28/03/2017

ENGG1000 History & Philosophy of Engineering Week 4  ENGG1000 History & Philosophy of Engineering Week 4 

Introduction to Methodology & Intro to Methodology & Philosophy of

Philosophy of Engineering Engineering

• What is methodology?

• Methods used in a field of study

• Methods/techniques used in an area of knowledge
• Methods/techniques used in a Profession

• Systematic study of these methods/techniques

Dr. Rod Fiford Dr. Rod Fiford

School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering

ENGG1000 History & Philosophy of Engineering Week 4  ENGG1000 History & Philosophy of Engineering Week 4 

Methodology of Engineering Methodology of Engineering

• What methods have you used to learn “Engineering” as • The practice and process of Engineering
a student?
• What does it mean to “be an Engineer”?
• What methods have you used to learn “Engineering”
during industrial placement (if you have done it)?
• What “methods” does an Engineer use to do
“engineering?”
• How do you think you will continue to learn
“Engineering” after graduation?

Dr. Rod Fiford Dr. Rod Fiford

School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering

1
 28/03/2017

ENGG1000 History & Philosophy of Engineering Week 4  ENGG1000 History & Philosophy of Engineering Week 4 

Some Processes of Engineering Philosophy of Engineering

• Application of science and mathematics
• How can elements of philosophy aid the practice of
• Use of standards and established processes engineering?
• Creative problem identification and solving
• Creative design • If philosophy is mostly about “thinking” and engineering
• Constrained optimisation of designs about “doing”, how can the two come together?
• Feasibility studies
• Reasoned decision making • Can philosophy aid engineers in making better decisions
and if so, how?
• Production processes
• Quality control and monitoring
• Critical thinking skills
• Generating alternatives and selecting feasible solutions
• Turning ideas & new knowledge into usable
ideas/products • Online discussion of these questions.

Dr. Rod Fiford Dr. Rod Fiford

School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering

ENGG1000 History & Philosophy of Engineering Week 4  ENGG1000 History & Philosophy of Engineering Week 4 

Philosophy of Engineering Philosophy of Engineering

• Engineering is generally taught from a technical
viewpoint • A “philosophy of engineering” needs to:
• Broader social issues are not covered in much detail • Consider the character and significance of engineering
activities and established procedures
• What are some of these social issues?
• Consider the nature of engineering knowledge and how it
• Ethics is learned and developed
• Environmental impacts • Consider the role in engineering of art, aesthetics,
• Safety and risk creativity and judgement
• Employment • Consider the interaction between engineers and society
• Energy use
• Resource control/use • Engineering education and professional development
• Engineers need to learn to make “value judgements” needs to incorporate aspects of this philosophy to
further the development of engineering as a profession.
• Advances in technology should lead to social progress or
respond to social demand
• Engineers are people, they can make mistakes
Dr. Rod Fiford Dr. Rod Fiford
School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering

2
 28/03/2017

ENGG1000 History & Philosophy of Engineering Week 4 

Bibliography
• Johnston, S. Gostelow, P., Jones, E. 1999 Engineering and Society, an
Australian perspective. Longman, South Melbourne

• Harms, A., Baetz, B. Volti, R., 2005 Engineering in time – the systematics of
engineering history and its contemporary context. Imperial College Press,
London.

Dr. Rod Fiford

School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering