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On the Role of Design in Engineering Theories; Pambour’s Theory of the Steam Engine

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Part of the book series: Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science ((BSPS,volume 144))

Abstract

This paper deals with the role of design in engineering theories.1 Staudenmaier considers engineering theories to be one of the four characteristics which distinguish technological from scientific knowledge.2 He gives the following definition of this type of theory, which he claims is more less generally accepted:3

An engineering theory is a body of knowledge using experimental methods to construct a formal and mathematically structured intellectual system. The system explains the behavioral characteristics of a particular class of artifact or artifact-related materials.

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© 1992 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Kroes, P. (1992). On the Role of Design in Engineering Theories; Pambour’s Theory of the Steam Engine. In: Kroes, P., Bakker, M. (eds) Technological Development and Science in the Industrial Age. Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, vol 144. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8010-6_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8010-6_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-4186-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-015-8010-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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