The Magic of Technology: The Machine as a Transformation of Slavery

Technology is not the politically neutral revelation of natural principles, but a means of accumulating the material means of harnessing natural forces to reinforce social relations of power. Alf Hornborg argues for a critical reconceptualization of modern technology as an institution for redistributing human time, resources, and risks in world society.

Format: Hardback
Length: 274 pages
Publication date: 20 October 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This groundbreaking book delves into our perception of technology, revealing it as counterfeit organisms that appear to replace human bodies but serve as tools for displacing workloads and environmental burdens beyond our foreseeable horizon. It emphasizes that technology is not a politically neutral revelation of natural principles, but rather a means of accumulating material resources through physically asymmetric exchanges, ultimately reinforcing social relations of power. Alf Hornborg explores the historical roots of our cultural illusions about technology and how they continue to hinder our vision for an equal and sustainable world. He advocates for a critical reevaluation of modern technology as an institution designed to redistribute human time, resources, and risks across global society. The book raises fundamental questions about the role of human-artifact relations in organizing human societies and challenges us to think beyond the realm of monetary transactions in understanding world trade. This thought-provoking work will appeal to scholars across anthropology, sociology, economics, development studies, and the philosophy of technology, offering valuable insights into the complex interplay between technology, society, and the natural world.

Weight: 690g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032210841