The author emphasises that much of the earlier works were mostly concentrated on economic factors rather than the motive force behind it. Even though behind the key terms such as mode of production, science, scientific rationality etc, the writings upon technology had its own significance. Marx signified technology as the force behind humanising human or making him a species being, which is different from other species of animals. The text mainly is drawn its ideas from these sets of literature.
1. Technology and labour: this primarily seen in the writings of Marx and Engels deals with how technology 'alienated ' the labour power which defines the aesthetics and self of the proletariat. By totality, Marx never argues that technology as a degrading or negative factor. According to Marxist principles, technology is not inherently problematic, yet a few have authorisation to it and used for the purpose of draining productivity and accumulating the capital. Once the technology is recaptured through revolution and society is lead to socialism. Technology will be used for a productive purpose.
2. Technology as problematic idea and action: before the writing of Ellul, Mumford and Goodman, who critically engaged the idea of technology as a social force than a sidekick, allowed us to know more about how technology itself is inherently problematic and reversely controlling those created it. They show the light into how technology is affecting the day to day issues emerging from the implementation of it. Rather than a mere tool in the hands, they have shown, how technology is gaining its autonomy and becoming more and more uncertain for those who are forced to subscribe it.
3. the new ethic and technocracy: the writings and speculations about a new world order where technology dictates will be found in popular imaginations through science fictions, novels, movies and poems etc. we can also find out how this had to influence over the writings and speculations about technocracy. Most of the literature used by the author for critical examining are the writings of St. Simon, Veblen Spengler, bacon etc. Martin Heidegger’s idea of new ethic shows how technocracy or technology out of control can be controlled by adopting new sets of moral and ethical stands for a new alternative.
