Technology, War and Fascism by Herbert Marcuse. Specifically it will contain a book report on the book. Marcuse wrote these essays in the 1940s and 1950s, and they have gathered together into a collection by his son. Marcuse was a liberal philosopher, famous in the 20th century for his liberal thought and understanding. This book outlines his philosophy on war, and growing technology in the U.S. And the world at the time. It is also a detailed look at Germany before, during, and after the war, and so, it is an important historic work.

In the Introduction to this work, editor Douglas Kellner spells out Marcuse’s importance to the world of philosophy and political thought. He writes,

The insights into fascism, the trends of advanced industrial societies and the emancipatory potential of critical social theory and art present in Marcuse’s 1940s work continues to be of importance today, as new technologies transform every aspect of life and various fascist and rightwing movements persistently prey on the insecurities and fears of our epoch. (Marcuse 1).

This is the thesis of this collection of papers, letters, and reports written by Marcuse as he attempted to help the U.S. government make some sense of the Nazi takeover in Germany, and then recreate Germany after World War II. Marcuse’s understanding of the German culture and thought helped the government immensely, but his work encompassed more than that, as this volume clearly illustrates. His work is still important today, and reading these works helps give a greater understanding of our modern world, including the need for many countries to dominate others in the name of democracy and freedom.

Marcuse began his career as a philosopher in Frankfurt Germany at the Institute for Social Research (also called the “Frankfurt School”). This is where he developed much of his liberal philosophy and began writing about it. When Hitler took power, Marcuse left Germany and finally established a division of the school in the United States, where he did the rest of his writing during his career.

Marcuse’s first essay discusses technology and its use in a modern world. Marcuse’s definition is just as relevant today as it was 60 years ago when he wrote this work. He notes, “Technology, as a mode of production, as the totality of instruments, devices and contrivances which characterize the machine age is thus at the same time a mode of organizing and perpetuating (or changing) social relationships, a manifestation of prevalent thought and behavior patterns, an instrument for control and domination” (Marcuse 41). Technological advances today are indeed instruments for “control and domination,” from computers to weaponry and automobiles, technology makes life easier, but also controls the world and how people live. Marcuse notes, “The average man hardly cares for any living being with the intensity and persistence he shows for his automobile. The machine that is adored is no longer dead matter but becomes something like a human being” (Marcuse 47). In another example, computers have become so commonplace in homes, schools, and businesses, that recent studies indicate most children no longer need to write in cursive script, and in fact, many teachers do not even teach it in their classrooms. Technology is changing the way we communicate, and it dominates many aspects of our lives. Cell phones are now a “necessity” for communication, and thousands of cell phone users violate the privacy of others by talking wherever they are, no matter the surroundings or the content of their conversation. Technology makes life better, but it also controls aspects of our lives, and this is the point of Marcuse’s essay. He also believes technology creates a society of like people, rather than encouraging individuality.

Marcuse also defines “technics” in this essay, and establishes it is not the same thing as technology, and he equates Hitler’s oppressive Third Reich as a form of “technocracy,” that combines technology with power and manipulation (Marcuse 41). He believes technology leads to power and control over others, from giant business monopolies (think Microsoft), to government and reason. This is extremely apparent in our society today, where many mega-corporations such as Wal-Mart, have developed a major global presence based on the technology available to move their goods and services around the world. Those with technology can dominate the world, whether it is with nuclear weapons such as North Korea, or retail goods, such as Wal-Mart. Technology has allowed these interests to grow and prosper whether they are good or bad for individuals and the world. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of Marcuse’s theory is that humankind accepts this technological domination without question, and allows technology to rule their lives and their reason.

Marcuse’s next essay discusses National Socialism, a factor in Hitler’s domination of Germany in the 1930s. He writes that National Socialism comprises state and society, and blends them. “These phenomena induce us to see in National Socialism the absolute rule of the state over all private and social relationships, and the absolute repression of the individual with all his rights and abilities” (Marcuse 70). There was no room for individualism in the Third Reich – Hitler dominated the country so completely there was no acceptance of dissent or creative thought. He equates the German state to a machine, and a dominating force in the lives of all Germans.

