The Technological Society

The Technological Society is a book on the subject of technique by French philosopher, theologian and sociologist Jacques Ellul. Originally published in French in 1954, it was translated into English in 1964.

The Technological Society

Author	Jacques Ellul
Original title	La Technique ou l'Enjeu du siècle
Translator	John Wilkinson
Language	French, English
Genre	Philosophy, Sociology, Philosophy of Technology
Publisher	Vintage Books
Publication date	1954
Publication place	United States
Published in English	1964
Pages	332
OCLC	1955603

On technique

The central concept defining a technological society is technique. Technique is different from machines, technology, or procedures for attaining an end. "In our technological society, technique is the totality of methods rationally arrived at and having absolute efficiency (for a given stage of development) in every field of human activity."^[1]

Summary

Ellul argues that modern society is being dominated by technique, which he defines as a series of means that are established to achieve an end. Technique is ultimately focused on the concept of efficiency. The term "technique" is to be comprehended in its broadest possible meaning as it touches upon virtually all areas of life, including science, automation, but also politics and human relations.

Influence

Theodore Kaczynski (the Unabomber) dedicated himself to reading about sociology and political philosophy, including the works of Jacques Ellul.^[2] Kaczynski's brother David later stated that The Technological Society "became Ted's Bible".^[3] Kaczynski recounted in 1998, "When I read the book for the first time, I was delighted, because I thought, 'Here is someone who is saying what I have already been thinking.'"^[2]

See also

• Man and Technics (1931)
• Lewis Mumford – his series of works on technology is referred to and critiqued in The Technological Society.
• The Question Concerning Technology (1954)