工程研究——跨学科视野中的工程2025，Vol.17Issue(5)：544-553,10.DOI:10.3724/j.issn.1674-4969.20240066
略论工程师和工程师精神
On Engineers and the Spirit of Engineers
摘要
Abstract
"Engineers"and"the spirit of engineers"are important and complex issues that have been seriously overlooked for a long time.This article argues that it is necessary to apply interdisciplinary and comprehensive theories and methods to study engineers and the spirit of engineers.From a linguistic perspective,the phenomenon that the concept of"engineer"emerged much later than the existence of the"engineer"profession explores a complex historical evolution and development process of the"name-reality relationship".When understanding and dealing with the relationship between name and reality,not only does the phenomenon of"same name but different reality"and"same reality but different name"often occur,but also the phenomenon of"name"and"reality"constantly evolving.In linguistics and lexicography,the phenomenon of"same name but different reality"refers to synonymous or nearly synonymous words,while the phenomenon of"same name but different reality"refers to polysemous words.The concepts of"same reality but different names","same name but different reality",and"name reality evolution"often intersect and overlap with each other,which makes it very difficult and complex for scholars to face when studying certain objects and concepts.For example,in many news media reports,China and some European and American countries classify space engineering projects such as satellite launches and their achievements as the work and achievements of scientists.However,from the perspective of"name reality relationship"and"name reality consistency",these works and achievements must be classified and categorized as"engineering activities"and"engineer achievements".From the perspectives of economics and sociology,examining the professionalization process of modern engineers,several conclusions can be drawn:(1)Due to the fact that at the beginning of the first industrial revolution,the actual function of craftsmen in handicraft workshops and production methods was to integrate the identity and function of the"trinity"of"investors""technicians"and"workers"craftsmen became the driving force of the first industrial revolution with an"unshirkable"and"natural"responsibility.However,in the process of the first industrial revolution,when the modern factory system was formed and large machines that greatly surpassed manual tools in terms of technical complexity and specialization were applied and used in factories,the"division of labor"in factories was bound to enter a"new stage".In this new era and stage,with the widespread use of large machines,the"craftsman"who originally integrated"investors""technicians"and"workers"into the"entrepreneur""engineer"and"modern(factory system)worker"three classes have gradually differentiated.(2)From a European historical perspective,medical and legal professionals were the first to be recognized by society for their unique professional abilities and professional status.After the emergence and formation of the engineering class,they also sought a professional identity and social status like doctors and lawyers.The historical process of the development of engineering economy,engineering technology,engineering politics,and engineering culture tells engineers and all sectors of society that in engineering activities with profound political,economic,cultural,and ethical significance and influence,although engineers are often not the"first responsible person",they are often very important responsible persons,and engineers must have their own serious responsibilities and obligations to take on.Engineers,as employees,should naturally take the responsibility of being accountable to their employers;However,when the interests of employers conflict with those of society,engineers must never ignore the interests of society.(3)The cultivation and growth process of medieval craftsmen also went through two stages:the first stage was the education stage of apprenticeship,and the second stage was the industry practice and development stage after"apprenticeship".In medieval Europe,a"university system"had already been established as a form of higher education,but the educational content of medieval"universities"excluded education on"engineering knowledge";At that time,there were also"ordinary schools",but the"formal school system"did not cultivate craftsmen.The craftsmen of the Middle Ages were trained through the apprenticeship system of"informal schools".After the Industrial Revolution,with the unprecedented level of"specialization"and"advancement"of engineering knowledge required for engineering activities,as well as new developments in engineering science(such as projection geometry),higher engineering colleges emerged,and the scale and types of higher engineering education became larger and larger.In the higher education system,higher engineering education has become an important component.The two stages of engineer training and growth—the education stage of higher engineering colleges and the training and growth stage of engineering practice—each have their own characteristics and are interrelated and mutually reinforcing.(4)In the classification research of engineers,special attention should be paid to the research of engineers,namely"strategic engineers",who have played a strategic guiding and leading role in the development of industries or countries.Strategic engineers are key talents in industrial development and the national talent pool.In the 20th century space race between the United States and the Soviet Union,the Soviet Union took the lead in the"first round"of launching artificial satellites,and then allowed Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin to enter space first in the"second round"of manned spaceflight,thus continuing to lead;However,the United States surpassed the Soviet Union in the third round of the lunar race and achieved a turning point victory.Although it must be acknowledged that the causal relationship that led to the changes in the situation of the"three rounds"of the US Soviet space competition is complex,many people believe that it should be acknowledged that two strategic engineers—Sergei Pavlovich Korolev and Wernher von Braun—played a key role in these"three rounds"of the competition.(5)Engineers have not achieved a social reputation comparable to their contributions in understanding the economic,technological,and social roles and functions of engineers.Compared with workers and industrialists,both theoretically and socially,the self positioning,social cognition,and interests of workers and industrialists are relatively clear.However,engineers have similarities with workers due to their"employee"status,and also have similarities with industrialists due to their management functions.Therefore,engineers become"marginalized people",which can be said to be paradoxical.The paradoxical feature of engineers'social positioning has important practical and theoretical significance.Finally,this article summarizes the spirit of engineers as follows:the spirit of pursuing excellence and innovation,the spirit of ensuring engineering safety and efficiency,the spirit of communication and teamwork,the spirit of unity of truth,goodness,and beauty,and the spirit of taking responsibility for the well-being of users,society,and humanity.关键词
工程师/工程师精神/职业责任/职业社团Key words
engineer/spirit of engineers/professional responsibility/institute of engineers分类
自科综合引用本文复制引用
王楠,李伯聪..略论工程师和工程师精神[J].工程研究——跨学科视野中的工程,2025,17(5):544-553,10.基金项目
中国工程院战略研究与咨询重点项目:工程师在新质生产力发展中的作用研究(2025-XZ-128) （2025-XZ-128）
