Toward a Practical Philosophy of Engineering: Dealing with Complex Problems from the Sustainability Discourse

This article characterizes the current philosophical approach to engineering and professional limitations in coming to terms with highly complex, socio-economic-technological problems, such as those that emerge from the sustainability discourse. It compares the philosophy of science which has for more than 70 years been vigorously involved with science. The result proposes a set of philosophical principles to enable the engineering profession to engage with the sustainability discourse. While some see engineering as an essentially values-free discipline, whereby science is harnessed for the common good, this paradigm has become outdated and engineers need to come to terms with the belief, values, and moral standing that characterize many of the problems facing twenty-first-century society. We need a “Copernican revolution” in engineering practice. In order to engage adequately with highly complex problems, engineers must see themselves as a part of the problem and the environment in which the problem exists, not as separate from it.