The Bible’s Perspective on Science and Engineering

Powerpoint slides can be found at www.acgr.org

Questions

• What is science?• What is engineering?• What is design?• What is innovation?• What are the differences between the

above?

Confusing DefinitionsHigh School Physics Teacher:“Engineers are those who make things based on the discoveries given to them by sicentists”

Dictionary: engineering=science of useful processes, phenomena, and devices (so is physics unconcerned with useful things???)

Applied Physics=when physics addresses useful things

“Engineering is an art” (art is not always about useful things)

Science: knowledge (scientia in Latin)

Inventor

Engineer Scientist

Rocket Scientist

“Science seeks to understand what is; Engineering seeks to create what never was.”

—Theodore von Kármán

Scientist• Deals with existing things

and phenomena• Seeks understanding • Frames hypotheses• Tests hypotheses• Presents results• Writes reports• Publishes papers• Ignores invention?

Engineering• Seeks to design, create, and manage new

things • Closely linked to invention (technology)• Has an element of art to it, but is not

art for art’s sake• Has an element of science to it, but

is not simply applied science• An invention or design might be

considered a hypothesis to be tested by making or building the thing

Engineering is not science, nor is it simply applied science.• Steam engine preceded thermodynamics• Powered flight preceded a full theory of

flight• Rockets preceded rocket science• Computers preceded computer science• Moon landing preceded a complete

knowledge of the lunar surface• Selective breeding preceded genetics

Scientific Method is consistent with von Karman definition

Scientific Method1. Make Observation2. Make a guess about the observation (develop a

working hypothesis3. Conduct experiments to falsify your guess (theory

level)a. If falsified, start over with a new hypothesisb. If not falsified, keep testing

4. Conduct more experiments to validate theory to become a law

Science is related to what exists!!!

Euclid’s Elements: Oldest Technical Book

• Geometry (science of figures)• Mechanics (science of contrivances made

with geometric figures)• These two foundations set the stage for

modern engineering and science

Rankine (with Carnot started the science of Thermodynamics)

“..the improvers of the mechanical arts were neglected by biographers and historians, from a mistaken prejudice against practice, as being inferior in dignity to contemplation…”

In other words science is contemplation and improvers of mechanical arts are engineers and historians/biographers rated science as more dignified than engineering

Now again…..

Is design, engineering or science?

Is invention, engineering or science?

What is Intelligent Design, engineering or science?

• Problem: Make solar energy economical• Question: Is this a scientific problem?

– Basic scientific principles understood– Engineering, economic, environmental,

and other obstacles remain

What happens when the sun goes down?

• Engineer the tools of scientific discovery

Large Hadron Collider

Technology Leads Science

Galileo’s Telescope Hubble Space Telescope

Einstein at Swiss Patent Office, 1905

“The formulation of patent statements was a blessing. It

gave me the opportunity to think about physics.”

—Einstein on “the influence of his experience as a patent examiner on his intellectual development”

Einstein’s Annus Mirabilis (1905)

• Light quanta• Brownian motion• Special relativity• Equivalence of matter and energy

Albert Einstein and Leó Szilárd, scientists and inventors

1920s General Electric Monitor Top Refrigerator

Problems with 1920s Refrigerators

• Refrigerants were poisonous– Methyl chloride, ammonia, sulfur dioxide

• Mechanical pumps were liable to develop leaks

– Reported death of entire family due to leak• Refrigerator motors were noisy

– Ice boxes had been essentially silent

There had to be a better way

• Eliminate mechanical pump (and motor)– No leaks– No noise– No need for electric power

• Employ principles of thermodynamics– Partial pressure– Latent heat

Einstein on Ernst Mach

“Mach’s weakness, as I see it, lies in the fact that he believed more or less strongly that

science consists merely of putting experimental results in order; that is, he did

not recognize the free constructive element in the creation of a concept. He thought that somehow theories arise by means of discovery and not by

means of invention.”1948

The Creator’s Dominion Mandate• Gen 1:28 and God blessed them and God

said unto them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the fowl of the air, and over every living think that moves upon the earth.”

• subdue: kabash (Hebrew) military term to conquer or to subjugate

• dominion: radah (Hebrew) military term to rule over

The Biblical Dominion Mandate: Mankind’s Stewardship

• To conquer (subdue) and to rule (dominion)• Research and Development• Science and Engineering • Psalm 8:6-8 you made him to have

dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet: all sheep and oxen, yes, the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air and the fish of the sea, and whatever passes through the paths of the seas

Science: A Biblical PerspectiveDeut 29:29 The secret things belong to the Lord

our God; but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children for ever.

secretthings

God’s revelation to mankind to date

God’s revelation to mankind that we have not received yet

1) Choose God’s perspective, not your own2) Pro-actively seek with persistence God’s

wisdom3) Fear God4) Receive knowledge5) Create and innovate with new inventions

How does one “conquer” and “rule” in science and engineering?

How does one “conquer” and “rule” in science and

engineering?

Fear of God knowledgeProverbs 1:7

Choose God’s perspective, not yours wisdom

understanding

Proverbs 9:10

Proverbs 2:1-6

Innovation &invention

Is 55:9

• Isaiah 55:9 for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts

Conquering and Ruling in Science and Engineering

1. Choose God’s perspective, not yours

Conquering and Ruling in Science and Engineering

1. Choose God’s perspective, not yours

2. Pro-actively seek God’s wisdom and understanding

Proverbs 2:1-2 my son, if you will receive my words and hide my commands with you so that you incline your ear unto wisdom and apply your heart to understanding

Conquering and Ruling in Science and Engineering

2. Pro-actively seek God’s wisdom and understanding

Proverbs 2:3-6 if you cry after knowledge and lift up your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver and search for her as hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find knowledge

3. Understand fear of God

4. Gain knowledge

Fear of God is the Basis

• Prov 9:10 the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

• Prov 1:7 the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom

5. Revelation for Innovation

• Proverbs 8:12 I wisdom dwell with prudence and find out knowledge of witty inventions

Creator Reveals His Character

Romans 1:20 for ever since the creation of the world, His invisible nature and attributes, that is his eternal power and divinity have been clearly made intelligible and clearly discernible in the things that have been made.

Engineering and Science have a goal: to study the creation in order to understand the Creator