Thomas Malcolm (1993) explains how being an “anti-machinery” was associated with being a ‘Luddite’; he uses many theories and interpretations that suggest the causes of Luddism. He found that there was a common interpretation that Luddism was related to the rise of lassez-faire, yet he mentioned other theories about the causes of Luddism such as a theory by a man named Gravener Henson which proposed that Luddism was created by the government for military power. Malcolm explained that the rise of the ‘Luddites’ was mostly during the year 1812, which was a year of social tensions and distress. He found that during the year 1812 there were low wages and high prices to necessities like food and that during that period unemployment and labor-saving machines were increasing, which led to poverty and starvation. One of the workmen at that time Malcom mentioned was Peter Marsland of Stockport; he had negative responses from people including having his factory fired due to his improvements to machinery for “steam weaving” which would result in the unemployment of thousands of people. Malcolm explained that all what people wanted at that time was work due to the unfavorable economic conditions they faced; the Luddites didn’t dislike certain machines it was because of the effects of the use of machines at that time. All the crisis points mentioned by Malcolm that happened during the industrial revolution shared the presence of the “cut-up manufacturer” and finishing work by machinery affecting the traditional ways of work people had. Malcom highlights that the Luddites breaking machines due to distress they faced out of blind hatred towards them suggesting that if there was a sort of agreement between the employers and those inserting technology (the workmen), the violence and illegal actions that took place wouldn’t be needed back then. “It can be said that all workmen involved in Luddism had specific grievances in their own industrial context which other forms of actions had failed to remove” (Malcolm). 

As I read in “Gods and Robots: Myths, Machines and Ancient Dreams of Technology.” by Adrienne Mayor, one example that caught my attention was the myth where Daedalus created artificial wings, which was used to imitate the power of birds, I came to the realization that such example opened doors for inventions that were later created. In fact, it was suggested by Mayor that many inventors illustrated ancient myths while creating machines or automata; turning what’s considered to be science fiction about animated (self-moving) devices or artificial life to innovations that “replicated” natural forms. The artificial wings in my opinion could have led to airplanes today. People have been wanting to have the ability to fly from one place to the other from early ages. Their desire made airplane creation possible. The plane also has “two wings” similar to the idea of Daedalus artificial wings.  

Here’s a fun short 5 min video that explains the myth of Daedalus: