Philosophy of Engineering, Science and Design

Course contents:

(1) The goals of science; the character and scope of scientific claims.

(2) The goals of engineering design; the nature of technical artefacts; the value-neutrality of technology.

(3) The scientific method and the validation of scientific claims.

(4) Methods of engineering design; the character and scope of design claims; the decision-making aspect of design.

(5) The development of science; the objectivity of science; the notion of scientific progress.

(6) The development of technology; social determinism and technical determinism.

(7) The place and role of values in science and in engineering design.