The Long Shadow of Fatalism: a Philosophical Speculation on Forster’s “the Machine Stops” (1909) on the Disintegration of Technologically Advanced Societies Back Then and Today
Additional information
Authors
Type
Journal Article
Year
2021
Language
English
Abstract
EM Forster’s short story “The Machine Stops” from 1909 is widely reread and discussed
again for some ten years as it portrays a science-fiction world resting on similar
technological advancements as today in the digital era. Also management literature
reviewed the short story with regard to centralized decision making, rationality and
totalitarianism. I argue instead, that the main theme of the short story is – in Forster’s
own words – the closing of a civilization in times of transition and facing major
challenges. I built the argument by original quotes from Forster and by portraying the
years 1906–9, when Forster developed the short story. This era before the Great War
starting in 1914 was characterized by euphoric ‘futurism’ based on groundbreaking
innovations like ‘long distance messaging’, ‘penny post’, ‘animated films’, Ford’s assembly
line, ‘Olivetti typewriter’, ‘feature film’, ‘large ships’ and ‘air transportation’ – the
ingredients of the short story as I argue. At the same time these acquitted years were
characterized by increasing disintegration, instability, rebellions and a financial crisis with
bailout programs. Based on the analogy and as part of speculative philosophy I reconstruct
the current great challenges with Forster’ shadow of fatalism and arrive at the
urgency to put more effort in addressing and researching pathways out of the crisis and
towards stabilization of business and society.
Journal
Philosophy of Management
Start page number
1
End page number
10
