From a talk given at FIE2013 (fie2013.org) Discusses how using a knowledge-driven epistemology can be helpful in understanding the foundations of engineering as a discipline.

1. Knowledge Generation
Epistemology & the
Foundations of Engineering
Stephen Frezza, Ph. D., C.S.D.P.
FIE 2013
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2. Philosophy of Engineering
Answer
question of
meaning:
To
practice engineering
To be an engineer
To
Inform
What
we do and how
What and how we teach
FIE 2013
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3. What is Engineering?
En·gi·neer·ing [en-juh-neer-ing]
Noun
1. the art or science of making practical application of
the En·gi·neer·ing pure sciences, as physics or
knowledge of [en-juh-neer-ing]
Noun
chemistry, as in the construction of engines, bridges,
The creative application chemical plants.
buildings, mines, ships, andof scientific principles to
2. the design or develop structures, machines, apparatus, or
action, work, or profession of an engineer.
manufacturing processes, or works utilizing them
3. skillful or artful contrivance; maneuvering.
singly or in combination...
FIE 2013
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4. Voices of a discipline
En·gi·neer·ing [en-juh-neer-ing]
Noun
1. the art or science of making practical application of
the En·gi·neer·ing pure sciences, as physics or
knowledge of [en-juh-neer-ing]
Noun
En·gi·neer·ing [en-juh-neer-ing]
chemistry, as in the construction of engines, bridges,
The creative application chemical plants.
Noun
buildings, mines, ships, andof scientific principles to
En·gi·neer·ing [en-juh-neer-ing]
2. the design or develop structures, machines, apparatus, solve
action, practical profession of an engineer. math to or
The work, or application of science and
Noun
manufacturing
3. En·gi·neer·ing [en-juh-neer-ing] works utilizing them
skillfulproblems... processes, maneuvering.
or artful contrivance; or
1.
singly application of science, mathematics, and
Noun the or in combination...
economics to meet the needs of humankind.
The application of scientific, economic, social and
2. the art of directing the to design, build and
practical knowledge in order great sources of power in
nature for the use and convenience of man”
maintain structures, machines, devices, systems,
appropriate solution
materials and processes... to a problem or objective...
FIE 2013
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5. What is Engineering?
Do
we really know what it means:
To
practice engineering
To be an engineer
Why
do we believe this?
Justified
belief
Agreement – social
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6. Knowledge and epistemology
Knowledge
as Justified Belief
Justified,
True Belief
What an individual knows
Process
Finding
the form, pattern, meaning
Understanding vs. misunderstanding
Necessarily social
FIE 2013
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7. Justified True Belief
 Conditions
for assessing evidence
 Assessed
for reasonableness
 Timeliness, precision, comprehensiveness, universality, and/or
completeness
 Evidence
is adequate when
 The
conditions necessary for true belief are met
 Conditions assessed for reasonableness
 Knowing
 New
reaches a “virtually unconditioned” state
evidence needed to challenge belief
Reasonableness: Norm of belief
FIE 2013
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8. Pragmatic View of Knowledge
Knowing relies on …
 The
individual mental state?
 The community criteria for reasonableness?
Pragmatic knowing relies on …
action: The control it gives us over the quality of
The
our future experience
Rabbit
 “Is it really so” relaxed to “Does it really apply?” Hole
 Successful
Assessed by acceptable use
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9. Examining Engineering Foundations:
Science
Classical
Engineering
& statistical
Heuristic
Dynamic
methods
Dynamic process
process
judged
by its usefulness
depends on the social and
historical situations of the
problem and the problem
solvers
ever
more refined
approximations of
objective truth
constantly criticizing the
approximation as it is
currently known
FIE 2013
methods
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10. Knowledge Generation Goals
Science
Engineering
Idealistic
Pragmatic
Success
Success
derived from
theory
Valued for explanation,
correctness
Universal, reliable,
comprehensive,
sufficiently precise
FIE 2013
derived from
pattern
Valued for usefulness of
artifact produced
Socially located, timely,
understood, sufficiently
precise
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11. Pedagogical Implications
Science Learning
Success
Engineering Learning
derived from
Success
derived from
theory
pattern
Valued for explanation,
Valued for usefulness of
correctness
artifact produced
Universal, reliable,
Socially located, timely,
comprehensive,
understood, sufficiently
sufficiently precise Science precise
Engineering
FIE 2013
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12. Valuing the Engineering Solution
Timeliness
Completeness
Sufficiently
Science
precise
Delivered
Matches
Engineering
situational and social
context
Best as the enemy of the good
FIE 2013
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13. Implications for engineering
education
Fill-in-the-blank
Science:
What
is learned? Why?
Mostly science
Engineering
Science
Engineering
course
Communicating
engineering values
Program
development &
accreditation
Engineering
component
Science & Math component
FIE 2013
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Self-selection
Exploring
and retention
engineering
values, not just technology

14. Affective Learning
What
the student values
More
than cognitive
Values translate to actions
Can be defined and assessed
Sufficiency
 “As
good as… Better than… Good
enough…”
Judged by social situation
Usefulness
Judged
FIE 2013
by the problem as known
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Science
Engineering