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?

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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?

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Thesis

Science Systematic approach to knowing

Engineering Systematic approach to willing

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Contingency of Means

Models Assumptions and simplifications Abstraction and idealization Approximate representations that serve

as epistemic tools

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Engineering RationalityIntentionality

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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

2121/21/21

Questions/Comments?

Jon A. Schmidt, PE, SECBjschmid@burnsmcd.com