Hughes Ch. 3

Hughes Ch. 3

Has the US established itself as "the world's preeminent technological power?" Where does Europe fall? How about Asia?

In Ch. 3 Hughes examines German historian, Oswald Spengler, writings about technology. Spengler made a prediction that Westerners would be displaced as the masters of technology by non-Western peoples. He proposed this because engineers and technology were going to Asia and Russia and therefore these areas would dominate the world (pg. 58). However, only Japan and other Pacific Rim nations seem to fulfill his prediction. Hughes then says that the United States has established itself in the in the twenty-first century as the world’s preeminent technological power (pg. 58).

Historically the United States and Europe both shared the same religious principles. I believe the U.S. passed the Europe in progressing with mechanical machines. This may be because of the spirit of liberty that citizens possessed. I believe that the U.S. has been viewed as a world power. We have some of the most advanced technology and have long been on the cutting-edge of technology inventions. However, the U.S. is in economic trouble with a rapidly growing national debt. I theorize that the entire world economy would be devastated if the U.S. economy failed.

In my opinion, the U.S. has established itself as a world power and a leader in development and distribution of technology. I see Europe and Asia as the money that is supporting.

What other ideas about "Machine as Technology" struck you as significant in this chapter?

I agree with Hughes that machine technology produced goods and services that excited consumers. Inventors gained fame and monetary wealth. Technologies were mass produced to improve the quality of life for all people. Hughes discussed how Russia and Germany were the same the U.S. early on and looked to one another for inventing and learning ideas. The Soviet Union was trying to be more like the U.S. and looked at us a model. The world was looking and admiring Ford idealizing him for his accomplishments. Electricity spawned mechanization. In my Postman blog I mentioned electricity as a technology and how dependent we are on it to use other technologies.

The German perception of technology was reminiscent of Postman and King Thamus. They viewed technology as disruptive and suppressed tradition. This was nearly the polar opposite of the U.S. view, which was gung ho with support and idealism of technology being the answer. Germany and U.S. looked to machines for Edenic recovery.

Hughes gives props to the workers, inventors and system builders who helped develop the large-scale technological systems and business, industrial and residential architecture in making the New York a center for world trade.

Hughes does bring up the argument that in the twentieth century that God was no longer needed. Man had esteemed himself and was full of hubris as a result of mechanization. Hughes pointed out that the Soviet Union expressed more arrogance than Americans. Technologies brought an sense of power and control.

Spengler associated mechanization would be the decline of Western civilization. He believed the West was losing its moral and cultural center. The was a flashback to Postman.

Hughes presents Lewis Mumford’s ideas of organic technology. Mumford believed humans should not limit themselves to machinelike creations but should create organic forms (pg. 61). He saw machines crushing the organic spirit and emotional and spiritual values essential for spontaneity and individuality. On the contrary, Werner Sombart believed machines empowered humans to transcend natural limitations. He brought forth the thought that technology and culture are not bound to one another and the modern state of mind was a function of technical innovation and capitalism.

Walther Rathenau believed mechanization was bringing about political, economic and social revolution and was transforming the world into a global production system (pg. 65), forming his complex system-building point of view.

Hughes says, “Favoring intimacy with machines, Americans did not have the fructifying close associations with nature and long-standing cultural traditions” (pg. 72). This was a result from Americans disconnect with their cultural roots. Foreign critics saw Americans as machines that had become interchangeable in appearance, attitudes, morals, and mores. Citizens believed in the voice of a democracy while in fact money and the press controlled it. This could still be an argument today.

In reading Hughes I continue to see the theme of religious beliefs guiding the development of technology.

I also had this thought while reading. America is a melting pot of cultures with a common thread that are all seeking the “American dream”. With the vast differences in cultures and religious ideals it is difficult to hold on and sustain the cultural traditions of the past, e.g., the Ten Commandments can not be displayed in courthouses and prayer is no longer allowed at school. It may be that the same desire that drove the first immigrants to America may be promoting this disconnect and withdrawal of traditions and religious beliefs that founded this country.