The Technological Society

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The Technological Society (French: La technique ou l'enjeu du siècle ) is a publication by the French sociologist Jacques Ellul, first published in 1954 . The English translation followed in 1964.

content

The book treats the definition of technique (English and French technique ) as “the totality of all methods that have arisen rationally and have absolute efficiency”. He thus rules out an interpretation of technology as technology or machines . It briefly covers the historical application of technology and then moves on to modern technology and its characteristics. This is followed by an analysis of the influence of technology on the economy and the state. The penultimate chapter deals with “human techniques”, the last is formed by looking at the future.

One of the most important results of the book is that modern technology does not have a scientific origin but a religious one. He compares the ecstasy of technology with that of religion.

reception

Aldous Huxley , on whose initiative the book was translated into English, called it the best European work on the subject of "Influence of Technology on Society". The American weekly The Nation rated it as "one of the most important books of the second half of the 20th century".

literature

  • La technique ou l'enjeu du siècle . Paris: Armand Colin, 1954. New edition: Paris: Économica, 1990, engl. The technological society , New York, Knopf, 1964, paperback edition: ISBN 0394703901

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