanding system?
Now I wonder if I should avoid the self check out lines that are now normalized? Been in a McDonald’s lately? How do you order your food in McDonald’s?
Indeed Buddy, the machines in the supermarket and Macdonalds are tempting, I won't lie, especially when the average teenage server can't put two syllables together, and me being a grumpy crumudgen cannot understand or hear half of what they say. However if we do not persevere with 'in person' embodied interactions, they will disappear and we will be paying the price of the bribe forever.
"But if societies actively resist this trend and cultivate democratic technics, technology can be reclaimed as a tool for human empowerment rather than control." Ah yes. There it is. The promise that we can control technology. We can have a world of advanced dentistry, and reading substack on our phones in a climate controlled environment without the nasty mass surveillance State, or micro plastics in every cell in our bodies.
But it's a lie.
Industrial society is a self expanding entity. The original deal was with the devil himself. The greatest lie the devil ever told was not that he didn't exist but that we can control him (if we just try harder).
Thanks for this Magnus, as it happens I am just finishing up my second article in my Ellul series (it should be published tomorrow) you certainly seem to express his sentiments well.
"Technique evolves with an autonomy that no human society can control. Once a technique is possible, it becomes inevitable.”"
Thank you for raising awareness of this excellent work. Somehow I haven't come across Mumford's work before but it is so prescient and apt for what we are going through right now. Even the President just warned against tech oligarchs in his exit speech! Almost every day I see people on here and other platforms gushing over the latest AI toy that they think gives them superpowers and all I can think of is the bribe they are taking or the bargain they are making with the devil who just wants them happy and distracted while big tech works on mechanizing our whole lives.
Thanks for the comment and the encouragement Jim, yes Mumford like Illich was prescient indeed. Stay tuned for a few more articles on his work, hopefully coming in the next week or so.
This is such a wonderful essay, Mumford was so right. We need to re embed technology into our societal values and take back control. The bigger lie of the system is There Is No Alternative, there is, and we need to highlight alternative examples.
Well said, and thanks again for your constant encouragement, it means the world.
Are we actively shaping technology to serve human values, or are we merely submitting to the logic of an impersonal, self-expanding system?
Now I wonder if I should avoid the self check out lines that are now normalized? Been in a McDonald’s lately? How do you order your food in McDonald’s?
Indeed Buddy, the machines in the supermarket and Macdonalds are tempting, I won't lie, especially when the average teenage server can't put two syllables together, and me being a grumpy crumudgen cannot understand or hear half of what they say. However if we do not persevere with 'in person' embodied interactions, they will disappear and we will be paying the price of the bribe forever.
And if I may add my two-bobs' worth, pay with cash!
Indeed, make sure your two bob in is cash :-)
Oh yes so true. I was doing well with that, but relapsed. The system makes it difficult with the cash back incentives. Thanks for the reminder.
"But if societies actively resist this trend and cultivate democratic technics, technology can be reclaimed as a tool for human empowerment rather than control." Ah yes. There it is. The promise that we can control technology. We can have a world of advanced dentistry, and reading substack on our phones in a climate controlled environment without the nasty mass surveillance State, or micro plastics in every cell in our bodies.
But it's a lie.
Industrial society is a self expanding entity. The original deal was with the devil himself. The greatest lie the devil ever told was not that he didn't exist but that we can control him (if we just try harder).
Thanks for this Magnus, as it happens I am just finishing up my second article in my Ellul series (it should be published tomorrow) you certainly seem to express his sentiments well.
"Technique evolves with an autonomy that no human society can control. Once a technique is possible, it becomes inevitable.”"
I'm a big fan of Jacques.
Thank you for raising awareness of this excellent work. Somehow I haven't come across Mumford's work before but it is so prescient and apt for what we are going through right now. Even the President just warned against tech oligarchs in his exit speech! Almost every day I see people on here and other platforms gushing over the latest AI toy that they think gives them superpowers and all I can think of is the bribe they are taking or the bargain they are making with the devil who just wants them happy and distracted while big tech works on mechanizing our whole lives.
Thanks for the comment and the encouragement Jim, yes Mumford like Illich was prescient indeed. Stay tuned for a few more articles on his work, hopefully coming in the next week or so.
Well done for reviving/reminding of Mumford's marvellous perceptions!