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Die Natur baut keine Maschinen, keine Lokomotiven, Eisenbahnen, electric telegraphs, selfacting mules etc. Sie sind Produkte der menschlichen Industrie; naturliches Material, verwandelt in Organe des menschlichen Willens uber die Natur oder seiner Betatigung in der Natur. Sie sind von der menschlichen Hand geschaffene Organe des menschlichen Hirns; vergegenstandliche Wissenskraft. Die Entwicklung des capital fixe zeigt an, bis zu welchem Grade das allgemeine gesellschaftliche Wissen, knowledge, zur unmittelbaren Produktivkraft geworden ist und daher die Bedingungen des gesellschaftlichen Lebensprozesses selbst unter die Kontrolle des general intellect gekommen, und ihm gema? umgeschaffen sind.

Karl Marx#50

EconomicsPhilosophyTechnologyKnowledgeNature

About this quote

What does it mean?
Nature does not create machines; they are human-made organs of will that turn material into tools, reflecting collective knowledge now under the control of the general intellect.
In plain terms
Machines are human extensions of knowledge and will.
What can you take from it?
Technology embodies collective intellect.

Where it applies

  • industrial history
  • innovation studies

Putting it to work

  • investing in education
  • directing technology toward public good

Questions to consider

  • What does 'general intellect' mean for control of production?
  • How can technology serve humanity?

Another view

Technology can also be used for domination.

More from Karl Marx

  1. Die Gesellschaft besteht nicht aus Individuen, sondern druckt die Summe der Beziehungen, Verhaltnisse aus, worin diese Individuen zueinander stehn.

    Permalink to quote #49
  2. The commodity is first of all, an external object, a thing which through its qualities satisfies human needs of whatever kind. The nature of these needs, wheth…

    Permalink to quote #51
  3. He becomes an appendage of the machine, and it is only the most simple, most monotonous, and most easily acquired knack, that is required of him. Hence, the co…

    Permalink to quote #48

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