The Technological Society
449
Book • Nonfiction
1950s
1954
Adult
18+ years
In The Technological Society, Jacques Ellul argues that "technique," defined as the pursuit of rational and efficient methods in all fields, dominates modern life, rendering human control over technology illusory and marking the end of traditional social constructs. He identifies seven characteristics of technique, such as rationality, artificiality, and autonomy, illustrating its pervasive influence.
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Jacques Ellul's The Technological Society is praised for its deep, insightful analysis of technology's pervasive impacts on society and human behavior, highlighting its foresight and intellectual rigor. However, some readers find the prose dense and the tone overly pessimistic. The book remains a seminal, though challenging, critique of modern technological dependence.
A reader who would enjoy The Technological Society by Jacques Ellul is likely interested in the philosophical and sociological implications of technology's role in modern life. They may also appreciate books like Neil Postman's Technopoly or Marshall McLuhan's Understanding Media, which similarly examine the effects of technological advancement on society.
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The Technological Society, originally published in French in 1954 as La Technique: L'enjeu du siècle, popularized the idea of "technique" as a dominant force in society, influencing various academic fields and subsequent discussions on technology’s role in human affairs.
The English edition, translated by John Wilkinson in 1964 and introduced by sociologist Robert K. Merton, helped broaden Ellul's impact on English-speaking audiences, emphasizing the pervasive nature of "technique" beyond mere machines and devices.
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Jacques Ellul was critical of how technology affects human and social values, and his work in The Technological Society sparked dialogue that influenced both technological ethics discussions and critiques of modernity.
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449
Book • Nonfiction
1950s
1954
Adult
18+ years
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