A Question of Design Summary and Analysis

This chapter begins with a reference to the Titanic, which appeared to be indestructible but met a famous fate. The Titanic is a good metaphor for the Industrial Age, which appears to offer such promise but is also doomed to fail.

Although the Industrial Revolution offers such promise, it operates on several untenable premises, including rampant and toxic waste, with irretrievable disposal methods, destruction of natural resources, the goal of employing ever fewer people, and reducing diversity of species. At the time, the minds behind the Industrial Revolution do not consider these factors and they generally mean no harm. However, beginning with textile production in England, which does indeed produce more fabric but causes harm to people and the environment, the Industrial Revolusion reveals its downside. People move to the cities for increase in pay...