The future (and the now) according to Jacques Ellul: Deterministic or mindful?

Across a point–counterpoint interpretation, we argue that Ellul's thesis of the technological society is perhaps not as deterministic or fatalistic as some of his critics may claim. At once, divergent and similar to Touraine's more optimistic message of the transformative subject, Ellul proposes a dialectical approach, which in many ways reminds us of Weick's own call towards mindfulness. It is a way forward for mankind that is far from easy: one that involves self-critique, humility and overcoming our passions of greed, coercive power as well as our fear of authentic freedom.

► La technique is an all-encompassing term involving the quest for the ‘best way’ to attain any objective. ► La technique's advances through a combination of its own logic and Man's greed/quest for power. ► Ellul calls for personal acts of auto-critique, humility and authentic liberty. ► Ellul proposes a form of reflection based on dialectical tensions, thus opening the way to mindfulness. ► The dual recognition of Self and Other prevents both individual urges from overriding all else and being muzzled by monolithic collective entities.