The Technological Society

Synopsis

As insightful and wise today as it was when originally published in 1954, Jacques Ellul's The Technological Society has become a classic in its field, laying the groundwork for all other studies of technology and society that have followed.
 
Ellul offers a penetrating analysis of our technological civilization, showing how technology-which began innocuously enough as a servant of humankind-threatens to overthrow humanity itself in its ongoing creation of an environment that meets its own ends. No conversation about the dangers of technology and its unavoidable effects on society can begin without a careful reading of this book.
 
"A magnificent book . . . He goes through one human activity after another and shows how it has been technicized, rendered efficient, and diminished in the process."-Harper's
 
"One of the most important books of the second half of the twentieth-century. In it, Jacques Ellul convincingly demonstrates that technology, which we continue to conceptualize as the servant of man, will overthrow everything that prevents the internal logic of its development, including humanity itself-unless we take necessary steps to move human society out of the environment that 'technique' is creating to meet its own needs."-The Nation
 
"A description of the way in which technology has become completely autonomous and is in the process of taking over the traditional values of every society without exception, subverting and suppressing these values to produce at last a monolithic world culture in which all non-technological difference and variety are mere appearance."-Los Angeles Free Press

Summary

Chapter 1: The Machine Age

Ellul argues that technology is not a neutral tool but a pervasive force that shapes our society. He traces the rise of the "machine age," characterized by the dominance of large-scale technology, automation, and efficiency.

Example: The assembly line in factories epitomizes the machine age, with its emphasis on standardization, division of labor, and the elimination of human error.

Chapter 2: The Technological System

Ellul introduces the concept of the "technological system," a network of interconnected technologies that interact and reinforce each other. He argues that this system is autonomous and operates according to its own logic, beyond human control.

Example: The internet has become an autonomous technological system, connecting billions of people and facilitating new forms of communication, commerce, and surveillance.

Chapter 3: Technique

Ellul distinguishes between "technology" and "technique," defining technique as the rational means by which humans achieve their goals. He argues that technique is inherently totalitarian, as it imposes order and control on the natural world and human society.

Example: Cloning is a technique that has the potential to alter the genetic makeup of humans, raising ethical concerns about the limits of human intervention in the natural order.

Chapter 4: Power and Propaganda

Ellul examines the role of technology in the concentration of power and the dissemination of propaganda. He argues that the monopoly on technical knowledge gives those in control of technology tremendous influence over others.

Example: The internet and social media have been used by governments and corporations to manipulate public opinion and control the flow of information.

Chapter 5: The Illusion of Choice

Ellul argues that technology creates the illusion of choice by offering a limited range of options that are all shaped by the technological system. He contends that this illusion masks the real limitations and consequences of technological choices.

Example: Smartphones give users the illusion of being connected and informed, but they also limit their ability to engage in meaningful social interactions and access diverse perspectives.

Chapter 6: The Degradation of Human Values

Ellul warns that the technological system degrades human values by promoting efficiency, speed, and consumption. He argues that these values undermine traditional virtues such as compassion, empathy, and long-term thinking.

Example: Fast food promotes quick and easy meals, but it contributes to obesity, health problems, and a decline in home-cooked meals.

Chapter 7: The Problem of Freedom

Ellul explores the tension between technology and human freedom. He argues that technology can both liberate and enslave, and that the challenge is to use technology to enhance human potential without compromising our autonomy.

Example: Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize healthcare, but it also raises concerns about data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the potential displacement of human workers.