Philosophy and Engineering: An Emerging Agenda

Contents

Contributors

Author Biographies

1 Philosophy and Engineering: Setting the Stage

1.1 Introduction

1.1.1 The 2007 Workshop on Philosophy and Engineering

1.2 Towards a Philosophy of Engineering

1.2.1 What is Engineering?

1.2.2 The Relation Between Science, Technology and Engineering

1.2.3 Other Philosophical Issues in Engineering

1.2.4 Interaction and Cooperation Between Philosophers and Engineers

1.3 The Contributions

1.3.1 Philosophy

1.3.2 Ethics

1.3.3 Reflection

References

Part I Philosophy

2 Distinguishing Architects from Engineers: A Pilot Study in Differences Between Engineers and Other Technologists

2.1 Introduction

2.2 The Name and the Thing

2.3 Some Differences Between Architecture and Engineering

2.4 Historical Contributions to These Differences

2.5 Conclusions

References

3 The Rise of Philosophy of Engineering in the East and the West

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Substantial Progress of Philosophy of Engineering at the Beginning of the 21st Century

3.3 Trichotomy of Science, Technology and Engineering

3.4 Scientific Community and Engineering Community

3.5 Why Philosophy of Engineering is Important

References

4 Multiple Facets of Philosophy and Engineering

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Inside the Diamond: The Structure of Engineering as Engineers See It

4.3 Values and Engineering

4.4 A Philosophy Positive About Engineering: American Pragmatism

4.5 Even Radicals Deserve a Hearing

4.6 Engineering as a Guild and Engineering Education

Bibliography

5 Comparing Approaches to the Philosophy of Engineering: Including the Linguistic Philosophical Approach

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Six Basic Types

5.3 Toward a Linguistic Philosophy of Engineering

5.4 Conclusion

References

6 Focussing Philosophy of Engineering: Analyses of Technical Functions and Beyond

6.1 Introduction

6.2 The Eccentric Development of the ICE Theory

6.3 The Limited Use of the ICE Theory in Engineering

6.4 Focussing the ICE Theory on Philosophy of Technology

References

7 Philosophy, Engineering, and the Sciences

7.1 Introduction; Problems with the Old Story

7.2 Examples of Applied Science

7.3 A Transcendental Argument for Engineering Priority

7.4 Conclusion

References

8 Engineering Science as a Discipline of the Particular? Types of Generalization in Engineering Sciences

8.1 Sciences of the Particular: A Contradiction in Terms?

8.2 Generalization, Abstraction and Idealization

8.3 Taking an Empirical Turn

8.4 Four Case Studies

8.4.0 Case 1: Microwave Oven Characteristics

8.4.0 Case 2: Transmitter Pentodes

8.4.0 Case 3: High-Speed Sparking Machinery Equipment

8.4.0 Case 4: An Evacuated Tubular Solar Collector with Heat Pipe

8.5 Analysis of the Types of Generalization in the Case Studies

8.6 Conclusions

References

9 How the Models of Engineering Tell the Truth

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Theoretical Background on Explanation, Laws and Models

9.3 Paradigm Cases of Engineering

9.3.1 Flush Riveting

9.3.2 Control Volume Analysis

9.3.3 Numerical and Physical Models Used in the Failure Analysis of the New Orleans Levees

9.3.3.1 Finite Element Analysis Models (IPET 2007, V-45-V-52)

9.3.3.2 Limit Equilibrium Assessment Model (IPET 2007, V-41-V-43)

9.3.3.3 Centrifuge Models (IPET 2007, V-43-V-45)

9.4 Conclusion: How the Models of Engineering Tell the Truth

References

10 Limits to Systems Engineering

10.1 Electricity and Electric Power Systems

10.1.1 Physical and Technical Characteristics

10.1.2 History and Governance

10.2 The Concept of Boundary in Systems Engineering

10.2.1 Boundary in Systems Engineering Literature; Three Distinctions

10.2.1.1 Two Kinds of Boundaries

10.2.1.2 Two Uses of Boundary in Systems Engineering

10.2.1.3 Two Understandings of System in Systems Engineering

10.3 Function, Control and Design, and the Limits of Systems Engineering

10.3.1 Function

10.3.2 Control

10.3.3 Design

References

Part II Ethics

11 Integrity and the Ethical Responsibilities of Engineers

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Engineers and How They are Perceived

