ABSTRACT
Since 1966, an annual survey has been conducted in the Federal Republic of Germany, in which respondents are asked: ‘Do you believe that technology is more blessing than evil?’ In 1966, 75 per cent answered ‘yes’. In 1982, this had fallen to 30 per cent. The dramatic decline heralds a change in the relationship between man and technology from one of optimism and confidence to that of pessimism and mistrust. It may be less pronounced in countries with a more pragmatic, matter-of-fact attitude towards technological change than Germany, but it has affected all Western industrialised countries to some degree.
