SRMIST, RAMAPURAM

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Course Code: 21GNH101J Course Name: Philosophy of Engineering

UNIT 1: Introduction to Philosophy of Engineering

Define Engineering - History of Engineering Development - Practice 1: Compare Prehistory, Medieval and
Present Engineering Development - Relation between Arts, Mathematics, Science, Technology and Engineering
- STEAM Pyramid - Practice 2: STEAM Pyramid Analysis: Is Art Context Necessary? - Desired Attributes of an
Engineer - Engineering Habits of Mind - Practice 3: Case Study on Attributes of an Engineer.

Prepared by
Dr. N. PARTHIPAN
Assistant Professor,
Department of Mechanical Engg.
SRM-IST, Ramapuram
 Philosophy of Engineering

is the application of science

love of wisdom and mathematics to solve problems.

To understand fundamental truths about

something, the world in which it exists, and
their interaction and relationships.
 Philosophy makes you think
wise

 Philosophy - a tool for understanding the world, including its subjects and objects.

 Students of engineering - can build perspectives to look at the world around them.

 Philosophy guides them, suggests them, and shows them things beyond engines and machines.

 Engineering merely studies the techniques of the material world.

 Philosophy studies everything from a particle to the universe.

Studying philosophy is all about going to the roots and learning about the origin of everything, including
engineering

Philosophy Mother and sometimes queen of all

sciences
Why study philosophy?
1. General Problem-Solving Skills – (analyze concepts, definitions, arguments, and
problems)
2. Communication Skills – (explain difficult material and eliminate ambiguities and
vagueness)
3. Persuasive Powers – (learn to build and defend our own views)
4. Writing Skills – (interpretive, comparative, argumentative, and descriptive writing)
5. Understanding Other Disciplines – (essential in assessing the various standards
of evidence used by other disciplines)
6. Development of Sound Methods of Research and Analysis – (clear formulation
of ideas and problems, selection of relevant data, and objective methods for
assessing ideas and proposals
Why is philosophy important to
engineering?
 Helps engineers understand the ethical and societal implications of their work.
 Engineers often design and build things that have a significant impact on people's lives and
the environment.
 Helps engineers think critically about these impacts and consider the moral and ethical
implications of their work.
 Help engineers understand the broader context in which their work is taking place and make
decisions that align with the values and goals of society as a whole.

Philosophy helps engineers make responsible and

informed decisions that benefit everyone.
How is philosophy used in engineering
One example of an engineering project where philosophy played a key role in decision-making is
the development of autonomous vehicles.

Ethical and Decision-making in encounters a situation

Philosophic potentially life-threatening where it must make a split-
al questions situations. second decision to avoid a
collision

Autonomou to avoid hitting a maintaining its course

s vehicles pedestrian and potentially and colliding with the
endangering the vehicle pedestrian
occupants

• How should the vehicle prioritize the value of human life versus the
Philosophical
value of others?
questions arise
• Should the vehicle prioritize the safety of the occupants or the
greater good?
 Utilitarianism
(maximizing overall
welfare)

Decisions Help shape the

based on a algorithms and
Deontology decision-making
carefully Ethical processes
(following a set of
considered theories embedded in the
moral rules)
ethical vehicle's software.
framework Virtue ethics
(emphasizing
character and
virtues)

• Should the algorithm be programmed to prioritize minimizing harm to all parties involved
• Should it prioritize the safety of the occupants over others?
 • Who should be held responsible in the event of an
Liability and accident involving an autonomous vehicle?
Philosophy accountability • Should it be the vehicle manufacturer, the software
developer, or the vehicle owner?

These questions raise philosophical

debates about moral and legal
responsibility.

