Technological Concepts and Mathematical Models in the Evolution of Modern Engineering Systems: Controlling • Managing • OrganizingMario Lucertini, Ana Millàn Gasca, Fernando Nicolò M. LUCERTINI, A. MILLAN GASCA, AND F. NICOLO 1 Technology as Knowledge: The Case of Modern Engineering Systems In recent years scholars coming from the fields of history and philosophy of sci ence and technology have devoted much attention to the problem of "technology as knowledge" and to the emergence of an autonomous engineering science in the Industrial Agel. This interest echoes a growing awareness among engineers of the independence of their conceptual approach with respect to other forms of knowl edge, linked to the consolidation of autonomous academic engineering research in th the 20 century. A careful examination of the nature of technological knowledge appears particularly valuable in view of the pervasive presence of technology in contemporary life and culture, not only as a result of its impressive achievements, but through the less obvious influence of its concepts and viewpoints as well. The activity of engineers and technicians has been traditionally based on the practical ability to cope with specific situations and to attain the corresponding specific goal by means of the design and realization of an artifact or structure, on the basis of past experience handed down by tradition and applied by means of trial-and-error and rule-of-thumb procedures. But the existence of a theoreti cal background and of principles underpinning this activity can be traced back to classical antiquity. |
Contents
Adequacy of Mathematical Models in Control Theory Physics | 7 |
A Look into the Prehistory of Industrial | 21 |
Trasferring Formal and Mathematical Tools from War Management | 79 |
Technological Knowledge and Mathematical Models in the Analysis | 102 |
A Technique and a Tool for Thought | 129 |
Concepts of Knowledge as Seen | 189 |
Coping With Complexity in the Management of Organized Systems | 221 |
| 239 | |
Authors | 246 |
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20th century activities analysis applied approach aspects Babbage behavior Brunelleschi's Cambridge Mass Caspian Sea Caspian Sea level coefficients complex concept construction context contribution control engineering control system cultural cybernetic decision described devices diagram differential equations dynamic economic electrical example field frequency function game theory Gulf of Finland History idea important industrial engineering input interaction John von Neumann knowledge Leonardo limit cycle linear programming machines manufacturing mathematical models mathematical tools mathematicians mechanics methods military modern Neumann Neva Bay nonlinear obtained operations research optimization organization oscillations output parameters Paris period phenomena physical Poincaré Pol's Princeton problems production RAND rational reference relaxation oscillations represented role scientific sector servomechanism signal simulation social solutions Soviet stability statistical structure studies Taccola technical techniques theoretical tion triode University Press variables Vito Volterra Volterra Wiener York