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.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|86 pages
Foundational Perspectives
part II|111 pages
Engineering Reasoning
part III|79 pages
Ontology
chapter 20|13 pages
Towards an Ontology of Innovation
part IV|82 pages
Engineering Design Processes
part V|78 pages
Engineering Activities and Methods
part VI|97 pages
Values in Engineering
part VII|100 pages
Responsibilities in Engineering Practice
chapter 47|15 pages
Engineering Practice and Engineering Policy
part VIII|100 pages
Reimagining Engineering