The Thinker's Guide to Intellectual Standards (Thinker's Guide Library) by Linda Elder & Richard Paul

Author:Linda Elder & Richard Paul
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Foundation for Critical Thinking
Published: 2011-10-17T14:00:00+00:00

The Logic of Electrical Engineering16

Now let us consider the logic of electrical engineering, followed by some of the important ways in which intellectual standards must be contextualized in assessing reasoning within that logic.

Purposes of Electrical Engineers: Electrical engineers develop electrical and electronic systems for public, commercial, and consumer markets. The field of Electrical Engineering is tremendously broad, spanning many domains including recreational electronics, residential lighting, space communications, and electrical utilities.

Questions that Electrical Engineers Ask: What are the detailed design features of the system that best satisfy the stated mission or market requirements? How will we conceive, design, implement, and operate electrical and electronic products and systems?

Information that Electrical Engineers Use: Electrical engineers employ experimental and computational data, legacy designs, regulatory requirements, market studies or mission needs statements.

Judgments that Electrical Engineers Make: Electrical engineers make judgments about the systems that will best fit their purposes and that solve the problems they are called upon to address within the discipline. The final conclusion of most electrical engineering activity is a product ready for delivery to a customer.

Concepts that Guide the Thinking of Electrical Engineers: The most fundamental concepts within Electrical Engineering include electromagnetism (Maxwell’s equations), electrochemical properties of materials, discrete and analog mathematics, resistance, current, charge, voltage, fields and waves, and so on. Electrical engineers must also conceptualize complex systems and how those systems will be perceived by clients and in some cases the general public.

Key Assumptions that Electrical Engineers Make: The assumptions made by electrical engineers are in part shared by all scientists and engineers. One assumption is that the universe is controlled by pervasive laws that can be expressed in mathematical terms and formulas, and that those principles can be used to model electrical systems. Electrical engineers assume that some important market needs can be best met through electrical and electronic products. Additionally, electrical engineers frequently assume that their work must be integrated with other engineering disciplines (such as mechanical, chemical, and so forth) in the design and implementation of a product.

Implications of Electrical Engineering: Electrical engineering products and services have wide-ranging implications that span global, national, and local economics, public infrastructure, health care, and communications, with potential for positive and negative quality of life impacts on communities and regions.

Point of View of Electrical Engineers: The point of view of the electrical engineer is primarily that of the design and manufacturing team. Other relevant points of view include the customer, stockholders, marketing, maintainers, or operators.

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