11.3 Engineering: The Unique Profession

11.4 What is Integrity?

References

12 Prioritising People: Outline of an Aspirational Engineering Ethic

12.1 Introduction

12.2 Ethical Viewpoints

12.3 The Priority of People

12.4 The Practice of Engineering

12.5 The Life of the Individual Engineer

12.6 Practical Outcomes

References

13 Ethical Principles for Engineers in a Global Environment

13.1 Introduction

13.2 A Global Approach to Engineering Ethics

13.3 Foundations for Analysis of Ethical Issues

13.3.1 Problems of Ethical Theory

13.3.2 Problems of Casuistry in a Global Context

13.3.3 The Important Role of Reason

13.3.4 Role Responsibilities and Engineers

13.4 Foundation for Principles of Engineering Ethics

13.4.1 The Nature of Ethics

13.4.2 The Nature of Engineering

13.4.3 Deriving the Principles

13.5 Foundational Principles of Engineering Ethics

13.5.1 The Principle of Public Safety

13.5.2 The Principle of Human Rights

13.5.3 The Principle of Environmental and Animal Preservation

13.5.4 The Principle of Engineering Competence

13.5.5 The Principle of Scientifically Founded Judgment

13.5.6 The Principle of Openness and Honesty

13.6 Limitations of the Discussion

References

14 Professional Ethics Without a Profession: A French View on Engineering Ethics

14.1 Introduction

14.2 Engineering Ethics: Professional Ethics, Applied Ethics, or Something Else?

14.2.1 Is Professional Ethics Inherent to Professions?

14.2.2 Is Engineering a Profession?

14.2.3 Engineering Ethics as Contextualized Ethics

14.3 What is Engineering?

14.3.1 Engineering as Humanism

14.3.2 Questioning the Amorality of Engineering

14.3.3 Engineering in the Literature

14.3.4 Towards a Definition of Engineering as a Technical Act

14.4 How are the Engineers Concerned by Engineering Ethics?

14.4.1 The Legitimacy of the Engineers

14.4.2 The Knowledge of the Engineers

14.4.3 The Power of Engineers

14.5 Conclusions

References

15 Imagining Worlds: Responsible Engineering Under Conditions of Epistemic Opacity

15.1 Introduction

15.2 Two Approaches to Moral Responsibility

15.2.1 Transparency

15.2.2 Opacity

15.3 Imagining Worlds

15.3.1 Moral Imagination and Technology: Jonas and Anders

15.3.2 Senses of ''World''

15.3.3 Reconstructing a World of Offshore Engineering: The ''case'' of Snorre A

15.4 Conclusions

References

16 Transferring Responsibility Through Use Plans

16.1 Introduction

16.2 Responsibility and Control

16.3 Use Plans

16.4 Combining Approaches

16.5 The Abcoude Dosing Lock: A Test Case

16.6 Conclusion

References

17 Design Problems and Ethics

17.1 Introduction

17.2 Ethics in Engineering

17.3 An Evil Genius of an Engineer

17.4 Benign by Design

17.5 Quantitative Versus Qualitative Problems

References

18 Ethics in Innovation: Cooperation and Tension

18.1 Introduction

18.2 The Innovation

18.3 Ethical Issues

18.4 Risks and Responsibilities

18.5 New Engineering Directions

18.6 The Role of the Ethicists

18.7 Conclusions and Further Research

References

19 Teaching Ethics to Engineering Students: From Clean Concepts to Dirty Tricks

19.1 Introduction

19.2 Description and Analysis of the Original Challenger Role Game

19.3 Description of the Conceptual Background of the New Role Game ToFlyOrNotToFly

19.3.1 Ethical Balancing is Not a Well Defined Event in Time but the Outcome of a Process

19.3.2 Hard Engineering Procedures and Models Can Also Lead to Conflicting Results

19.3.3 The Effect of External Opinions and Public Pressure

19.3.4 Financial Aspects Play a Major Role, Both in Realityand in the Game

19.3.5 Often Participants in Ethical DeliberationsAre No Strangers to Each Other but Have a Past and a Mutual Relation

19.4 Analysis of the Ethical Aspects of the Deliberations, Actions and Other Events in the Game

19.5 Experiences With the New Role Game

19.6 Conclusion: Communication Process and Moral Dualism

References

20 A Collaborative Platform for Experiments in Ethicsand Technology

20.1 Introduction

20.2 NERD Goals and Problems

20.2.1 Morally Serious Data

20.2.2 Empirically Sound Experiments

20.3 NERD Design and Results

20.3.1 Surveys

20.3.2 Experiments

20.3.3 Exploratory Data

20.4 Conclusion: Stress Testing Ethical Decision Making and Assumptions

References

