Humanistic Engineering:

2022 – In his article “Humanistic Engineering,” Bolton paints a picture about the engineering world, which, despite good intentions on the part of many professionals, is contributing to a society that is becoming less and less just and democratic. Although this negative trend has set in, the researcher gives hope by citing a new form of engineering: “Humanistic Engineering.” In this form of engineering, the human being is at the center and all consequences (products or services) of engineering must make a positive contribution to society.

The article explains how the current situation has developed by pointing out some key problems with engineers and their products. He highlights the complexity of modern systems, which can lead to safety issues. In addition, he criticizes the reactive nature of the field, focusing on solving current problems without addressing the root causes. This often results in poor products/systems being maintained rather than replaced. According to him, the engineering world has stopped designing for people/society and is now mainly focused on the financial ambitions of large corporations, often viewing the needs of society as something negative.

Another major criticism Bolton raises is that the work of engineers has no clear values. He links this to neoliberalism, in which the market is seen as the judge of a product. In this system, the “best” products are determined by their success in the marketplace. This approach, according to Bolton, lacks moral guidance.

As a solution, Bolton proposes Humanistic Engineering, an approach in which every project aims to improve people’s lives and achieve societal goals. He outlines a future in which technological advances benefit everyone, regardless of background, and make society more sustainable and inclusive. Furthermore, technology in the future should be “empowering,” where individuals are encouraged to adapt and experiment with the technology themselves (not all by the rules of large corporations). Moreover, these technologies would be environmentally friendly, not only preventing damage but also repairing previous environmental damage.

Bolton calls for a complete rethinking of the purpose of engineering. He challenges engineers to look beyond efficiency or profit (thought of big corporations), and use their knowledge and skills to change society in a positive way. Humanistic Engineering assumes a picture of the future in which science and technology help society move forward; a world in which people (not large corporations) have the power to be able to bring about change through technology and a social network that counteracts current negatives.

Reference
Bolton, M. L. (2022). Humanistic Engineering: Engineering for the People. IEEE Technology And Society Magazine, 41(4), 23–38. https://doi.org/10.1109/mts.2022.3219132