Discussion of the Method Conducting the Engineer's Approach to Problem Solving

by Koen, Billy Vaughn

• ISBN13: 9780195155990
• ISBN10: 0195155998
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-03-20
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

"While the study of the engineering method is important to create the world we would have, its study is equally important to understand the world we do have." --Billy V. Koen, Introduction, Discussion of the Method Discussion of the Method outlines the heuristic-based reasoning used by engineers and generalizes it to a universal method for problem-solving. Delving into the connection between engineering and philosophy, this ground-breaking text illustrates how the theoretical and the practical can merge toform real-world solutions. Furthermore, the methodology covered in this innovative book is extremely user-friendly, and easily synthesized with individual approaches to problem-solving. Discussion of the Method is an ideal supplement for introductory and advanced courses in engineering, philosophy,and other disciplines, as well as a compelling read for general audiences. THE METHOD: AN OVERVIEWBLPart I describes the problem situation that calls for the talents of the engineer and emphasizes how frequently this situation is encountered. BLPart II defines the heuristic and the engineering method. BLPart III lists examples of heuristics and techniques used to implement the engineering method, describes several alternative definitions of the engineering method, and renders the method in its final form. BLPart IV generalizes the engineering method to a universal method. BLPart V gives a concise, justifiable statement of universal method. BLPart VI delivers a specific example of the universal method in use.

Author Biography

Billy V. Koen is Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin and a fellow of both the American Nuclear Society (ANS) and the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE). He has received fifteen awards for teaching excellence, including the W. Leighton Collins Award, (the ASEE's highest honor for pedagogy), and the ASEE Centennial Medallion for his lasting impact on the field of engineering education. He is a pioneer in the application of artificial intelligence to nuclear reactor reliability and the introduction of self-paced teaching strategies in engineering education. He has written more than 125 technical publications and has contributed to numerous textbooks and engineering journals. Included in his body of work is the classic treatise, "Definition of the Engineering Method," published by the ASEE in 1985.

Table of Contents

Figures and Tables	ix
Preface	xi
Introduction	1	(6)
Part I Some Thoughts on Engineering	7	(19)
The Engineer	8	(1)
Characteristics of an Engineering Problem	9	(15)
Change	11	(2)
Resources	13	(2)
Best	15	(9)
Uncertainty	24	(1)
Example Engineering Problems	24	(2)
Part II The Principal Rule of the Engineering Method	26	(33)
Definition of Engineering Design	28	(1)
The Heuristic	28	(13)
Definition	28	(1)
Signatures of the Heuristic	29	(5)
Synonyms for the Heuristic	34	(1)
Examples of Engineering Heuristics	35	(6)
State of the Art	41	(16)
Definition	42	(1)
Evolution	43	(3)
Transmission	46	(2)
An Acronym for State of the Art	48	(1)
Example Uses of the sota	48	(9)
Comparison of Engineers	49	(1)
Rule of Judgment	50	(3)
Engineer and Society	53	(4)
Principal Rule of the Engineering Method	57	(2)
Part III Some Heuristics Used by the Engineering Method	59	(52)
Definition of Engineering Design (BIS)	60	(1)
The Heuristic Method	60	(2)
Nature of Our Argument	62	(3)
Induction as a Heuristic	63	(2)
Representative Engineering Heuristics	65	(18)
Rules of Thumb and Orders of Magnitude	66	(1)
Factors of Safety	67	(2)
Attitude Determining Heuristics	69	(4)
Risk-Controlling Heuristics	73	(6)
Miscellaneous Heuristics	79	(4)
Alternate Definitions of Engineering	83	(7)
Engineering and Morphology	83	(2)
Engineering and Applied Science	85	(2)
Engineering and Trial and Error	87	(1)
Engineering and Problem Solution	88	(2)
Nature as Designer	90	(3)
Preferred Definition of the Engineering Method	93	(11)
Time as a Heuristic	94	(6)
Derivative to a Curve	100	(1)
Reduction to Preferred Form	101	(1)
Justification of the Heuristic Definition of the Engineering Method	102	(2)
Engineering Worldview	104	(7)
Coordinate Systems	104	(2)
Turtle Graphics	106	(2)
Consistent Engineering Worldview	108	(3)
Part IV The Universale Organum	111	(120)
Difficulties in Explaining the Koan	112	(12)
General Difficulties	112	(1)
Language as Heuristic	113	(11)
Compelling Belief in Koan	124	(72)
Basic Approach to Compel Belief	124	(2)
My Program	126	(3)
Weaving a Tapestry	129	(57)
Arithmetic as Arithmetic	130	(13)
Mathematics as Mathematics	143	(1)
Deduction as Deduction	144	(1)
Certain as Certain	145	(2)
Position as Position	147	(4)
Logic as Logic	151	(2)
Truth as Truth	153	(2)
Progress as Progress	155	(3)
Causality as Causality	158	(5)
Consciousness as Consciousness	163	(3)
Physical Reality as Physical Reality	166	(1)
Science as Science	167	(7)
Perception as Perception	174	(12)
Experto Credite	186	(2)
Argument as Argument	188	(1)
All Is Heuristic	188	(2)
Reduction of Koan to a Preferred Form	190	(6)
All	190	(3)
Is	193	(1)
Heuristic	193	(3)
Comparison of Heuristic and Skeptical Positions	196	(8)
History of Skepticism	196	(2)
Differences between Skeptic and Engineer	198	(5)
Genie Malin	199	(1)
Coherence	200	(1)
Home Field Advantage	201	(1)
Skeptic's Pride	201	(1)
Reification of Doubt	202	(1)
An Impregnable Defense	203	(1)
Overall sota	204	(14)
Synonyms	205	(1)
Partitioning Overall sota	206	(3)
Concepts as Subsets	206	(2)
Fuzzy Subsets	208	(1)
Personal sotas	209	(9)
Compelling Nature of Personal sota	211	(3)
Incoherence of Personal sota	214	(2)
Rules of Judgment and Implementation	216	(1)
Engineer's Ataraxia	217	(1)
A Discourse on Method	218	(7)
Method of Descartes	220	(1)
Problems with Descartes' Method	221	(2)
Universal	221	(1)
Comprehensive	222	(1)
Prior Philosophical Commitment	222	(1)
Self-Sufficient	223	(1)
Universale Organum	223	(2)
Engineering, Philosophy, and the Universal Method	225	(6)
Part V Summary of the Method	231
Part VI Application of the Method	223	(28)
Traditional Utopia	223	(11)
Utopia as Program for Change	234	(2)
Eutopia	236	(1)
Mundus Institute of Technology	237	(6)
Origins	237	(1)
Architecture	238	(2)
Personnel	240	(3)
Abstractors	240	(1)
Professors	241	(1)
Students	242	(1)
Research in Progress	243	(8)
Research in the Vestibule	243	(2)
Research in Corridors	245	(6)
An Anachronistic Preface	251	(3)
Heuristics	254	(2)
Index	256