Philosophical Engineers can ensure that

the development and
perspectives and
deployment of any systems
engaging in ethical align with societal values
discussions and ethical principles

Philosophy provides a framework for grappling with the complex moral

dilemmas inherent in engineering projects, helping to shape the decision-
making processes and design considerations involved
w philosophy plays its role in the engineering profession?
 Ethical Decision Making - impact on the environment, public safety, and societal well-being.
 Values and Design Choices - reflect societal values (sustainability, privacy, and fairness) and
priorities
 Epistemology and Critical Thinking – validity, and reliability of information, identify
assumptions, and evaluate different perspectives. Examine arguments, identify logical fallacies,
and make sound judgments based on evidence and reasoning
 Social and Cultural Implications - understand the broader social and cultural contexts
(implications of engineering projects on different communities, cultures, and traditions)
 Interdisciplinary Collaboration - Engineers often work with professionals from diverse
backgrounds (ethicists, sociologists, and policymakers)
 Professional Ethics and Responsibility - Codes of ethics and professional conduct in
engineering (maintaining integrity, upholding professional standards, and serving the public
interest)
Is there any connection between ethics philosophy and
engineering?
 Ethical Decision Making

 Consideration of Stakeholders - interests, rights, and well-being of these stakeholders

 Balancing Conflicting Values –

 Engineers may need to balance safety with cost-effectiveness,

 Privacy with technological advancement

 Professional Responsibility –

 Integrity, ensuring public safety, and upholding ethical conduct

 Ethical Reflection and Critical Thinking –

 Question assumptions, evaluate the consequences of their actions, and assess the moral

implications

 Public Trust and Accountability -

 What is Engineering?
• Engineering can be defined as the application of scientific and mathematical principles
to design, create, innovate, and optimize systems, structures, processes, and products
that solve practical problems and meet human needs.
• It involves the use of knowledge, techniques, and tools from various fields to conceive,
plan, construct, and maintain artifacts or systems that serve a specific purpose.

Key defining characteristics of engineering include:

1. Problem-solving
2. Application of Science and Mathematics
3. Design and Creativity
4. Technology and Tools
5. Systematic Approach
6. Collaboration and Teamwork
7. Ethical and Social Considerations
History of Engineering Development
Ancient Engineering:

Prehistoric Era:
Humans developed simple tools and techniques for hunting, agriculture, and shelter
construction.
Humans devised fundamental inventions such as the pulley, lever, and wheel.

The term engineering itself has a The word “engine” itself is of

much more recent etymology, deriving even older origin, ultimately
from the word engineer, which itself deriving from the Latin ingenium (c.
dates back to 1325, when an engineer 1250), meaning “innate quality,
(literally, one who operates an especially mental power, hence a
engine) originally referred to a clever invention.”
constructor of military engines.
Ancient Engineering: (CIVIL Engineering started to evolve)

Ancient Mesopotamia (3500-300 BC) : Mesopotamian civilizations, such as the Sumerians and Babylonians, made
significant engineering contributions in areas like irrigation systems, city planning, and architectural structures.

Ancient Egypt (3100-332 BC) : The Egyptians built monumental structures like the pyramids, temples, and sphinxes,
employing advanced techniques in quarrying, construction, and surveying.

Ancient Greece (800-146 BC) : Greek engineers, mathematicians, and philosophers like Archimedes and Hero of
Alexandria laid the foundations of mechanics, geometry, and scientific inquiry.

Antikythera mechanism (predict astronomical positions and eclipses decades in

advance) required sophisticated knowledge of differential gearing or epicyclic gearing,

Two key principles in machine theory that helped design the gear trains of the
Industrial revolution and are still widely used today in diverse fields such
as robotics and automotive engineering.
Classical and Medieval Periods:
•Roman Empire (27 BC-476 AD):
•Roman engineers constructed aqueducts, roads, bridges, and impressive architectural
structures like the Colosseum.
•They developed advanced techniques in concrete construction and urban planning.