Next, Marcuse tackles social change in a series of essays. He discusses the history of social change (later sociology), and the origins of philosophical thought as well. Plato, Aristotle, and many others play into this history, which continues with Marxist thought and then Marcuse’s own theories on social change. His final thoughts on social change are, “The very fact that moral progress lies far behind material progress is an index that society has not yet reached the level of free and consciously controlled self-development in all spheres of culture” (Marcuse, and Neumann 136). Thus, even today, we have failed to reach self-development because modern moral progress is still far behind material progress in this society.

In “The New German Mentality,” Marcuse gives a frightening picture of the German people under Hitler’s rule, and speculates why the people were so quick to follow the ruthless dictator. Early in the essay he notes, “A thorough knowledge of the new mentality and the new language is a prerequisite for the effective psychological and ideological offensive against National Socialism” (Marcuse 141). This understanding of the German mentality helped Marcuse in his service with the U.S. government and helped with decisions on how to rebuild Germany after the war. His insights include comparing the German technocracy with “large scale industry” (Marcuse 145), and the “shifting of traditional taboos” (Marcuse 146), which may help to explain the German anti-Semitic feelings that led to concentration camps and the slaughter of millions of Jews. He also claims Germans supported the war in Europe because they regarded it as a business proposition that could bring high rewards if it ended well. He also notes that the Nationalist Socialist movement in Germany even created their own new language to help society adjust and adapt to the new way of thinking. He writes, “In its syntactical form, the National Socialist language shows a pervasive verbalization of nouns, a shrinking of the synthetical structure of the sentence, and a transformation of personal relations into impersonal things and events” (Marcuse 150). He also notes German culture is far different from western culture, especially in America, and that is why a dictator such as Hitler could rise to power in the country so apparently easily. All of this discussion paints a distressing picture of Germany during the war. He writes, “Indeed, the Nazis showed themselves true masters in the art of achieving the impossible only there where they actually hated, namely, in their extermination of the enemy within, in their persecution of the helpless and feeble, in their ghettos and concentration camps” (Marcuse 188). They were masters, and Marcuse explains much of their philosophy in way that makes it more understandable and more frightening at the same time.

After discussing Germany in such detail, the book outlines three projects Marcuse worked on while he worked for the U.S. State Department. These projects all dealt with German subjects, mostly German civil affairs and the disillusion of the Nazi Party after the war. At the time they were written, these were all classified documents. Marcuse notes that he did all the writing for these projects, while he had aides that helped gather and interpret data. He also notes a variety of publications used in evaluating the data. This section shows how involved the U.S. was in restoring Germany to its former democratic state and how experts such as Marcuse (and many others) helped them formulate plans in this regard. This is a small section of the book, but it is an important glimpse into history, and creates more impact for the overall reading of the book.

The next essay takes a totally different view of philosophy from an artistic standpoint. After all the discussion of Germany, Socialism, and technology, this essay almost seems out of place in this work. However, Marcuse equates political art to “revolutionary” art, and feels it is an important, even vital part of any culture. He writes, “The most revolutionary work of art will be, at the same time, the most esoteric, the most anti-collectivistic one, for the goal of the revolution is the free individual” (Marcuse 203). By the end of the essay, its inclusion makes sense, because Marcuse neatly ties in his beliefs about philosophy and society with the use of art as a means of expressing revolution or revolt. This section also includes quite a bit of French poetry, which was not translated, and this helped take away from the overall meaning of the piece. A translation would have given this essay even more impact.

The final sections of the book include notes of thirty-three theses Marcuse was working on or had worked on, and letters to two of the philosophers who helped found the Frankfurt School. He did not always agree with these men, and the letters show that there were differences between some of them that could not be overcome. In fact, Marcuse’s son Peter said re-reading some of the letters was painful for him, because he remembered strained relationships between his father and others. However, the letters here show a cordial, learned man who communicated well with others and took his work seriously. Including them in the book made it a bit more personal and appealing, while showing how important work was to Marcuse.

