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Engineering and Philosophy of Engineering
Yin Ruiyu1, Li Bocong2
1. Central Iron & Steel Research Institute
2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Beijing, June 3, 2014
Content
Introduction
Observing Engineering from Different Viewpoints
Engineering Ontology and “Derived Theory of
Engineering”
Key points of Engineering Ontology
Engineering Meets Philosophy ---- The
Emergency of Philosophy of Engineering
1
Introduction
At the beginning of the 21st century, philosophy
of engineering rises in the East and the West at
the same time.
2
Introduction
Within five years, from 2002 to 2007, four books
with philosophy of engineering in their titles
were published: An Introduction to Philosophy
of Engineering (Li, 2002), Engineering
Philosophy (Bucciarelli, 2003), Philosophy of
Engineering (Yin, et al., 2007) and Philosophy in
Engineering (Christensen, et al., 2007).
3
Introduction
Interestingly, three academies of engineering -
Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), the
United States National Academy of Engineering
(NAE) and Royal Academy of Engineering
(RAE) in UK – have independently paid
attention to philosophy of engineering. This is an
important sign of the rise of philosophy of
engineering.
4
Introduction
The Division of Engineering Management of
CAE has finished three research projects on
philosophy of engineering since 2004 and
published three books: Philosophy of
Engineering (first and second edition) (Yin, et al.
2007, 2013) and Theory of Engineering
Evolution (Yin, et al., 2011) .
5
Introduction
Chinese engineers and philosophers consider
engineering ontology the core issue of
philosophy of engineering (Yin & Li, 2013). In
this presentation engineering ontology will be
briefly discussed.
6
Introduction
Engineering is the direct productive force that
runs dynamically and feasibly, and creates
values. It serves as a material basis for the
existence and development of the human society.
The engineering activity reflects the relationship
not only between human beings and nature, but
also between human beings and society.
Therefore, it should be surveyed and studied
through the triist relationship among “nature-
human beings-society” (Figure 1). Under no
circumstance may such activity be simply deemed
as the “purely technical activity” or “purely
economic activity”. Engineering may not be
simply summarized as the “application of
science” as well.
7
Introduction
Human
Beings
Nature Society
Philosophy of
Engineering
Engineering Activity
Figure 1 Engineering Activity at a
Position in the triism of “Nature-
Human Beings-Society (Yin, et
al., 2007, p. 1)
The engineering activity embodies the
comprehensive integration for the elemental
configuration between nature and human beings,
and the related processes on conception,
decision, planning, design, construction, running,
management, etc. It thus is value-orientated.
Philosophy is a process to pursue the “Tao
(道)” and to ask and probe into fundamental
questions about the essence and laws of the
world, as well as the meaning of human life. And
human beings should guide and standardize all
kinds of practical activity based on their
perception and comprehension on the “Tao”. 8
Introduction
During the history of human beings,
engineering serves as a fundamental form of
practice all the time.
Engineering appears before the emergence of
technology and science, and thus should be the
topic on which philosophy focuses.
At the beginning of the 21st century,
philosophy of engineering is an important field
of the practical philosophy.
9
Introduction
2. Observing Engineering from Different
Viewpoints
From the view of modern knowledge, a relevant
knowledge chain exists between the nature and
the society.
It is a complicated knowledge chain and a multi-
layers knowledge network where complicated
relationships exist among different links and
layers. Figure 2 represents a brief graph.
10
Part II
11
Part II
Economic Benefit
Politics
Culture
Economy
Res
ou
rce
Sca
le
Cap
ital
Sca
le
Economic Benefit & Environmental
Coordination
Exploration &
Understanding
on Nature Eco
no
mic
Goal
Pu
bli
c-w
elfa
re G
oal
Nature
Knowledge Chain
Science
Technology
Engineering
Industry
Economy
Society
Figure 2 Relationships among the Knowledge Chain and the Expansion
Process of Resource & Capital Scale (Yin, et al., 2007, p. 7)
The knowledge chain is a way used to
understand the logical relationship, rather than an
inheritable relationship of historical time
sequence.
12
“Different projections” on engineering will be
gained when observing engineering from
different viewpoints, and different perception
on engineering itself will be thus obtained.
13
Part II
Economic Benefit
Politics
Culture
Economy
Res
ou
rce
Sca
le
Cap
ital
Sca
le
Economic Benefit & Environmental
Coordination
Exploration &
Understanding
on Nature Eco
no
mic
Goal
Pu
bli
c-w
elfa
re G
oal
Nature
Knowledge Chain
Science
Technology
Engineering
Industry
Economy
Society
From the view of economy, it may be
concluded that the investment is a
fundamental element of engineering
activity. The material engineering activity is
a specific carrying entity of the economic
operation, as well as the main content and
form of substantial economy.
