Sisyphos im Maschinenraum. Eine Geschichte der Fehlbarkeit von Mensch und Technologie

Book presentation with Prof. Dr. Martina Heßler

The human relationship to technology is characterized by an alarming imbalance: Humans appear as flawed beings, they make mistakes and commit stupidities, while their machines and technologies are seen precisely as overcoming their weaknesses. From automatons in early industrial factories and engineers' resentment towards workers to seatbelts, lie detectors and nice robots to human factor research and cyborg repair - the idea that human fallibility is combined with technological perfection is very powerful.

Currently, artificial intelligence promises to make the world a better place and break human boundaries. But since the early 19th century, attempts have been made to contain, replace and surpass flawed humans with superior machines. The image of a perfect machine that can solve every conceivable problem has shaped social progress ever since. It is time to say goodbye to this outmoded illusion.

Martina Heßler is a historian and has been Professor of the History of Technology at TU Darmstadt since 2019. She works on the cultural history of technology, the past and present of the relationship between man and machine, the history of technological emotions and technological errors.

In cooperation with the International Center for Culture and Technology Research (IZKT) and the Department of the History of the Impact of Technology at the University of Stuttgart