Clearly, the editor of this book knew Marcuse and his work quite well, and chose many essays to illustrate the scope of Marcuse’s thoughts on technology, war, and fascism. These essays were all unpublished before this book was available, and they give great insight into the author, his beliefs, and what was happening in the world at the time. In fact, many seem as relevant today as they were when Marcuse first wrote them, which is the mark of fine writing and a good mind as well. As for researching the work, Kellner had to weed through thousands of documents in order to find just the right ones to include in this work, and his choices are enlightening and thought provoking.

In conclusion, this book may be over the head of many readers, but it is a fascinating look at technology and how it adds to war in the author’s opinion. It is also interesting to note that many of the essays were written 50+ years ago, but are still relevant today. It seems there will always be nations and leaders who want to take advantage of others, and there will always be strife in the world. History proves this, and so do Marcuse’s essays.

References

Marcuse, Herbert, and Franz Neumann. “Theories of Social Change.” Technology, War, and Fascism. Ed. Douglas Kellner. Vol. 1. London: Routledge, 1998. 107-137.

Marcuse, Herbert. Technology, War, and Fascism. Ed. Douglas Kellner. Vol. 1. London: Routledge, 1998.

Get Professional Assignment Help Cheaply

Are you busy and do not have time to handle your assignment? Are you scared that your paper will not make the grade? Do you have responsibilities that may hinder you from turning in your assignment on time? Are you tired and can barely handle your assignment? Are your grades inconsistent?

Whichever your reason is, it is valid! You can get professional academic help from our service at affordable rates. We have a team of professional academic writers who can handle all your assignments.

Why Choose Our Academic Writing Service?

• Plagiarism free papers
• Timely delivery
• Any deadline
• Skilled, Experienced Native English Writers
• Subject-relevant academic writer
• Adherence to paper instructions
• Ability to tackle bulk assignments
• Reasonable prices
• 24/7 Customer Support
• Get superb grades consistently

Online Academic Help With Different Subjects

Literature

Students barely have time to read. We got you! Have your literature essay or book review written without having the hassle of reading the book. You can get your literature paper custom-written for you by our literature specialists.

Finance

Do you struggle with finance? No need to torture yourself if finance is not your cup of tea. You can order your finance paper from our academic writing service and get 100% original work from competent finance experts.

Computer science

Computer science is a tough subject. Fortunately, our computer science experts are up to the match. No need to stress and have sleepless nights. Our academic writers will tackle all your computer science assignments and deliver them on time. Let us handle all your python, java, ruby, JavaScript, php , C+ assignments!

Psychology

While psychology may be an interesting subject, you may lack sufficient time to handle your assignments. Don’t despair; by using our academic writing service, you can be assured of perfect grades. Moreover, your grades will be consistent.

Engineering

Engineering is quite a demanding subject. Students face a lot of pressure and barely have enough time to do what they love to do. Our academic writing service got you covered! Our engineering specialists follow the paper instructions and ensure timely delivery of the paper.

Nursing

In the nursing course, you may have difficulties with literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, critical essays, and other assignments. Our nursing assignment writers will offer you professional nursing paper help at low prices.

Sociology

Truth be told, sociology papers can be quite exhausting. Our academic writing service relieves you of fatigue, pressure, and stress. You can relax and have peace of mind as our academic writers handle your sociology assignment.

Business

We take pride in having some of the best business writers in the industry. Our business writers have a lot of experience in the field. They are reliable, and you can be assured of a high-grade paper. They are able to handle business papers of any subject, length, deadline, and difficulty!

Statistics

We boast of having some of the most experienced statistics experts in the industry. Our statistics experts have diverse skills, expertise, and knowledge to handle any kind of assignment. They have access to all kinds of software to get your assignment done.

Law

Writing a law essay may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle, especially when you need to know the peculiarities of the legislative framework. Take advantage of our top-notch law specialists and get superb grades and 100% satisfaction.

