Why do you think engineering emerged from science?

Question

Why do you think engineering emerged from science?

Answer 1

I think there is a good case for saying that engineering came first.

Take the boomerang; it is a beautifully engineered flying machine that aboriginal "engineers" invented and refined over many generations. They didn't have a clue about the theory of aerodynamics.

Organised and systematic scientific study has only really happened in the last 600 years or so. We were building bridges and refining metals long before then.

Answer 2

Engineering is applied technology.

While many activities may blurr the edges, science investigates & measures & has a scientific method by which it is judged.

Engineering, clearly undertakes a range of research and development of technologies & processes, but its aim is usually different.

Like so many people, both engineers & scientist, I do many things that class most easily fit into each of these labels.  One person often does one job that has both elements.

There are many examples: take the maths.

Good science for a scientist might involve rigourous maths: every integral proven to converge.

Good engineering, might mean taking estimates & assumptions that might leave mathematicians aghast.

Viewed form the right perspective, these are often the same thing, but the perspective is often different.  

The best way to teach the most appropriate skills is likely different.  Hence engineering schools & science schools are likely separate for good reasons.

Answer 3

You've got the order wrong.

Science emerged from Engineering.

Roman and medieval architects had complex formulas for how much stone was needed to support a structure which were empirically derived.

Later, Science figured out why they worked, (most of the time.)

We were smelting metals and making glass long before we knew

the chemistry involved.

We were sailing ships against the wind long before Bernoullii stated

the principle involved.

The list could go on.......

Answer 4

People need to build things to make life easier. It's hard to build things that work correctly without first observing nature and understanding why things work.