Work in progress: Abstraction as a vector: Distinguishing engineering and science

A goal of the philosophy of engineering and engineering education is to more clearly distinguish engineering and engineering education from science and science education. This paper advances the suggestion that one distinction between the activities of science and engineering is the role of abstract...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in2012 Frontiers in Education Conference Proceedings pp. 1 - 2
Main Authors Krupczak, J., Bassett, G.
Format Conference Proceeding
LanguageEnglish
Published IEEE 01.10.2012
Subjects
Abstracts
Conferences
Educational institutions
Engineering education
philosophy of engineering
philosophy of engineering education
Presses
USA Councils
Vectors
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Summary:A goal of the philosophy of engineering and engineering education is to more clearly distinguish engineering and engineering education from science and science education. This paper advances the suggestion that one distinction between the activities of science and engineering is the role of abstract thinking. Engineering and science both engage in abstract thinking, but the direction of the abstraction process points in different directions for the two disciplines. The view advanced in this paper may help to clarify the difference between engineering and science in a way that is less prone to value judgments based on supposed differences between pure and applied activity. Science proceeds towards abstract theory; engineering proceeds from the abstract idea of function.
ISBN:146731353X
9781467313537
ISSN:0190-5848
2377-634X
DOI:10.1109/FIE.2012.6462373