
The existential pleasures of engineering
by Samuel C. Florman · first published 1975
5mentions
4recommended by
5HN commenters
2010–2026first – last mentioned
80% recommend20% neutral
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…real life problems, like this, thoroughly is worlds away from what most programmers enjoy - creating. This I disagree with. Of course (mechanical) engineers enjoy creating - for example, read Florman's Existential Pleasures of Engineering.
on “Doing It Wrong” ↗…fully understand the governing rules before the technology existed. Any definition of engineering needs to be broader. Ferguson (Engineering and the Mind's Eye), Florman (several works, but primarily The Existential Pleasures of Engineering), and Vincenti (What Engineers Know and How They Know It) all explore ways in which engineering can't rely on science alone. I think Koen (Discussion of the Method) puts it best, where the application…
on “"Software Engineering" Is Not Engineering” ↗"The existential pleasures of engineering" by Samuel Florman. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1203186.The_Existential_...
on “Ask HN: Which non-programming books are a beneficial read for programmers?” ↗Florman's _The Existential Pleasures of Engineering_.
on “Ask HN: Good books on philosophy of engineering?” ↗Samuel Florman wrote some interesting books reflecting on engineering and the humanities The Civilized Engineer The Introspective Engineer The Existential Pleasures of Engineering A few others I haven't read
on “Ask HN: Good books on philosophy of engineering?” ↗