--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the eighteenth century it was often…" description: "\"In the eighteenth century it was often convenient to regard man as a clockwork automaton. In the nineteenth century, with Newtonian physics pretty well..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/thomas-pynchon-533_cents_in-the-eighteenth-century-it-was-often-c_1198602.jpg" --- # In the eighteenth century it was often convenient to… ![“In the eighteenth century it was often convenient to regard man as a clockwork automaton. In the nineteenth century, with Newtonian physics pretty well assimilated and a lot of work in thermodynamics going on, man was looked on as a heat engine, about 40 per cent efficient. Now in the twentieth…” quote by Thomas Pynchon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/thomas-pynchon-533_cents_in-the-eighteenth-century-it-was-often-c_1198602.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/thomas-pynchon-533_cents_in-the-eighteenth-century-it-was-often-c_1198602.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/thomas-pynchon-533_cents_in-the-eighteenth-century-it-was-often-c_1198602.jpg) > “In the eighteenth century it was often convenient to regard man as a clockwork automaton. In the nineteenth century, with Newtonian physics pretty well assimilated and a lot of work in thermodynamics going on, man was looked on as a heat engine, about 40 per cent efficient. Now in the twentieth century, with nuclear and subatomic physics a going thing, man had become something which absorbs X-rays, gamma rays and neutrons.” [Thomas Pynchon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pynchon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The view of humanity shifts with scientific paradigms, from mechanical to thermodynamic to nuclear metaphors. **In simple terms:** Our self‑image changes as science evolves. Key Takeaway Recognize how scientific metaphors shape identity. Themes science identity metaphor history philosophy Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - education - public discourse - personal reflection - science communication Key Concepts mechanical model thermodynamic efficiency nuclear interaction Questions to Reflect On - How do current scientific metaphors influence how you see yourself? - What limits do they impose on understanding humanity? A Different Perspective These metaphors can oversimplify complex human experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cents/) [Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century/) [Century Newtonian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century-newtonian-3585358/) [Clockwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clockwork/) [Convenient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convenient/) [Efficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/efficient/) [Engines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engines/) [Gamma rays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gamma-rays/) [Heat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heat/) [Heat Engine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heat-engine-3510622/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Neutrons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neutrons/) [Nineteenth century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nineteenth-century/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [Rays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rays/) [Regard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regard/) [Subatomic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subatomic/) [Subatomic Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subatomic-physics-3585359/) [Thermodynamics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thermodynamics/) [Thermodynamics Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thermodynamics-going-3585360/) [Twentieth century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twentieth-century/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [ Every heat engineer knows he can design his heat engine reliably and accurately on the foundation of the second law \[of thermodynamics\]. 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