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The original meaning of engineer was: "A constructor of military engines; a person who designs and constructs military works for attack and defence." It is fir
by umanwizard 7y ago
The original meaning of engineer was: "A constructor of military engines; a person who designs and constructs military works for attack and defence."
It is first found in English in 1380, when I doubt any professional certification bodies existed.
Eventually it evolved to mean what you got your license in, and then evolved further to include things like "software engineers".
Unless you build engines, the word engineer to describe what you do is etymologically inaccurate. So why is your particular stage on the path of organic evolution of this word more valid than anyone else's?
- brewdad 7y agoBecause PEs have a legal definition under the law.
- learc83 7y agoThat's true, which is why you wouldn't put P.E. after your name or represent yourself as a Mechanical Engineer etc... No one who knows what a PE is going to be confused by someone calling themselves a software engineer, and audio engineer, or a sanitation engineer. I understand the other argument that the job title "Engineer" is being diluted, but that ship sailed a long time ago. There are way more people with engineer in their title than there are PEs so I doubt any widespread legislative attempt to change this would be successful. And it's not just software engineers. Plenty of people working as engineers with ABET accredited engineering degrees haven't passed the PE exam either.
- fortran77 7y agoBecause I have a state licence from a previous life as an EE.
- umanwizard 7y agoDid your state exist in 1380?