Ebook: Engineering, Development and Philosophy: American, Chinese and European Perspectives

This inclusive, cross-cultural study rethinks the nexus between engineering, development, and culture. It offers diverse commentary from a range of disciplinary perspectives on how the philosophies of today’s cultural triumvirate—American, European and Chinese—are shaped and given nuance by the cross-fertilization of engineering and development. Scholars from the humanities and social sciences as well as engineers themselves reflect on key questions that arise in this relational context, such as how international development work affects the professional views, identities, practice and ethics of engineers. The first volume to offer a systematic and collaborative study that cuts across continental boundaries, the book delineates the kinds of skills and competences that tomorrow’s engineering success stories will require, and analyzes fascinating aspects of the interplay between engineering and philosophy, such as how traditionally Chinese ways of thinking can influence modern engineering practice in the world’s most populous country. China’s problematic mix of engineering woes and wonders, from the high-profile crash on its high-profile rail network to its ‘bird’s nest’ Olympic stadium, adds to the urgency for reform, while Europe’s Enlightenment-informed legal frameworks are contrasted with Chinese mechanisms in their governance of the field of nanotechnology, a crucial element of future technical evolution. Fascinating and compelling in equal measure, this volume addresses one of the topics at the leading edge of humanity’s quest to survive, and to thrive.​

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This inclusive, cross-cultural study rethinks the nexus between engineering, development, and culture. It offers diverse commentary from a range of disciplinary perspectives on how the philosophies of today’s cultural triumvirate—American, European and Chinese—are shaped and given nuance by the cross-fertilization of engineering and development. Scholars from the humanities and social sciences as well as engineers themselves reflect on key questions that arise in this relational context, such as how international development work affects the professional views, identities, practice and ethics of engineers. The first volume to offer a systematic and collaborative study that cuts across continental boundaries, the book delineates the kinds of skills and competences that tomorrow’s engineering success stories will require, and analyzes fascinating aspects of the interplay between engineering and philosophy, such as how traditionally Chinese ways of thinking can influence modern engineering practice in the world’s most populous country. China’s problematic mix of engineering woes and wonders, from the high-profile crash on its high-profile rail network to its ‘bird’s nest’ Olympic stadium, adds to the urgency for reform, while Europe’s Enlightenment-informed legal frameworks are contrasted with Chinese mechanisms in their governance of the field of nanotechnology, a crucial element of future technical evolution. Fascinating and compelling in equal measure, this volume addresses one of the topics at the leading edge of humanity’s quest to survive, and to thrive.?

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This inclusive, cross-cultural study rethinks the nexus between engineering, development, and culture. It offers diverse commentary from a range of disciplinary perspectives on how the philosophies of today’s cultural triumvirate—American, European and Chinese—are shaped and given nuance by the cross-fertilization of engineering and development. Scholars from the humanities and social sciences as well as engineers themselves reflect on key questions that arise in this relational context, such as how international development work affects the professional views, identities, practice and ethics of engineers. The first volume to offer a systematic and collaborative study that cuts across continental boundaries, the book delineates the kinds of skills and competences that tomorrow’s engineering success stories will require, and analyzes fascinating aspects of the interplay between engineering and philosophy, such as how traditionally Chinese ways of thinking can influence modern engineering practice in the world’s most populous country. China’s problematic mix of engineering woes and wonders, from the high-profile crash on its high-profile rail network to its ‘bird’s nest’ Olympic stadium, adds to the urgency for reform, while Europe’s Enlightenment-informed legal frameworks are contrasted with Chinese mechanisms in their governance of the field of nanotechnology, a crucial element of future technical evolution. Fascinating and compelling in equal measure, this volume addresses one of the topics at the leading edge of humanity’s quest to survive, and to thrive.?
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxvii
Front Matter....Pages 1-6
Turning Engineering Green: Sustainable Development and Engineering Education....Pages 7-21
From a Micro–Macro Framework to a Micro–Meso–Macro Framework....Pages 23-36
Traditional Chinese Thinking and Its Influence on Modern Engineering and Social Development....Pages 37-46
Engineering and Development in Modern China: Challenges and Responses....Pages 47-67
“Ecocity China”: An Ethos Under Development....Pages 69-85
Negotiated Development: Rediscovering a Global Development Ethic....Pages 87-102
Front Matter....Pages 103-107
The Challenge of Educating Engineers for a Close, Crowded and Creative World....Pages 109-122
Educating Chinese Engineers: The Case of Shanghai Jiao Tong University During 1896–1949....Pages 123-143
Academic Drift in European Professional Engineering Education: The End of Alternatives to the University?....Pages 145-167
Governing Engineering....Pages 169-182
Historical Tensions in Engineering Education: European Perspectives....Pages 183-196
Socio-technical Integration in Engineering Education: A Never-Ending Story....Pages 197-213
Tensions in Developing Engineering Design Competencies....Pages 215-231
The Local Engineer: Normative Holism in Engineering Formation....Pages 233-251
Eyes Wide Shut? Loyalty and Practical Morality in Engineering Education....Pages 253-267
Front Matter....Pages 269-274
Ex-students Engaged in “Engineers Without Borders”: What Have They Become?....Pages 275-289
Socio-Technical Integration: Research Policies in the United States, European Union, and China....Pages 291-304
Inheritance Ethics in Engineering Development: Comparison Between Shenyang and Ruhr on Industrial Heritage Conservation....Pages 305-316
Dam Construction Ethics in China....Pages 317-327
The Development of Railroads in the United States and China....Pages 329-340
Front Matter....Pages 269-274
Engineering Leadership....Pages 341-356
Harmonization with Nature: Ancient Chinese Views and Technological Development....Pages 357-377
Lynn White Revisited: Religious and Cultural Backgrounds for Technological Development....Pages 379-395
Back Matter....Pages 397-412