What discipline/subjects do you deal in?

We have highlighted some of the most popular subjects we handle above. Those are just a tip of the iceberg. We deal in all academic disciplines since our writers are as diverse. They have been drawn from across all disciplines, and orders are assigned to those writers believed to be the best in the field. In a nutshell, there is no task we cannot handle; all you need to do is place your order with us. As long as your instructions are clear, just trust we shall deliver irrespective of the discipline.

Are your writers competent enough to handle my paper?

Our essay writers are graduates with bachelor's, masters, Ph.D., and doctorate degrees in various subjects. The minimum requirement to be an essay writer with our essay writing service is to have a college degree. All our academic writers have a minimum of two years of academic writing. We have a stringent recruitment process to ensure that we get only the most competent essay writers in the industry. We also ensure that the writers are handsomely compensated for their value. The majority of our writers are native English speakers. As such, the fluency of language and grammar is impeccable.

What if I don’t like the paper?

There is a very low likelihood that you won’t like the paper.

Reasons being:

• When assigning your order, we match the paper’s discipline with the writer’s field/specialization. Since all our writers are graduates, we match the paper’s subject with the field the writer studied. For instance, if it’s a nursing paper, only a nursing graduate and writer will handle it. Furthermore, all our writers have academic writing experience and top-notch research skills.
• We have a quality assurance that reviews the paper before it gets to you. As such, we ensure that you get a paper that meets the required standard and will most definitely make the grade.

In the event that you don’t like your paper:

• The writer will revise the paper up to your pleasing. You have unlimited revisions. You simply need to highlight what specifically you don’t like about the paper, and the writer will make the amendments. The paper will be revised until you are satisfied. Revisions are free of charge
• We will have a different writer write the paper from scratch.
• Last resort, if the above does not work, we will refund your money.

Will the professor find out I didn’t write the paper myself?

Not at all. All papers are written from scratch. There is no way your tutor or instructor will realize that you did not write the paper yourself. In fact, we recommend using our assignment help services for consistent results.

What if the paper is plagiarized?

We check all papers for plagiarism before we submit them. We use powerful plagiarism checking software such as SafeAssign, LopesWrite, and Turnitin. We also upload the plagiarism report so that you can review it. We understand that plagiarism is academic suicide. We would not take the risk of submitting plagiarized work and jeopardize your academic journey. Furthermore, we do not sell or use prewritten papers, and each paper is written from scratch.

When will I get my paper?

You determine when you get the paper by setting the deadline when placing the order. All papers are delivered within the deadline. We are well aware that we operate in a time-sensitive industry. As such, we have laid out strategies to ensure that the client receives the paper on time and they never miss the deadline. We understand that papers that are submitted late have some points deducted. We do not want you to miss any points due to late submission. We work on beating deadlines by huge margins in order to ensure that you have ample time to review the paper before you submit it.

Will anyone find out that I used your services?

We have a privacy and confidentiality policy that guides our work. We NEVER share any customer information with third parties. Noone will ever know that you used our assignment help services. It’s only between you and us. We are bound by our policies to protect the customer’s identity and information. All your information, such as your names, phone number, email, order information, and so on, are protected. We have robust security systems that ensure that your data is protected. Hacking our systems is close to impossible, and it has never happened.

How our Assignment  Help Service Works

1.      Place an order

You fill all the paper instructions in the order form. Make sure you include all the helpful materials so that our academic writers can deliver the perfect paper. It will also help to eliminate unnecessary revisions.

2.      Pay for the order

Proceed to pay for the paper so that it can be assigned to one of our expert academic writers. The paper subject is matched with the writer’s area of specialization.

3.      Track the progress

You communicate with the writer and know about the progress of the paper. The client can ask the writer for drafts of the paper. The client can upload extra material and include additional instructions from the lecturer. Receive a paper.

4.      Download the paper

The paper is sent to your email and uploaded to your personal account. You also get a plagiarism report attached to your paper.

PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY!!!