(1) From the view of economy:
14
Part II
Economic Benefit
Politics
Culture
Economy
Res
ou
rce
Sca
le
Cap
ital
Sca
le
Economic Benefit & Environmental
Coordination
Exploration &
Understanding
on Nature Eco
no
mic
Goal
Pu
bli
c-w
elfa
re G
oal
Nature
Knowledge Chain
Science
Technology
Engineering
Industry
Economy
Society
From the view of industry, it may be
concluded that engineering is a primary unit
of industry and relevant engineering entities
of the same type are the “cells” of the
industry. Engineering usually has the
industry features. Different types of
engineering may form different industries .
(2) From the view of industry
15
Part II
Economic Benefit
Politics
Culture
Economy
Res
ou
rce
Sca
le
Cap
ital
Sca
le
Economic Benefit & Environmental
Coordination
Exploration &
Understanding
on Nature Eco
no
mic
Goal
Pu
bli
c-w
elfa
re G
oal
Nature
Knowledge Chain
Science
Technology
Engineering
Industry
Economy
Society
From the view of technology, it may be
concluded that engineering is a collection of
technology. The technological knowledge,
methods and equipment are the indispensable
premise and basis for engineering activity.
Neither may a single technology form
engineering, nor may engineering simply consist
of a single technology.
(3) From the view of technology
16
Part II
Economic Benefit
Politics
Culture
Economy
Res
ou
rce
Sca
le
Cap
ital
Sca
le
Economic Benefit & Environmental
Coordination
Exploration &
Understanding
on Nature Eco
no
mic
Goal
Pu
bli
c-w
elfa
re G
oal
Nature
Knowledge Chain
Science
Technology
Engineering
Industry
Economy
Society
From the view of science, the difference
between science and engineering will be
found firstly. Science is truth-oriented, while
engineering (including technology) is value-
oriented and efficiency-oriented . The
characteristic of science is to explore and
discover the composition and nature of things,
as well as their rules of movement.
(4) From the view of science
17
Part II
Economic Benefit
Politics
Culture
Economy
Res
ou
rce
Sca
le
Cap
ital
Sca
le
Economic Benefit & Environmental
Coordination
Exploration &
Understanding
on Nature Eco
no
mic
Goal
Pu
bli
c-w
elfa
re G
oal
Nature
Knowledge Chain
Science
Technology
Engineering
Industry
Economy
Society
From the view of natural resources,
it may be concluded that specific
natural resources are the basic
premise and foundation for the
engineering activity.
(5) From the view of natural resources
18
Part II
“Materials” refer to the “substance” without
any value difference in physics, while “natural
resources” refer to the “substance” with
different value in engineering.
The resource-based view of the engineering
activity is greatly different from the substance-
based view of natural science in their meanings
and contents.
3. Engineering Ontology and “Derived Theory
of Engineering”
The views of engineering ontology are greatly
different from those of the derived/subordinate
theory of engineering. The former believes that
engineering takes an ontological or root position,
and it must be adhered to understand engineering
from the view of engineering itself. The latter,
however, believes that engineering only takes an
“subordinate” or “derived” position.
19
Part IV
Some people “habitually” regard engineering as
the “application of science”. This view is
historically flawed and needs to be theoretically
discussed, but it has become a “mainstream” one
in the whole world. This flaw was revealed by the
fact that the modern science only has been
developed for few hundreds of years in human
history, while the human engineering activity has
been developed for more than thousands upon
thousands of years. Engineering cannot be the
application of science at that time.20
Part IV
Admittedly, the relationship between science and
engineering becomes closer and complicated after
the formation of modern science. After the first
industrial revolution, there are many phenomena
which indicate that the engineering activity might
rely on the science knowledge, and the engineering
knowledge is derived from the science knowledge.
But the further analysis and studies prove that it is
not the case. If the purpose and social significance
and other related issues of engineering are taken into
account, the view that engineering is simply deemed
as the “application of science” cannot be supported. 21
Part IV
Theoretically speaking, the crucial and central
point of the thesis that engineering is merely the
“application of science” lies in denying the root
position of engineering. Just as above mentioned,
engineering has ontological status, which means
that engineering is neither a derivative of science,
a derivative of technology, nor a derivative of
investment.
22
Part IV
The engineering ontology believes that the
engineering activity is not derivative but the root.
