Introduction to Engineering: An Epistemological Foundation

This paper presents and outlines the organization of the current contents of the firstyear course “Introduction to Engineering” of the School of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences of Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina. The subject is based on a conceptual articulation called the “kite model”. Unlike more technically oriented organizations, the proposed scheme seeks to have students approach the discipline according to the epistemological concept of knowledge integration. Such training is believed to be necessary to harness, in a non-trivial manner, the great transformational capacity of engineering by relating it to cultural and natural contexts. The objectives of each unit of the course syllabus are detailed. The contents of the syllabus are based on current developments in the philosophy of technology and engineering. It is concluded that the proposed organization allows for the early incorporation of contextual questioning in the training of engineers. This holds particular relevance in prompting students to reflect more broadly on the great challenges of the present age, following Pope Francis’s invitation in his encyclical Laudato Si’.