Philosophy of Engineering?

I see a few blogs on this subject and I wonder - how frequently do engineers ask themselves why do they do what they do?

Like all other professions, the body of knowledge that constitutes the sphere of engineering continues to grow. The education of engineers is thus forced to focus on increasingly specialised areas of knowledge with the threat that the greater meaning of engineering is lost.

At its heart, engineering is about production. Engineers take materials from the world about them and reshape them for the betterment of mankind. This requires a conscious effort and the application of logical thought to satisfy a perceived need.

As a logical process, engineering involves the formulation of concepts, the design of solutions and the creation of physical manifestations of those solutions. It utilises resources that may be inert, semi automated or even living and it is driven by an instinct for survival, a need for protection and desire to develop.

Engineering is not free to be applied at will to any perceived need, but must work within cultural constraints and adhere to the moral and ethical standards of the society in whose service it is employed. Not withstanding such limitations, its proponents do aspire to achieve the both artful and efficient utilisation of resources and the attainment of ultimate truth in the solutions derived from their efforts.

In essence, to grasp the greater meaning of engineering requires the development of philosophical concepts such as a cognitive awareness of life, self, others and the external world. This needs to be blended with a higher understanding of science, the environment and society. And as servants for society engineers, through their education, should acquire knowledge of a sense of duty, sentiment and humility.

Engineering is therefore not just about mathematics, design, experimentation and manufacture; it is about epistemology, ethics and metaphysics. If engineers desire to truly understand themselves, their profession and their role in society, they need to include in their education the study of philosophy and perhaps by that they may enrich even this learned field by developing their own philosophy of engineering.