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!