Engineering science as a "Discipline of the particular"? : types of generalization in engineering sciences

M.J. Vries, de

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademic

16 Citations (Scopus)
1 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Literature suggests that in engineering sciences the possibilities to generalize knowledge are more limited than in natural sciences. This is related to the action-oriented nature of engineering sciences and to the role of values. I will discuss the contributions of abstraction and idealization to generalization and then describe four case studies in engineering sciences to illustrate that different types of generalization can be distinguished. I will then analyze the nature of these types of generalization.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPhilosophy and engineering : an emerging agenda
EditorsI. Poel, van de, D.E. Goldberg
Place of PublicationDordrecht
PublisherSpringer
Pages83-93
Number of pages361
ISBN (Print)978-90-481-2803-7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

Publication series

NamePhilosophy of engineering and technology
Volume2
ISSN (Print)1879-7202

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