Faith Quote by Chris Hedges
““Blanqui is an important, if neglected, nineteenth-century theorist, for unlike nearly all of his contemporaries, he dismissed the naive belief, central to Marx, that human history is a linear progression toward equality and greater morality. He warned that this absurd positivism is the lie perpetrated by oppressors: “All atrocities of the victor, the long series of his attacks are coldly transformed into constant, inevitable evolution, like that of nature. . . . But the sequence of human things is not inevitable like that of the universe. It can be changed at any moment.”32 He also foresaw that scientific and technological advancement, rather than a harbinger of progress, could be “a terrible weapon in the hands of Capital against Work and Thought.”33””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, Shoshana Zuboff, 2019
Blanqui argued that history isn’t a predetermined march toward equality; oppression reshapes narratives, and technology can become a tool of domination rather than progress.
In simple terms: History isn’t inevitable; power can rewrite it, and tech can be weaponized.
Key Takeaway
Question power structures and guard against tech misuse.
Themes
history
power
technology
philosophy
politics
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- labor movements
- policy debates
- academic curricula
- activist strategy
Key Concepts
determinism
positivism
marxism
critical theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies ensure technology serves humanity?
- What mechanisms can prevent oppression from rewriting history?
A Different Perspective
Assumes all readers accept Blanqui’s pessimism without considering progressive agency.
