TECHNOLOGY, OR THE SCIENCE OF INDUSTRIES
By J. W. POWELL INTRODUCTION
An industry is an activity whose immediate motive is the production of welfare for self and others. The term welfare has various meanings, but here we use it as signifying welfare of life — not esthetic, moral, expressional, or mental welfare. An indus- try by this definition means an activity exercised to promote life. We must remember that in this discussion, which is meant to be scientific, whether it succeeds or not, the term industry is used in this sense and in no other.
We use activities as a generic term including five species : esthetics, industries, institutions, expressions, and instructions. In this paper we are to consider industries.
Technology is the science of industries. An industry is an activity whose purpose is welfare or livelihood. We must here make clear the distinction between esthetic activity and industrial activity. The maid dances for the pleasure of herself or of others. If she dances for others it is a pleasure for them, though she may dance for gain, that is, welfare ; still, it is an esthetic activity. A company of musicians make music for an audience ; the audience pays for the entertainment. To the musicians the making of the music is an industrial activity, but to the audience it is an esthetic entertainment. Thus, whether an activity be designed for pleasure or for welfare will often depend on the point of view of the person interested therein.
The housewife prepares the meal for her own welfare and for
the welfare of others. She may flavor the food to make it more
palatable ; the purpose of the condiment is thus pleasure ; but
the preparation of the food is still an industry, the secondary
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