Toward a philosophy of engineering and science in r & d settings
pp. 309-327
in: Paul T. Durbin (ed), Technology and responsibility, Berlin, Springer, 1987Abstract
A number of pleas have been made recently for a philosophy of engineering. What some people are looking for is a focus broader than just engineering ethics. Others, looking for a better perspective on philosophy of technology, feel that engineering or the engineering profession is the too-often-ignored, missing ingredient in most philosophies of technology. Still others feel that it is a matter of common sense to say that we need a philosophy of engineering — including both know-how and engineering science — to stand alongside contemporary philosophy of science. A more realistic version of this proposal might include various applied sciences — for example, industrial chemistry or biomedicine or operations research — along with engineering.