PHILOSOPHY OF

ENGINEERING
C

PREHISTORY, MEDIEVAL AND PRESENT ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT

Name- Ayush Anand

Section- H2
REG NO- RA2311003011729
History of Engineering
• The concept of engineering has existed since ancient times as humans devised fundamental
inventions such as the pulley, lever and wheel. Each of these inventions is consistent with the
modern definition of engineering, exploiting basic mechanical principle to develop useful tools
and objects.
• The term “Engineering” itself has a much more recent etymology, deriving from the word
engineering, which itself dates back to 1325, when an engineer originally referred to a
“constructor of military engines”. Eg: mechanical contraption used in war.
• Later as the design of civilian structures such as bridges and building matured as a technical
discipline, the term civil engineering entered in such a way to distinguish between those
specializing in the construction of such non-military projects.
• One of the greatest engineering accomplishments in the ancient world, and certainly one of the
best-known, was the constructions of pyramids. The Egyptian pyramids were built in the period
approximately 2700 to 2200 BC.
PREHISTORY ENGINEERING
• Humans have been practicing rudimentary
engineering since prehistoric times, building tools,
weapons, and simple structures using available
materials.
• Ancient Mesopotamia: Civilizations in Mesopotamia
(modern-day Iraq) developed irrigation systems, city
planning and architectural such as ziggurats(
rectangular stepped tower).
• Ancient Egypt: The Egyptians constructed massive
pyramids, temples and intricate irrigation systems,
showcasing advanced engineering skills
• Ancient Greece and Rome: Greek and Roman
engineers contributed to architecture, mathematics,
and the development of impressive structures like
the Parthenon and aqueducts.
 Engineering In Medieval Period
• Medieval Engineering: The Middle Ages saw
advancements in castle fortifications, cathedrals,
and the development of watermills and
windmills.
• Islamic Golden Age: Muslim scholars made
significant contributions to engineering,
particularly in the areas of mathematics,
astronomy, and irrigation.
• Renaissance Engineering: The Renaissance
brought a renewed focus on science and
engineering, with notable figures such as
Leonardo da Vinci exploring various fields,
including civil engineering, mechanical
engineering, and military engineering.
Modern Engineering (18th to 21st
Century)
• Industrial Revolution: The 18th century marked the beginning of the Industrial
Revolution, characterized by advancements in machinery, steam power, and
the emergence of engineering disciplines like civil engineering, mechanical
engineering, and electrical engineering.
• Civil Engineering: During this period, civil engineers were involved in the
construction of canals, railways, bridges, and urban infrastructure.
• Mechanical Engineering: Mechanical engineers played a crucial role in the
development of steam engines, machinery, and the Industrial Revolution's
technological advancements.
• Electrical Engineering: The discovery of electricity and subsequent
development of electrical systems gave rise to electrical engineering, leading to
innovations like the telegraph, electric power systems, and the invention of
various electronic devices.
 20th Century and Beyond:
Engineering continued to
progress rapidly, with
advancements in aerospace
engineering, computer science,
materials science, genetic
engineering, and many other
fields. The rise of digital
technology and the internet
revolutionized multiple aspects
of engineering, leading to the
development of fields such as
software engineering and
cybersecurity.
Today, engineering encompasses
a vast array of disciplines and
sub-disciplines, including civil
engineering, mechanical
engineering, electrical
engineering, chemical
engineering, aerospace
engineering, biomedical
engineering, environmental
engineering, and many more.
Engineers play a crucial role in
designing, creating, and
maintaining the infrastructure,
technology, and innovations that
shape our modern world.
Relation between Arts ,mathematics, Science, Technology and Engineering
ART: Art is a wide range of human activites that involve creative, imaginative and an aim to express
technical proficiency ,beauty or conceptual ideas . The 3 branches of visual art are painting,
sculpture and architecture.
In simple words we can say there are 3 schools pf philosophy regarding art , focusing respectively on
form, content, context.
Art has had a great number of different functions throughout its history, making its purpose difficult to
abstract or quantify to any single concept. The different purposesnof art may be grouped according
to those that are non-motivated, and those that are motivated.
NON MOTIVATED FUNTIONS :
In this ART, as creativity is something humans must do by their very nature(i.e., no other species
creates art), and is therefore beyond utility.
Some examples can be seen in art form as :
• Basic human instinct for harmony, balance, rhythm
• Experience of the mysterious
• Expression of the imagination
• Ritualistic and symbolic functions
Motivates functions-
Motivated purposes of art refers to intentional, conscious actions on the part of the artists or
creator.
This art can be used as:
• Communication
• Arts as entertainment
• The Avant-Garde. Art for political change
• Art as a free zone
• Art for social inquiry, subversion or anarchy
• Art for social causes
• Art for psychological and healing purposes
• Art for propaganda or communication
• Art as a fitness indicator
 Mathematics
• The science of structure, order, and relation that has evolved from elemental practices of
counting, measuring, and describing the shapes of objects. It deals with logical reasoning
and quantitative calculation, and its development has involved an increasing degree of
idealization and abstraction of its subject matter. Since the 17th century, mathematics
has been an indispensable adjunct to the physical sciences and technology, and in
more recent times it has assumed a similar role in the quantitative aspects of the life
sciences.
• In many cultures—under the stimulus of the needs of practical pursuits, such as
commerce and agriculture—mathematics has developed far beyond basic counting.
This growth has been greatest in societies complex enough to sustain these activities and
to provide leisure for contemplation and the opportunity to build on the achievements of
earlier mathematicians.
• All mathematical systems (for example, Euclidean geometry) are combinations of sets of
axioms and of theorems that can be logically deduced from the axioms. Inquiries into the
logical and philosophical basis of mathematics reduce to questions of whether the
axioms of a given system ensure its completeness and its consistency.
 Science and technology
• The distinction between science, engineering, and technology is not always
clear. Science is systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through
observation and experimentation. Technologies are not usually exclusively products of
science, because they have to satisfy requirements such as utility, usability, and safety.
• Engineering is the goal-oriented process of designing and making tools and systems to
exploit natural phenomena for practical human means, often (but not always) using
results and techniques from science. The development of technology may draw upon
many fields of knowledge, including scientific, engineering, mathematical, linguistic,
and historical knowledge, to achieve some practical result.
• Technology is often a consequence of science and engineering, although technology
as a human activity precedes the two fields. For example, science might study the flow
of electrons in electrical conductors by using already-existing tools and knowledge. This
new-found knowledge may then be used by engineers to create new tools and
machines such as semiconductors, computers, and other forms of advanced
technology. In this sense, scientists and engineers may both be considered technologists;
the three fields are often considered as one for the purposes of research and reference