Engineering activity is the practical and direct
productive force that is generated, developed and
constantly evolved for the survival, reproduction
and development of human beings.
Engineering emerged earlier than science, and
engineering activity is the material basis for the
existence and development of the society. Human
beings would not survive without engineering
activity. 23
Part IV
From the point of view of engineering ontology, it
must be concluded that though the close
relationship among engineering, science and
technology may not be denied, it does not mean
that engineering is subordinate to science and that
engineering is subordinate to investment activity
as well.
24
Part IV
Of course, it must be emphasized that as far as
engineering is concerned, technology is the
essential connotation and science is the important
supporting factor of knowledge. Engineering has
the undeniable “ontological” position, and cannot
be deemed as the derivative or dependency on
science and technology.
25
Part IV
Due to the “root” position, engineering cannot be
separated from its elements, and also should select and
integrate elements according to certain value objectives
and criteria. The mechanisms of engineering selection,
integration and construction are the bridge to connect
the “root” theory and elements theory of engineering.
26
Part IV
The characteristics of engineering activity should be
comprehended and analyzed from the view of
engineering ontology. The engineering activities aim
at making artifacts through selection, integration and
construction and at optimization of elements,
structure, functions and efficiency under certain
boundary conditions.
The connotation and elements of engineering may be
represented as the model below (Figure 3).
27
Part IV
28
Part IV
Figure 3 The Connotation of Engineering and Its Elements and Integration (Yin, et al., 2011, p. 29)
Generally speaking, engineering is a material
operating process of allocating all kinds of
resources efficiently by using knowledge
purposefully, planned and organized, and
constructing and operating an “artificial entity”
through optimized selection and dynamic and
effective integration with different kinds of
elements and means of production.
29
Part IV
4. Key points of Engineering Ontology
The above analysis about engineering
ontology can be attributed to the following
points.
30
Part V
(1) Engineering ontology is a philosophical
discussion about the origin, matrix and root of
engineering. The so-called engineering ontology is
to observe engineering from the view of human
survival and development, in particular, to clarify
the fundamental position and role of engineering
activity in human survival and social development
as well as in the construction and re-establishment
of the relationship between man and nature, man
and society, etc., under philosophical visions.
31
Part V
(2)Engineering activity is the foundation of human
survival and development; as a real productive
force, it is also the basic way and strength to
promote social development. Engineering ontology
emphasizes the ontological status of engineering as
a real productivity, as well as the broad values and
fundamental values of engineering activity.
32
Part V
(3) Engineering ontology is the theoretical basis
for the triism of “science, technology, and
engineering”. Engineering ontology believes that
engineering has its own basis of existence,
structure, motion and law of development, and its
own goals and pursuit of value. Engineering
cannot be simply considered as a derivative of
science or technology.
33
Part V
(4) To observe engineering from the view of
engineering ontology is:
to confirm the “root” and ontological position of
engineering, specifically, based on the evaluation
criteria of direct productive force;
to emphasize the process and function of selection,
integration and construction, by defining
engineering as the main body;
and to attach great importance to the features and
mechanisms of selection-integration-construction.
34
Part V
(5) Engineering cannot be deemed as a fixed
matter, because it is actually evolving all the time.
The interaction-joint-force among the driving
force, pulling force, braking force, and screening
force exists in the process and mechanism of the
gradual and sudden change. There is also a close
relationship between the studies on engineering
ontology and engineering evolution.
35
Part V
36
Part V
Fig 4 The Model of Dynamic System of Engineering Evolution (Yin, et al., 2011, p. 70)
Land
Supply
Resource
Supply
Energy
Supply
Social
Convention… …
New Procedure
New Equipment
New Resource
New CapitalEngineering
Inn
ovatio
n
Engineering Standards
Social Culture
Market Demand
Emerging Industry
Demand
Social Welfare
Needs
Environmental Capacity
Need
s
5. Engineering Meets Philosophy
---- The Emergency of Philosophy of Engineering
37
Part VII
Why and how does philosophy of engineering come into being?
When engineers realize the need for philosophy, and philosophers realize the need to face engineering, engineers and philosophers begin to establish the philosophy of engineering through their corporation.
Engineering
Philosophy of Engineering
Engineering Philosophy
Philosophy
In the new century, engineering should be a new
frontier for philosophy, and philosophy needs to
face engineering.
The new century needs new engineers, as well as
the new managers, and new philosophers.
New engineers, new managers, and new
philosophers need philosophy of engineering.
Let’s work on the philosophy of engineering
jointly !
38
Part VII
Thank you!