Contemporary Quote by Herbert Marcuse
“By virtue of the way it has organized its technological base, contemporary industrial society tends to be totalitarian. For "totalitarian" is not only a terroristic political coordination of society, but also a non-terroristic economic-technical coordination which operates through the manipulation of needs by vested interests.”
About This Quote
Source Book: One-Dimensional Man, Herbert Marcuse, 1964
Industrial societies organize technology to control needs, creating a non‑terroristic form of totalitarianism.
In simple terms: Technology shapes desires, leading to control.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and resist hidden economic‑technical domination.
Themes
control
technology
society
power
economics
Mood
critical
analytical
concerned
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political analysis
- social critique
- policy making
- activism
- education
Key Concepts
totalitarianism
needs manipulation
technological determinism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do modern technologies shape our desires?
- What can individuals do to maintain autonomy?
A Different Perspective
Economic control can be subtle and hard to detect.
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