History and Purpose of Technocracy (archive.org)

🔗 https://archive.org/stream/HistoryAndPurposeOfTechnocracy.howardScott/HistoryAndPurposeOfTechnocracy.howardScott.pd-2_djvu.txt

Posted on Jan 1, 1

Overview & Context

This foundational 1938 document by Howard Scott, available via Archive.org, outlines the origins and goals of Technocracy Incorporated, a movement aiming to replace democracy and price-based economies with a scientifically planned system managed by engineers and scientists.

⚙️ Core Concepts

Energy-based currency: Proposes replacing money with energy certificates, allocating goods based on measured energy production and use, enforcing anti-hoarding measures and equitable distribution.
Technate governance: Advocates for a continental-scale administration—the “Technate”—to manage production and resources scientifically across North America.
Data-driven monitoring: Calls for continuous energy accounting and population-level tracking using centralized computer systems, predating modern computational surveillance.

🌐 Historical Significance

Reflects interwar enthusiasm for social engineering and expert-led governance during the Great Depression.
Illustrates a technocratic critique of capitalism and democracy—asserting that these systems hinder abundance and efficiency.
Prefigures contemporary gov‑corp technate debates around algorithmic governance, energy-based economics, and centralized surveillance.

📚 Citation

Scott, H. (1938). History and Purpose of Technocracy. Retrieved from Archive.org. Summary generated by ChatGPT (GPT‑4).