Abstract:
The nature of engineering and history as disciplines are explored and
found to have some striking similarities, for example in the importance they place
on context and practitioner involvement. They are found to be different from science,
which focuses more on universal generalizations rather than on the particulars
of given situations. The history of technology is paid special attention, because the
discipline has developed in a way that incorporates both scientific (generalizing) and
historical (context specific) characteristics. Proposals are made for giving historical
studies greater space in engineering education.
Citation:
P, D. (2014). The disciplines of engineering and history: Some common ground. Science and Engineering Ethics, 20(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-013-9447-2
