> Chris Menzel wrote:
> > On Thu, 18 Sep 2008, Ed Barkmeyer wrote:
> >> ...
> >> As to the rest of John's posting, I refuse to be drawn into a
> >> discussion of the power of either mathematics or logic. I am an
>> engineer.
> >
> > And you won't discuss it because, as an engineer, and hence as one
> familiar with bridges, moon shots, computers, the web, and the like
> that wouldn't exist but for the power of mathematics and logic, it
> isn't worth discussing something so obvious? Right on. (01)
> Ed Barkmeyer wrote:
> Indeed. That power is well documented and in evidence. But whether
mathematics can
> correctly capture "reality", as distinct from how much of the derived
and quantified property called load it will take to collapse the bridge,
is not my concern. I marvel
> at the universe, I seek to understand aspects of it, and I invent my
own little
> artificial contributions to it, but I don't ask whether mathematics is
the model
> of it. I leave that to John and Pat. ;-) (02)
Like a physician, an engineer is a rule-of-thumb scientist. Engineering
is a human-oriented discipline aimed at applying science and mathematics
for useful things like bridges, tooth brushes, and cannons. Sometimes
new mathematics is created as a by-product. I leave it to the
hair-splitter to determine which side should claim the "applied
mathematicians." (03)
Regards, (04)
Jeff Schiffel -- The Boeing Company - Wichita (05)
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