# How does Culture and Anarchy develop the theme of Machinery vs. Ends?

> Culture and Anarchy by Matthew Arnold

## Answer

Culture and Anarchy by Matthew Arnold develops Machinery vs. Ends across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.

The tendency to worship 'machinery'—such as freedom, population, wealth, or industrial production—as ends in themselves, rather than as means to the true end of human perfection and the development of the 'best self.'

Arnold criticizes the overvaluation of machinery (e.g., religious organizations, industrialism) as a means, losing sight of the true end of human perfection.

Freedom is treated as an end in itself (machinery) rather than a means to perfection.

Critique of treating religion, business, and other pursuits as mechanical, absolute laws (machinery) rather than as means to a larger human perfection.

## Evidence

- [i-sweetness-and-light](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/culture_and_anarchy_se/chapters/i-sweetness-and-light.md): Arnold criticizes the overvaluation of machinery (e.g., religious organizations, industrialism) as a means, losing sight of the true end of human perfection.
- [ii-doing-as-one-likes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/culture_and_anarchy_se/chapters/ii-doing-as-one-likes.md): Freedom is treated as an end in itself (machinery) rather than a means to perfection.
- [v-porro-unum-est-necessarium](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/culture_and_anarchy_se/chapters/v-porro-unum-est-necessarium.md): Critique of treating religion, business, and other pursuits as mechanical, absolute laws (machinery) rather than as means to a larger human perfection.
- [vi-our-liberal-practitioners](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/culture_and_anarchy_se/chapters/vi-our-liberal-practitioners.md): Critiques the treatment of free trade and population growth as absolute goods (machinery) rather than means to human perfection (ends).
- [i](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/culture_and_anarchy_se/chapters/i.md): Arnold criticizes the Nonconformist maxim against Church establishments as a 'mechanical rule' or 'fetish,' arguing that it prioritizes a rigid means over the true ends of reason, justice, and human perfection.
- [ii](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/culture_and_anarchy_se/chapters/ii.md): Arnold contrasts the 'machinery' of stock notions and legal reforms with the true end of human welfare and perfection.
- [iv](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/culture_and_anarchy_se/chapters/iv.md): Free trade and population growth are treated as mechanical ends in themselves, rather than means to human perfection.

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