ABSTRACT

Engineering has always been a part of human life but has only recently become the subject matter of systematic philosophical inquiry. The Routledge Handbook of the Philosophy of Engineering presents the state-of-the-art of this field and lays a foundation for shaping future conversations within it. With a broad scholarly scope and 55 chapters contributed by both established experts and fresh voices in the field, the Handbook provides valuable insights into this dynamic and fast-growing field. The volume focuses on central issues and debates, established themes, and new developments in: 

    • Foundational perspectives 
    • Engineering reasoning 
    • Ontology 
    • Engineering design processes 
    • Engineering activities and methods 
    • Values in engineering 
    • Responsibilities in engineering practice 
    • Reimagining engineering 

The Routledge Handbook of the Philosophy of Engineering will be of value for both students and active researchers in philosophy of engineering and in cognate fields (philosophy of technology, philosophy of design). It is also intended for engineers working both inside and outside of academia who would like to gain a more fundamental understanding of their particular professional field. 

The increasing development of new technologies, such as autonomous vehicles, and new interdisciplinary fields, such as human-computer interaction, calls not only for philosophical inquiry but also for engineers and philosophers to work in collaboration with one another. At the same time, the demands on engineers to respond to the challenges of world health, climate change, poverty, and other so-called "wicked problems" have also been on the rise. These factors, together with the fact that a host of questions concerning the processes by which technologies are developed have arisen, make the current Handbook a timely and valuable publication.

chapter |7 pages

Introduction

part II|111 pages

Engineering Reasoning

part III|79 pages

Ontology

chapter 15|13 pages

Artifacts

chapter 16|11 pages

Engineering Objects

chapter 17|12 pages

Use Plans

chapter 18|18 pages

Function in Engineering

chapter 19|10 pages

Emergence in Engineering

chapter 20|13 pages

Towards an Ontology of Innovation

On the New, the Political-Economic Dimension and the Intrinsic Risks Involved in Innovation Processes

part IV|82 pages

Engineering Design Processes

chapter 21|11 pages

Engineering Design

chapter 22|15 pages

Values and Design

chapter 23|13 pages

Design Methods and Validation

chapter 25|14 pages

Sustainable Design

chapter 26|13 pages

Maintenance

part V|78 pages

Engineering Activities and Methods

chapter 27|12 pages

Measurement

chapter 28|11 pages

Models in Engineering and Design

Modeling Relations and Directions of Fit

chapter 29|14 pages

Scale Modeling

chapter 30|13 pages

Computer Simulations

chapter 31|14 pages

Experimentation

part VI|97 pages

Values in Engineering

chapter 34|21 pages

Engineering and Sustainability

Control and Care in Unfoldings of Modernity

chapter 36|12 pages

Trust in Engineering

chapter 37|15 pages

Aesthetics

chapter 38|12 pages

Health

chapter 39|11 pages

Philosophy of Security Engineering

part VII|100 pages

Responsibilities in Engineering Practice

chapter 41|11 pages

Autonomy in Engineering

chapter 42|11 pages

Standards in Engineering

chapter 43|12 pages

Professional Codes of Ethics

chapter 46|10 pages

Global Engineering Ethics

chapter 47|15 pages

Engineering Practice and Engineering Policy

The Narrative Form of Engineering Policy Advice

part VIII|100 pages

Reimagining Engineering

chapter 48|14 pages

Feminist Engineering and Gender

chapter 50|13 pages

Engineering and Social Justice

chapter 52|10 pages

Beyond Traditional Engineering

Green, Humanitarian, Social Justice, and Omnium Approaches