Let Us Now Think Engineering: an Interview with Carl Mitcham

Abstract

Carl Mitcham is International Distinguished Professor of Philosophy of Technology at Renmin Universityof China and Professor Emeritus of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at Colorado School of Mines inthe United States. For more than four decades of his work in the field of phi­losophy of science andtechnology, he has made important contributions on its most controversial topics, including biotechnologies,IT, energy and many others. Of special interest is his philosoph­ical and socio-historical study ofengineering, which has become the area of his intellectual col­laboration with V.G. Gorokhov. This year,Prof. Mitcham published a new book, “Steps toward a Philosophy of Engineering: Historical-Philosophicaland Critical Essays”. In the interview Pro­fessor Mitcham discusses the developments in engineeringprofession and education and the chang­ing role of engineering societies; the relationships betweenengineering, science and philosophy; the engineering cultures and the meaning of engineering in the modernculture.