Philosophical Inferences in Engineering

A Bayesian inference to a problem starts with the formulation of a model with hopes that it is adequate to describe the situation of interest initially. A prior probability distribution function (pdf) is then suggested over the unknown model parameters, which is meant to capture one s beliefs about the situation without data. However, with the incoming of data one may then apply Bayesian inference rule to obtain a posterior distribution for the same unknown parameters, which take into account the prior pdf and the data. From the posterior distribution, one can then compute updated predictive pdf for future observations [6]. The Bayesian approach can be simply applied and justified theoretically as the proper approach to uncertain inference by various arguments involving consistency with clear principles of rationality. Even though, a prior pdf selection scans subjective, but it is not arbitrary. It is necessary that the priory pdf should capture one s correct prior information by taking into consideration a combination of prior beliefs. 

In the past, engineering was under the concept of architect, who is concerned with linguistic reasoning and not mathanatical equations as engineers today. It may be said that architects are more philosophy oriented than engineers. Architects care for comparatively very less mathematical principles and science because they regard themselves more artistic oriented. In engineering education 

Philosophy of science has active role in scientific studies since the science became rather independently spelled out from the philosophy during the renaissance period. During the last few decades, through patent institutions philosophy of technology started to ripen up and there are many articles in the literature about such aspects. However, philosophy of engineering is a very recent debate in the world since the last several years [9]. Philosophy of science remained as 

After all what are explained above, one can understand that philosophy of engineering is a virgin topic at the verge of development, and there is not commonly agreed set of fundamentals, principles and mles for the definition of this field. Hence, it is within the context of this book to propose such a set of items, which can be elaborated on more in future. 

Apart from classical ethical and aesthetical aspects of philosophical ingredients in engineering, some other issues are also related to engineering, but they are not very obvious or not used frequently. Since philosophy is verbal in character, it is necessary to consider epistemological aspects of each terminology, question 

---