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A review by ageorgiadis
Man and Technics: A Contribution to a Philosophy of Life by Oswald Spengler
4.0
The pace of discovery grows fantastic, and nevertheless – it must be repeated – human labour is not saved thereby. The number of necessary hands grows with the number of machines, because technical luxury enhances every other type of luxury, and because the artificial life becomes more and more artificial.
-p68
In the early 20th century, German philosopher Oswald Spengler wrote this cynical but wide-eyed and (I think) realistic assessment of humanity.
He quickly summarizes all of anthropology and its consequences for his thesis in a few short chapters. We are carnivores. Our hands are so unique, we developed tools, and then when we could plan together about 5,000 years ago, that was the beginning of our end. We got together in cities, we sucked up the resources of Nature, and thereby increased our dependence on Nature but also our destruction of it. Eventually, he predicts humanity will lose in this dynamic.
The main areas of interest to modern readers are the final two chapters. He predicted in the 1930s that the beginning of the end was upon our species. He makes no firm predictions about when or in what circumstances, only that the above details make it inevitable. Our way of life and impoverishment of the natural world are accelerating. Our way of doing things (what he calls “technics”, distinct from tools, but rather how we use them) is part of our identity, and can’t be shaken off. We are what we are.
So while it’s vague and pessimistic, the work is also engaging and includes much reference to other provocative philosophical work. I wish I had a few more lifetimes to look into them all. And any worldview that includes the fatalism of a doomed humanity necessarily implies that the planet will live on, which has always heartened me.
The fight against Nature is hopeless and yet – it will be fought out to the bitter end.
-p46
3.5 stars
-p68
In the early 20th century, German philosopher Oswald Spengler wrote this cynical but wide-eyed and (I think) realistic assessment of humanity.
He quickly summarizes all of anthropology and its consequences for his thesis in a few short chapters. We are carnivores. Our hands are so unique, we developed tools, and then when we could plan together about 5,000 years ago, that was the beginning of our end. We got together in cities, we sucked up the resources of Nature, and thereby increased our dependence on Nature but also our destruction of it. Eventually, he predicts humanity will lose in this dynamic.
The main areas of interest to modern readers are the final two chapters. He predicted in the 1930s that the beginning of the end was upon our species. He makes no firm predictions about when or in what circumstances, only that the above details make it inevitable. Our way of life and impoverishment of the natural world are accelerating. Our way of doing things (what he calls “technics”, distinct from tools, but rather how we use them) is part of our identity, and can’t be shaken off. We are what we are.
So while it’s vague and pessimistic, the work is also engaging and includes much reference to other provocative philosophical work. I wish I had a few more lifetimes to look into them all. And any worldview that includes the fatalism of a doomed humanity necessarily implies that the planet will live on, which has always heartened me.
The fight against Nature is hopeless and yet – it will be fought out to the bitter end.
-p46
3.5 stars