•Islamic Golden Age (8th-14th centuries):

•Islamic scholars and engineers made significant advancements in various fields, including
mathematics, optics, astronomy, and irrigation.
•They developed sophisticated water management systems, such as qanats and hydraulic
technologies.
•Medieval Europe (5th-15th centuries):
•Engineering during the medieval period focused on castle
construction, fortifications, and cathedral architecture.
•Gothic cathedrals, such as Notre-Dame and Chartres, showcased
innovative structural and architectural techniques.

•Chinese and Roman armies employed complex

military machines including
the Ballista and catapult.
•In the Middle Ages, the Trebuchet was developed.
Renaissance and Industrial Revolution:

The first electrical engineer is considered to be William Gilbert, with his 1600 publication of De Magnete,
who was the originator of the term "electricity".

The first steam engine was built in 1698 by mechanical engineer Thomas Savery. The development of this
device gave rise to the industrial revolution in the coming decades, allowing for the beginnings of mass
production.

With the rise of engineering as a profession in the eighteenth

century, the term became more narrowly applied to fields in which
mathematics and science were applied to these ends.

Similarly, in addition to military and civil engineering the fields

then known as the mechanic arts became incorporated into
engineering.
Modern Era

Electrical Engineering can trace its origins in the experiments of Alessandro Volta in the 1800s, the
experiments of Michael Faraday, Georg Ohm and others and the invention of the electric motor in 1872.

The work of James Maxwell and Heinrich Hertz in the late 19th century gave rise to the field
of Electronics.

The later inventions of the vacuum tube and the transistor further accelerated the development of
Electronics to such an extent that electrical and electronics engineers currently outnumber their colleagues of
any other Engineering specialty.
 Chemical Engineering, developed in the nineteenth century during the Industrial Revolution.

Industrial scale manufacturing demanded new materials and new processes and by 1880 the need
for large scale production of chemicals was such that a new industry was created, dedicated to the
development and large scale manufacturing of chemicals in new industrial plants.

The role of the chemical engineer was the design of these chemical plants and processes.

Aeronautical Engineering deals with aircraft design while Aerospace Engineering is a more
modern term that expands the reach envelope of the discipline by including spacecraft design.

the development of airplanes, helicopters, spacecraft, and satellite technology.

Computer and Information Technology:
•The digital age brought about rapid advancements in computer science, software engineering,
telecommunications, and information technology, leading to the birth of the internet and the digital
revolution.

Contemporary Engineering:
•Environmental Engineering: The need for sustainable practices and environmental protection has
spurred the growth of environmental engineering, focusing on areas such as waste management,
pollution control, and renewable energy.
•Biomedical Engineering: Advances in medical technology and healthcare have driven the
emergence of biomedical engineering, encompassing areas such as medical devices, imaging
technologies, and prosthetics.
•Emerging Technologies: Modern engineering is witnessing rapid advancements in fields such as
artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology, and materials science, opening up new possibilities for
innovation and problem-solving.
Arts, Mathematics, Science, Technology and Engineering
STEAM Pyramid:
 Involve
creative imagination and an
aim to express technical
proficiency, beauty, emotional
power, or conceptual ideas
Painting

Art Sculpture
Architecture
Perceptually distinguishable categories

Media Styles Form Genre

 Non-motivated Art Motivated
functions functions

1. Basic human instinct for harmony, 1. Communication

balance, rhythm. 2. Art as entertainment
2. Experience of the mysterious 3. Art for political change
3. Expression of the imagination 4. Art as a "free zone“
4. Ritualistic and symbolic functions 5. Art for social inquiry, subversion or anarchy
6. Art for social causes
7. Art for psychological and healing purposes
8. Art for propaganda, or commercialism
9. Art as a fitness indicator
Mathematics
 Science of structure, order, and relation that has evolved from elemental practices of counting,
measuring, and describing the shapes of objects.
 It deals with logical reasoning and quantitative calculation, and its development has involved an
increasing degree of idealization and abstraction of its subject matter.
 Since the 17th century, mathematics has been an indispensable adjunct to the physical sciences and
technology, and in more recent times, it has assumed a similar role in the quantitative aspects of the
life sciences.
 All mathematical systems (for example, Euclidean geometry) are combinations of sets of principle
and of theorems that can be logically deduced from the axioms.
 Inquiries into the logical and philosophical basis of mathematics reduce to questions of whether the
rules of a given system ensure its completeness and its consistency
Science:

• is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form

of testable explanations and predictions about the world.

