From: ejh@khonshu.colorado.edu (Edward J. Hartnett)
Subject: Re: Engg./Sciences bashing (Re: Are there any humanities grads. out there ?)
Organization: Cooperative Institute for Research in the Environmental Sciences
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1992 00:31:29 GMT

In article <36359@ogicse.ogi.edu> natarsu@mse.ogi.edu (N. Sukumar) writes:
>In article <IASTATE.1992Apr15.232342> keats@IASTATE.EDU 
>(Venkata K Polineni) writes :-
> 
>[earlier stufff deleted]
> 
>...ignorance and prejudice [rather harsh !], IMO.  I for one
>don't see tha majority of Engineers making any significant
>contribution to the direct upliftment of humans and their
>lives.  Someone had pointed to the fact that 99% [or so] do 
>so.  IMO, it's probably the other way around, for < 1% probably
>make a direct impact and really contribute to science and
>technology.  The rest just do a 9 to 5 job and earn a pretty
>hefty salary for doing so ! 
>
	I don't see how you can say this. The extremely advanced
society that you live in is absolutely and totally dependant
on the work of those 9 to 5ers. If you mean a huge and induvidual
contribution, like inventing the microprocessor, that's pretty
rare, but what do you think those 99% of engineers do to get
that hefty salary? Is this just another shining example of
corporate generosity? Just because it isn't dramatic and 
obvious to you, doesn't mean that they are not making a big 
contribution. Engineering is a piecemeal business, and those 
99% working 9 to 5 are the ones that designed the car you drive in,
the roads you drive on, the stop-lights you stop at, the house 
you walk into, the computer you turn on, the phone system it 
uses, the computer network it connects to, and the materials
used in all of the above. I would venture to guess that there
is not one single thing in your feild of vision right now 
(unless you're outdoors) that was not invented/developed/
improved by one of those 9 to 5ers. You're entire lifestyle
and life depends on those 9 to 5ers.

>> While enginneering/sciences cater to the basic needs of humanity, 
>> Literature comes into play only when they are satisfied. Try 
>> lecturing on Shakespeare to a starving man!! The point I am
>> trying to make is, only when all your basic needs are satisfied 
>> do you turn (if at all) to literature pursuits and 
>> engineering/sciences try to provide those basic needs. 
>
>	I don't see your point.  How about lecturing on
>Integral Transforms to a starving man ..:-) ? Will it make a
>difference ?  I at least don't see it doing so.  Engg./
>Sciences provide a direct and convenient means for one
>to earn money (the basic need).  Period !  Job opportunities
>and salaries directly dictate the "hot" fields of specialization.  
>Since the humanities do not fall in the above category, their
>importance is down-played.
> 
>> Engineering/Sciences are necessary and essential, while Humanities 
>> supplement all round and balanced development. The common man 
>> can do without the latter but not the former. Personally, I dig 
>> both, as my email address testifies :-)
> 
>	If you wan't to see a direct impact field, it's got
>to be Medicine.  IMO, being a Doctor requires a high degree
>of proficiency and skill, for there's a lot at stake.  Hey! If 
>Doctors weren't around, Engineers would cease to exist :-) !
>
>bye
>suku.

No argument about doctors from me. In fact, it supports my
point. Doctors make tons of money (much more than engineers),
yet is anyone naive enough to think they go through all that
trouble (school, residency) for the money? I guess some do.

Speaking of medicine, who do you think designed the modern
medical equipment, the ambulances, the emergency power backup
systems in the hospitals, even the automatic looms that made
the hospital sheets? How effective would the best doctor be
without his finely engineered equipment? Engineers make at
least as much of a contribution to medicine as doctors do
(which is not to run down doctors - it's not an either/or
situation, both contributions are necessary).
			Ed Hartnett

Xref: sparky soc.college.grad:1015 soc.college.gradinfo:681