Part III Reflection

21 Why Philosophy? Why Now? Engineering Responds to the Crisis of a Creative Era

21.1 Introduction

21.2 Strange Bedfellows

21.3 Then and Now

21.3.1 World War II and Engineering Today

21.3.2 Missed Revolutions

21.3.3 The Technoeconomics of Now

21.3.4 Friedman, Florida, Pink and All That

21.4 Kuhn and the Response to Crisis

21.5 Engineering, the Centripetal Os, and the Missing O

21.6 Three Lessons of Philosophy for Postmodern Engineers

21.6.1 Socrates 101: Creative Times and Asking and Answering Good Questions

21.6.2 Aristotle 102: Naming and Data Mining in Creative Engineering

21.6.3 Searle 103: Brute Facts, Social Facts and Postmodern Engineering

21.7 Conclusions

References

22 A World of Things Not Facts

22.1 Wittgenstein the Engineer

22.2 Science, Engineering and the Two Wittgensteins

22.3 Engineering Knowledge

22.4 The Lessons of a Philosophy of Engineering

22.4.1 Engineering and Cartesian Doubt

22.4.2 Engineering and the Pessimistic Induction

22.5 Conclusion

References

23 Architecting Engineering Systems

23.1 Introduction

23.2 Tree Structures

23.3 Platform-Based Architectures

23.4 Network-Based Architectures

23.5 Attitudes Toward Engineering in Various Cultures

23.6 The System Design and Management Program

23.7 Summary

References

24 Bits Dont Have Error Bars: Upward Conceptualization and Downward Approximation

24.1 Turning Dreams into Reality

24.2 Subjective Experience and Levels of Abstraction

24.2.1 The Hard Problem of Consciousness

24.2.2 Levels of Abstraction

24.2.3 Functional Decomposition vs. Stigmergic Design

24.2.4 Subjective Experience as a Level of Abstraction

24.3 Thought Externalization: Engineering is to Sculpture as Computer Science is to Music

24.3.1 The Bit: Where Thought and Matter Meet

24.4 Static and Functional Structures

24.4.1 Stigmergic Design and Upward Conceptualization

24.4.2 Functional Decomposition and Downward Approximation

24.5 Summary

References

25 Metaphysics of Engineering

25.1 Introduction

25.2 Background

25.3 Wittgenstein

25.4 Peirce and Brunner

25.5 Grammar of Certitude in Infinitesimals

25.6 Grammar of Certitude in Engineering Mesofinitesimals

25.7 Grammar of Certitude in Engineering Numbers

25.8 Summary and Conclusions

References

26 Engineering Determinacy: The Exclusiveness of Technology and the Presence of the Indeterminate

26.1 Introduction

26.2 Indeterminacy as a Key to the 20th Century

26.3 The Role of Technology

26.4 Technology and Determinacy

26.5 How Technology is Made Possible

26.6 The Question of Exclusivity and Heideggers Answer

26.7 Logical vs. Transcendental Reflection: Janich and Hubig

26.8 The Absoluteness of the Negation

26.9 Conclusion

References

27 Quo Vadis, Humans? Engineering the Survival of the Human Species

27.1 Introduction

27.2 Definition of Engineering Method

27.2.1 The Heuristic

27.2.2 The Best

27.2.2.1 The Engineer's Good

27.2.2.2 Plato's Good

27.2.2.3 Comparison of the Engineer's and Plato's Notions of Good

27.2.3 The State-of-the-Art

27.2.3.1 Sota0 individual, time

27.2.3.2 Sota0 best engineering practice, time

27.3 Universal Method

27.3.1 Expanding the Scope of the Heuristic: All is Heuristic

27.3.1.1 Science as Sota0 Science, time

27.3.1.2 Philosophy as Sota0 philosophy, time

27.3.1.3 Engineering as Sota0 engineering, time

27.4 Framework for Engineering Human Survival

27.4.1 Survival of the Human Species

27.4.1.1 Sota0 human, time

27.4.1.2 Sota0 survival, time

27.4.2 Promised Framework for Human Survival

27.5 The Framework: Characteristics and Sample Heuristics

27.5.1 Some Important Characteristics of Sota0 overall, time

27.5.1.1 Sample Vulnerabilities and Specific Heuristics of Sota0 overall, time

27.5.2 Sample Heuristics in Sota0 heuristics for human survival, time

27.5.2.1 Definition of a Metaheuristic

27.5.2.2 Example Metaheuristics

27.6 Conclusions

References

27.7 Appendix: Multi-Attribute Decision Theory

27.0.0 A Very Brief Introduction to Multi-Attribute Decision Theory

28 The Focal Engineering Experience

28.1 Introduction

28.2 Engineering: Past and Present

28.3 Engineering the Future

28.4 Engineering Ethics

28.5 Experience

28.6 Assessment

28.7 The Ethics Engine

28.8 So What?

References

Index