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== Preface == | == Preface == | ||
The Engineer in History (HPS283) is a humanities elective offered by [[The Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology (IHPST)]] at [[University of Toronto]]. This course presents an extended personal argument that engineers in the modern world are the most important social category of the modern world in ways that go well beyond the fact that they make things and solve technical puzzles. A look at the history of the profession is used to support this argument. Examining the role engineers have played in history up to and including the present will illuminate the complex links that exist between technology and society. Topics that are discussed includes the birth of engineering as a profession, conceptions of society that have been moulded or influenced by engineers, the image that society has had of them, and their place in the social structure. | The Engineer in History (HPS283) is a humanities elective offered by [[The Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology (IHPST)]] at [[University of Toronto]]. This course presents an extended personal argument that engineers in the modern world are the most important social category of the modern world in ways that go well beyond the fact that they make things and solve technical puzzles. A look at the history of the profession is used to support this argument. Examining the role engineers have played in history up to and including the present will illuminate the complex links that exist between technology and society. Topics that are discussed includes the birth of engineering as a profession, conceptions of society that have been moulded or influenced by engineers, the image that society has had of them, and their place in the social structure. | ||
The contents presented are delivered verbally by Mr. [http://www.hps.utoronto.ca/people/langins.htm Janis Langins], on his last year as professor before his retirement. He is also the author of [https://mitpress.mit.edu/authors/janis-langins ''Conserving the Enlightenment, French Military Engineering from Vauban to the Revolution''] published by MIT Press. | The contents presented are delivered verbally by Mr. [http://www.hps.utoronto.ca/people/langins.htm Janis Langins], on his last year as professor before his retirement. He is also the author of [https://mitpress.mit.edu/authors/janis-langins ''Conserving the Enlightenment, French Military Engineering from Vauban to the Revolution''] published by MIT Press. | ||
==ERTW, an Opinion== | |||
-Engineers do not rule the world | |||
-Many engineers climb to high positions in society and engineering is left behind them | |||
-The creators and operators of technology have little say in how it is ran | |||
===Why Don’t ERTW?=== | |||
-What Veblen saw as revolutionary tendencies among engineers was really an interest in status | |||
-Noble: Engineers were co-opted by capitalism | |||
===Should Engineers Rule the World?=== | |||
-Maybe | |||
-There are not many engineers across non-violent Islamic groups and there are many engineers across violent Islamic groups | |||
-75% of chemical engineers voted for the Republican Party (Conservatives) | |||
-Layton suggests many engineers came from the upper lower close and lower middle class, engineering presented a way for these people to advance within society (especially in Islamic countries, some joined extremist groups in anger) | |||
===Current Challenges of World=== | |||
-Value of a person is seen in purely economic terms, some CEOs are thinking of this value dysfunction | |||
-Polarization Wealth = Economic Inequality Increasing | |||
-Less loyalty to a company then previously in history | |||
-Environmental Degradation | |||
-Rise of international tensions | |||
What can engineers should do? | |||
-Asset themselves into the business world | |||
-Defend the ideals of workmanship, pride in work | |||
-Get involved in democratic politics and should rule the world provided: | |||
- Humility is employed, dangerous minds think they are always right | |||
- Engineers for the world | |||
==Engineers in Antiquity== | ==Engineers in Antiquity== | ||
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===The Corps du génie (Corps of Military Engineering)=== | ===The Corps du génie (Corps of Military Engineering)=== | ||
====A. Transition from the freelance Renaissance artist- | ====A. Transition from the freelance Renaissance artist-engineer to a member of an organization | ||
The Corps du genie (Corps of Miltary Engineering) | The Corps du genie (Corps of Miltary Engineering)==== | ||
• Fortress engineers: specialization in fortress building, better educated, more technical background 33% nobel | • Fortress engineers: specialization in fortress building, better educated, more technical background 33% nobel | ||
• Siege (and trench engineers): vauban started here...millitary background nobles but not much experience. 64% nobels rudimentary education | • Siege (and trench engineers): vauban started here...millitary background nobles but not much experience. 64% nobels rudimentary education | ||
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====E.Evolution to a Corps royal du genie==== | ====E.Evolution to a Corps royal du genie==== | ||
- Louis the 16th, praised nobility and made people have to have 4 degrees of nobility, the counter revolution begins before the revolution, a lot of causes | - Louis the 16th, praised nobility and made people have to have 4 degrees of nobility, the counter revolution begins before the revolution, a lot of causes | ||
-Membership (%) of commoners in : 58% in 1692-1715, 1716-1747 55%; 1748-1777 43%; 1778-1791 25%, | -Membership (%) of commoners in : 58% in 1692-1715, 1716-1747 55%; 1748-1777 43%; 1778-1791 25%, | ||
==The Engineer Goes To School== | ==The Engineer Goes To School== |