Skip to main content

Introduction: From Engineering to Philosophy

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Philosophy for Engineering

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology ((BRIEFSAPPLSCIENCES))

  • 299 Accesses

Abstract

We argue that practice, context, ethics, models and failure are crucial for engineering. There are many aspects to consider regarding these terms; and engineers should try to reflect on them thoughtfully. We then present Karl Popper, Thomas Kuhn, Michael Polanyi and Martin Heidegger as 20th century philosophers who have shed considerable light on these areas in ways that are highly relevant to engineering.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • W. Addis, Structural Engineering: The Nature of Theory and Design (Ellis Horwood, New York, 1990)

    Google Scholar 

  • D.I. Blockley, The Nature of Structural Design and Safety (Ellis Horwood, Chichester, 1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • G.E.P. Box, Science and statistics. J. Am. Stat. Assoc. 71, 791–799 (1976)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M. Davis, Thinking Like an Engineer: Studies in the Ethics of a Profession (Oxford University Press, New York, 1998)

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Doyle, M. Marsh, Stigmergy 3.0: From ants to economies. Cogn. Syst. Res. 21, 1–6 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S.C. Florman, The Existential Pleasures of Engineering, 2nd edn. (St. Martin’s Press, New York, 1994)

    Google Scholar 

  • S.L. Goldman, Compromised exactness and the rationality of engineering (Chap. 1), in Social Systems Engineering; The Design of Complexity, ed. by C. Garcia-Diaz, C. Olaya (Wiley, Oxford, 2017), pp. 13–29

    Google Scholar 

  • B.V. Koen, Definition of the Engineering Method (American Society for Engineering Education, Washington, DC, 1985)

    Google Scholar 

  • N. McCarthy, Engineering: A Beginner’s Guide (Oneworld Publications, London, 2009)

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Mitcham, Thinking Through Technology: The Path Between Engineering and Philosophy (Chicago University Press, Chicago, 1994)

    Google Scholar 

  • H. Petroski, To Engineer is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design (St. Martin’s Press, New York, 1985)

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Polanyi, Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post-critical Philosophy (University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • K.R. Popper, All Life is Problem Solving (Routledge, London, 1999)

    Google Scholar 

  • D.A. Schon, Educating the Reflective Practitioner (Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, 1987)

    Google Scholar 

  • H.A. Simon, The Sciences of the Artificial, 3rd edn. (MIT Press, Cambridge, 1996)

    Google Scholar 

  • L. Stretch, Engineering: Mechanical or Moral Science? (Becket Publications, Oxford, 1986)

    Google Scholar 

  • W.G. Vincenti, What Engineers Know and How They Know It: Analytical Studies from Aeronautical History (Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, 1990)

    Google Scholar 

  • T. Winograd, F. Flores, Understanding Computers and Cognition: A New Foundation for Design (Ablex, Norwood, 1986)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Priyan Dias .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Dias, P. (2019). Introduction: From Engineering to Philosophy. In: Philosophy for Engineering. SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1271-1_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics