Man's conquest of Nature, if the dreams of some scientific…
“Man's conquest of Nature, if the dreams of some scientific planners are realized, means the rule of a few hundreds of men over billions upon billions of men. There neither is nor can be any simple increase of power on Man's side. Each new power won by man is a power over man as well.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Power concentrated in the hands of a few will dominate the masses, and technological advances do not simply increase human freedom.
In simple terms: Technology can enslave as much as it liberates.
Key Takeaway
Beware of power that controls people.
Themes
power
technology
ethics
society
control
Mood
cautious
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
warning
When to use this quote
- government policy
- corporate governance
- AI development
- environmental regulation
Key Concepts
authoritarianism
technological determinism
human agency
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we ensure technology serves humanity equally?
- What safeguards prevent elite control?
A Different Perspective
The quote assumes all scientific progress leads to domination, ignoring cooperative possibilities.