DISCOVERIES, INVENTIONS & ENGINEERING

[jimbo]

Following is a section of a post by 25362. It is repeated here because it is a significant beginning to the topics to be discussed;

"Yes, I think engineering is a science. A science by which the properties of matter and the sources of energy in nature are made (directly and indirectly) useful to humans in structures, machines and products.

In addition to the great enginering feats already mentioned I'll add the making of paper (2000-3000 years ago) and later on printing. These were the vehicles to convey the inherited legacy of knowledge through ages and places.

As for energy, the making of steam, steam machines and steam transportation of goods and people merit a high place in the list of engineering achievements. Steam power eased the production of electricity and electronics, which carried energy, information, ideas, light, and images everywhere."

I believe that we are to discuss different categories of "great achievements", such as;

1. Discoveries
2. Inventions
3. Engineered things

I realize that "things" is a weak word, and invite a better one.
jimbo


Buy a dictionary, keep it nearby and USE it. Webster's New World Dictionary of American English is recommended, and Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.

 

[EnglishMuffin]

According to the late Richard Feynman, things like social "science" and psychology are pseudosciences. They are not rigorous enough to be called sciences - strong on theory but virtually no testing and verification.

 

[ScottyUK]

An altogether more disturbing term I've heard in the UK with increasing frequency:

'Social Engineering' - presumably the application of social science??

It's not something dear to my heart. Lots of rhetoric and doctrine, lots of opinionated people and few hard facts. Common sense and reason are rare visitors indeed to this quasi-science.



-----------------------------------

"Never look down any at anybody, unless you are helping them up."

Jesse Jackson.

 

[johnwm]

Back in the '60s my engineering professor summed up the difference between science and engineering very neatly (and quite accurately)

Science is studying things for the sake of discovering the unknown - Engineering is for turning theory into MONEY

He also recognised the reason that engineers got an 'academic' degree - it's because Universities know that it's industry (and engineers in industry) that actually generate the wealth that allows them the luxury of Academy

Good Luck
johnwm
________________________________________________________
To get the best from these forums read faq731-376 before posting

 

[25362]

When speaking on whether computer science is indeed a science, I feel obliged to quote Alan P. Rossiter in his Waste Minimization Through Process Design when speaking of artificial intelligence (AI): "AI is based on the concept that computers can be programmed to assume capabilities thought to be like human intelligence such as learning, reasoning, adaptation and self-correction. It is an extensive branch of computer science embracing robotics, pattern recognition, knowledge-based systems, scene analysis, language processing, computer vision, and mechanical theorem proving, with more areas being added all the time." In view of the above aren't we entitled to call this branch of knowledge a science ?

 

[jmw]

How many computers are there in the world?
How much of each wroking day do they sit, power on but idle?
The lateral thinker who realised the potential to use screen savers to harness all this computer power for such experiments as climate modelling programs is at least worth a mention.
PS the increasing tendancy of the PC to self-utilise this time for defragging etc, does this impact on these programs?

JMW

http://www.viscoanalyser.com

Eng-Tips: Pro bono publico, by engineers, for engineers.

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[zdas04]

25362,
The only part of that quote that is "science" is actually "Physics", "Psychiatry", or "Anthropology". The rest is programming or engineering. Notice that none of these "sciences" needs a second word.

David

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

http://www.muleshoe-eng.com

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.