Jacques Ellul Quote on Technique: Autonomous Technique

Historical Context

This passage is attributed to Jacques Ellul in The Technological Society. Ellul's claim that technique has become autonomous and now rules an omnivorous world. A foundational statement of techno-pessimism and the philosophy of technology. The wording should be checked against Jacques Ellul, The Technological Society, because edition, translation, and location determine how confidently the sentence can be quoted and interpreted.

Meaning

In context, “Technique has become autonomous; it has fashioned an omnivorous world which obeys its laws.” addresses concerns linked to ellul, technique, autonomy, technology, techno-pessimism. Its force depends on the contrast or problem surrounding it, not merely on the sentence in isolation. A sound reading distinguishes the literal claim, the rhetorical emphasis, and any broader conclusion readers may be tempted to add.

For Jacques Ellul Quote on Technique: Autonomous Technique, the key interpretive question is what the quoted words are doing in the argument: defining a concept, drawing a contrast, warning the reader, or compressing a longer line of reasoning. Answering that question requires the surrounding paragraphs and the intended audience, especially when a translated term may carry several meanings.

Philosophical Interpretation

The passage indexed as Jacques Ellul Quote on Technique: Autonomous Technique can be compared with Jacques Ellul, Techno Pessimism, Autonomy, Questioning, What Is Philosophy Of Technology. One interpretation emphasizes the author’s immediate argument; another asks how the wording applies beyond its original setting. Both require limits: a memorable quotation can illuminate a position, but it cannot substitute for the reasons and qualifications developed in the source work.