technological-centralism

This chapter provides a foreword, publisher's statement, and translator's introduction to Jacques Ellul's 'The Technological Society,' emphasizing the pervasive and irreversible dominance of technique in modern civilization. Ellul defines technique broadly as standardized methods to achieve predetermined results, highlighting its impact on economy, politics, and culture, where efficiency and technical performance overshadow moral and ideological considerations. The chapter underscores Ellul's thesis that technological progress leads to dehumanization and centralization without deliberate planning, provoking a critical re-examination of modern society's assumptions about technology.