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This inclusive, cross-cultural study rethinks the nexus between engineering, development, and culture. It offers diverse commentary from a range of disciplinary perspectives on how the philosophies of today’s cultural triumvirate—American, European and Chinese—are shaped and given nuance by the cross-fertilization of engineering and development. Scholars from the humanities and social sciences as well as engineers themselves reflect on key questions that arise in this relational context, such as how international development work affects the professional views, identities, practice and ethics of engineers. The first volume to offer a systematic and collaborative study that cuts across continental boundaries, the book delineates the kinds of skills and competences that tomorrow’s engineering success stories will require, and analyzes fascinating aspects of the interplay between engineering and philosophy, such as how traditionally Chinese ways of thinking can influence modern engineering practice in the world’s most populous country. China’s problematic mix of engineering woes and wonders, from the high-profile crash on its high-profile rail network to its ‘bird’s nest’ Olympic stadium, adds to the urgency for reform, while Europe’s Enlightenment-informed legal frameworks are contrasted with Chinese mechanisms in their governance of the field of nanotechnology, a crucial element of future technical evolution. Fascinating and compelling in equal measure, this volume addresses one of the topics at the leading edge of humanity’s quest to survive, and to thrive.?
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxvii
Front Matter....Pages 1-6
Turning Engineering Green: Sustainable Development and Engineering Education....Pages 7-21
From a Micro–Macro Framework to a Micro–Meso–Macro Framework....Pages 23-36
Traditional Chinese Thinking and Its Influence on Modern Engineering and Social Development....Pages 37-46
Engineering and Development in Modern China: Challenges and Responses....Pages 47-67
“Ecocity China”: An Ethos Under Development....Pages 69-85
Negotiated Development: Rediscovering a Global Development Ethic....Pages 87-102
Front Matter....Pages 103-107
The Challenge of Educating Engineers for a Close, Crowded and Creative World....Pages 109-122
Educating Chinese Engineers: The Case of Shanghai Jiao Tong University During 1896–1949....Pages 123-143
Academic Drift in European Professional Engineering Education: The End of Alternatives to the University?....Pages 145-167
Governing Engineering....Pages 169-182
Historical Tensions in Engineering Education: European Perspectives....Pages 183-196
Socio-technical Integration in Engineering Education: A Never-Ending Story....Pages 197-213
Tensions in Developing Engineering Design Competencies....Pages 215-231
The Local Engineer: Normative Holism in Engineering Formation....Pages 233-251
Eyes Wide Shut? Loyalty and Practical Morality in Engineering Education....Pages 253-267
Front Matter....Pages 269-274
Ex-students Engaged in “Engineers Without Borders”: What Have They Become?....Pages 275-289
Socio-Technical Integration: Research Policies in the United States, European Union, and China....Pages 291-304
Inheritance Ethics in Engineering Development: Comparison Between Shenyang and Ruhr on Industrial Heritage Conservation....Pages 305-316
Dam Construction Ethics in China....Pages 317-327
The Development of Railroads in the United States and China....Pages 329-340
Front Matter....Pages 269-274
Engineering Leadership....Pages 341-356
Harmonization with Nature: Ancient Chinese Views and Technological Development....Pages 357-377
Lynn White Revisited: Religious and Cultural Backgrounds for Technological Development....Pages 379-395
Back Matter....Pages 397-412
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