• The earliest roots of science can be traced to Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia in around 3000 to 1200 BCE

• The recovery and assimilation of Greek works and Islamic inquiries into Western Europe from the 10th to 13th

century revived "natural philosophy", which was later transformed by the Scientific Revolution that began in

the 16th century[10] as new ideas and discoveries departed from previous Greek conceptions and traditions.

• The scientific method soon played a greater role in knowledge creation

• After 19th century, many of the institutional and professional features of science began to take shape; along

with the changing of "natural philosophy" to "natural science."

Modern science is typically divided into three major branches

 Natural sciences (e.g., biology, chemistry, and physics), which study nature in the broadest sense;

 Social sciences (e.g., economics, psychology, and sociology), which study individuals and societies; and

 Formal sciences (e.g., logic, mathematics, and theoretical computer science), which deal with symbols

governed by rules.

 Disciplines that use existing scientific knowledge for practical purposes, such as engineering and

medicine, are described as applied sciences.

Technology:

The word "technology" can also be used to refer to a collection of techniques.

In this context, it is the current state of humanity's knowledge of how to combine resources to produce desired
products, to solve problems, fulfill needs, or satisfy wants; it includes technical methods, skills, processes, techniques,
tools and raw materials.

"State-of-the-art technology" refers to the high technology available to humanity in any field.

Technology is the application of mathematics, science, and the arts for the benefit of life as it is known.

A modern example is the rise of communication technology, which has lessened barriers to human interaction and
as a result, has helped spawn new subcultures;

the rise of cyberculture has at its basis the development of the Internet and the computer.

As a cultural activity, technology predates both science and engineering, each of which formalizes some aspects of
technological endeavour.
Distinction between Science, engineering, and technology
Science is systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and
experimentation.

Engineering is the goal-oriented process of designing and making tools and systems to exploit natural
phenomena for practical human means, often (but not always) using results and techniques from science.

The development of technology may draw upon many fields of knowledge, including scientific,
engineering, mathematical, linguistic, and historical knowledge, to achieve some practical result.

Technology is often a consequence of science and engineering, although technology as a human activity
precedes the two fields.

Technologies are not usually exclusively products of science, because they have to satisfy requirements such
as utility, usability, and safety.
 Example
Science might study the flow of electrons in electrical conductors by using already-existing
tools and knowledge.

This newfound knowledge may then be used by engineers to create new tools and machines
such as semiconductors, computers, and other forms of advanced technology.

In this sense, scientists and engineers may both be considered technologists;

The three fields are often considered as one for the purposes of research and reference.
Relationship between arts, science, mathematics, technology, and
engineering

These fields often intersect and complement each other in various

ways, and their interplay can lead to innovation and progress.

Science and Mathematics:

•Foundation of Science: Mathematics serves as the language of science, providing the tools and

framework for describing and understanding natural phenomena. Mathematical models and equations are

used to represent and predict scientific phenomena.

•Quantitative Analysis: Mathematics is essential for quantitative analysis in science, helping scientists

collect and interpret data, make predictions, and test hypotheses.

Science and Technology:

•Applied Science: Technology often emerges from scientific discoveries. Scientists develop new

knowledge and principles, which engineers and technologists can then apply to create practical solutions

and inventions.

•Research Tools: Technology provides scientists with advanced tools for experimentation, data collection,

and analysis, enhancing their ability to explore and understand the natural world.

Mathematics and Technology:

•Algorithm Development: Mathematics underpins algorithms, which are fundamental to the design of

software, computer programs, and digital technologies.

