Western society has accepted as unquestionable a technological imperative that is quite as arbitrary as the most primitive taboo: not merely the duty to foster invention and constantly to create technological novelties, but equally the duty to surrender to these novelties unconditionally, just because they are offered, without respect to their human consequences.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Mumford criticizes Western society's blind acceptance of technological innovation without considering human consequences.
- In plain terms
- Society follows technology blindly without asking about the results.
- What can you take from it?
- Evaluate technology based on human impact, not just novelty.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Should we question every new tech?
- How do we balance innovation and consequence?
Another view
Innovation often drives progress despite risks.
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