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11/21/21
Engineering as WillingThe Contingency and
Intentionality of Design
Jon A. Schmidt, PE, SECBAssociate Structural Engineer
Burns & McDonnell, Kansas City, MO
22/21/21
What Is Engineering?
Etymology Ingeneur, Ingeniero Ingenuity, not engines
Tredgold’s Definition (1828) “the art of directing the great sources of
power in nature for the use and convenience of man”
33/21/21
What Is Engineering?
Brown’s Definition (1967) “the art of moulding materials we do not
really understand into shapes we cannot really analyze, so as to withstand forces we cannot really assess, in such a way that the public does not really suspect”
44/21/21
Science or Art?
Definition of Science “a department of systematized
knowledge as an object of study” “a system of knowledge covering general
truths or the operation of general laws” “principles and procedures for the
systematic pursuit of knowledge” Am I a Scientist?
55/21/21
Science or Art?
Definition of Art “skill acquired by experience, study, or
observation” “an occupation requiring knowledge or
skill” “the conscious use of skill and creative
imagination” Am I an Artist?
66/21/21
Thesis
Science Systematic approach to knowing
Engineering Systematic approach to willing
77/21/21
Transcendental Precepts
Experience: Be Attentive Examining the data presented
Understanding: Be Intelligent Envisaging possible explanations
Judgment: Be Reasonable Evaluating which is most likely
Deliberation: Be Considerate Exploring potential courses of action
Decision: Be Responsible Electing to proceed accordingly
88/21/21
Transcendental Precepts
Knowing and Willing Be attentive, be intelligent, be
reasonable, be considerate, be responsible
Non-compulsory inner demands 4th and 5th require both apprehending
obligations and striving to fulfill them Assistance provided by conscience
disciplined through habitual exercise
99/21/21
Knowing and Willing
Contrasting Concepts
KNOWING WILLING
Intellect Volition
Beliefs Choices
Reasons Motives
Judgment Decision
Reasonable Responsible
1010/21/21
Knowing and Willing
Scientific Method Observation, hypothesis, experiment Will implicitly involved, but intellect is
primary Engineering Method
State-of-the-art heuristics Create the best change Intellect implicitly involved, but will is
primary
1111/21/21
Contingency of Ends
Social Captivity Widespread misconception that
engineering is merely applied science Problems themselves and terms of
acceptable solutions are decided by non-engineers
Values of employer/client take precedence
1212/21/21
Contingency of Means
Heuristics Anything that provides a plausible aid or
direction in the solution of a problem Unjustified, incapable of justification,
and potentially fallible
1313/21/21
Contingency of Means
More Contrasting Concepts
SCIENCEENGINEERIN
G
Necessity Contingency
Certainty Probability
Universality Particularity
AbstractnessConcretenes
s
Theory Practice
1414/21/21
Contingency of Means
Design Procedures Analogous to scientific hypotheses Different design procedures can produce
similar designs Similar design procedures can produce
different designs
1515/21/21
Contingency of Means
Models Assumptions and simplifications Abstraction and idealization Approximate representations that serve
as epistemic tools
1616/21/21
Engineering RationalityIntentionality
1717/21/21
Engineering Rationality
Responsible Decision Deduction – conclusion contains no new
information not already present in premises
Induction – information must be added Engineering is thus creation of
information
Intentionality
1818/21/21
Engineering Rationality
Considerate Deliberation Two models can both be “correct”, yet
yield different results Standard designs vs. custom designs Reinterpret inductive situation to
facilitate deductive analysis Problem definition, not just problem
solution
Intentionality
1919/21/21
Engineering Rationality
Knowing vs. Willing Well-structured vs. ill-structured problems Reasons vs. motives Theory vs. practice Engineering science vs. engineering
design Understanding nature vs. producing
artifacts
Intentionality
2020/21/21
Conclusion
The Role of Willing Engineers Perceived as little more than number-
crunchers; but data requires interpretation Essential to well-being of technological
society Uncertainty and constraints are unavoidable,
along with need for successful heuristics Uniquely suited to help our culture wrestle
with its many challenges
