Quote by Herbert Marcuse: “The 'pure' scientific and technological rationality which is in itself neutral becomes politicized rationality.”

This quote suggests that even seemingly neutral scientific and technological advancements are deeply shaped by underlying political forces. It means that technology isn't just about objective facts; it is often used to control, influence, or manipulate society, becoming a tool for power.

Published during the height of the Cold War and burgeoning consumerism, this quote critiques how advanced industrial society integrated technology into systems of domination, diminishing individual freedom and critical thought.

German-American philosopher and sociologist associated with the Frankfurt School of critical theory, whose 1964 work One-Dimensional Man became a foundational text of the New Left. He argued that advanced industrial society neutralises opposition by absorbing dissent into consumer culture.