•Data Processing: Technology relies on mathematical methods for data processing, encryption,

compression, and other computational tasks.

Technology and Engineering:

•Application of Technology: Engineering applies technological principles and tools to design and build

practical systems, products, and infrastructure. Engineers use technology to solve real-world problems.

•Innovation and Development: Engineers often push the boundaries of existing technology to create

new and improved products and systems.

Science, Mathematics, and Engineering:

•Collaboration: Scientists, mathematicians, and engineers often collaborate to solve complex problems.

For example, in fields like aerospace engineering, physics, and materials science, multidisciplinary teams

work together to develop new technologies and innovations.

Arts and Technology/Engineering:

•Design Aesthetics: The arts influence the aesthetic and ergonomic aspects of technological and

engineering designs. Considerations of form, function, and user experience are essential in product and

system development.

•Media and Entertainment: Technology and engineering play a significant role in the creation and

distribution of art forms, including film, music, and digital media.

Arts and Science:
•Science Communication: The arts, particularly
literature, visual arts, and multimedia, are used to
communicate scientific concepts and discoveries
to the general public.
•Inspiration: Scientific discoveries often inspire
artistic creations, from paintings reflecting natural
phenomena to music inspired by scientific
concepts.
Summary
• These fields are interdependent and mutually supportive.

• Science and mathematics provide the foundation for understanding the natural world,

• Technology and engineering turn that understanding into practical applications

• The arts often help bridge the gap between these disciplines, making science and technology

more accessible and relatable to a broader audience.

• This interconnectedness fosters innovation and drives progress in various aspects of human

society.
Engineer Make things that work or Make things work better

• Engineers are the inventors, designers, analysers, and builders of our modern age.

• They create the machines, structures, and systems we use on a daily basis.

• Things Engineers must take into account when designing

 The constraints of physics,

 The confines of the manufacturing technology of the modern age,

 The limitations imposed by current material properties,

 Requirements in terms of health, safety and cost.

• Luckily, engineers are trained to recognize and solve these problems, but in order to recognize and solve
them, engineers have to have a very particular set of skills, skills acquired over a long career.

What are these skills?

Teamwork Logical thinking

Continuous Communication
learning skills
Desired
Creativity Attributes of Leadership
Engineer
Problem Mathematical
Solving ability

Analytical Attention to
ability detail
 ABET EC 2000 Engineering Accreditation Criteria (Criterion 3) In 1996 ABET (formerly the
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology)
 Adopted a new set of standards for undergraduate engineering education, called Engineering Criteria
2000 (EC2000) (ABET, 2014a).
 Shifted the focus of undergraduate engineering accreditation from lists of required courses to eleven
learning outcomes.

a. An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering appropriate to

discipline.

b. An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data

c. An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs

d. The ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams

e. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems

f. An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility

g. An ability to communicate effectively

h. The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and
societal context

i. A recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning

j. A knowledge of contemporary issues

k. An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering
practice
Engineering Habits of Mind:

A ‘habit of mind’ means “having a disposition

toward behaving intelligently when

confronted with problems” and valuing “one

pattern of thinking over another,” implying

“choice making about which pattern should be

employed” .
Systems thinking
 a holistic approach to problem-solving that involves looking at the bigger picture.
 It involves examining all the components of a system and how they interact with each other to
achieve a common goal.
 By understanding the relationships and dependencies between different parts of the system, it
becomes possible to identify the root causes of problems and address them effectively.
 Systems thinking is an important skill for professionals in a wide range of fields, from business and
engineering to healthcare and environmental science.

Problem finding
 Problem finding begins with the ability to recognize that there is a problem or opportunity for

improvement.

 This recognition may come from observing anomalies, discrepancies, or unmet needs in a particular

situation.

 Once a potential problem is recognized, it's essential to define it clearly and precisely.
Thank you