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This seems inaccurate. Engineering isn't a branch of mathematics: it relies on empirical results ("observations") and theory from physics (which also is empiric

by sidlls 4y ago

This seems inaccurate. Engineering isn't a branch of mathematics: it relies on empirical results ("observations") and theory from physics (which also is empirical). Mathematics is not science. Engineering is science. Engineering (huge simplification, here) is essentially one experiment after another.

xyzzyz 4y ago
No, the parent is exactly correct. Research in quantum computing has been mostly mathematical, and it predated any practical development of useful physical implementations of quantum computing. Quantum computing as a field does not depend on empirical results any more than study of Turing machines depends on properties of physical tapes.
coef2 4y ago
I thought neither mathematics nor engineering is strictly science. Engineering utilizes scientific knowledge to solve complex problems, but its purpose isn't to make scientific discoveries through hypothesis testing. It's interesting, though, that new artificial scientific disciplines (e.g., theory of how quantum computing works) occasionally spin out of engineering projects.
- deleted 4y ago
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- rishflab 4y ago
  Agreed, engineering is about building stuff, not making discoveries about how the universe/existence works. Engineering often results in scientific discoveries but this is incidental.
  - ddingus 4y ago
    Science is about basic understanding. Monkey see, monkey do. Input A yields outcome B. We get that understanding this way: https://youtu.be/EYPapE-3FRw https://youtu.be/EYPapE-3FRw I love that whole series of lectures. They are his Cornell introduction to physics lectures and are a gold mine of basic scientific type thinking. So far, science has not increased our knowledge of truth. That's damn tough to come by. What it has done is very significantly expanded our understanding of the world. Our theories are far more predictive in far more contexts than ever! But, that is it! Monkey see, monkey do. Engineering is all about applying that understanding to solve problems in robust, efficient, safe ways.

by sidlls 4y ago

xyzzyz 4y ago

No, the parent is exactly correct. Research in quantum computing has been mostly mathematical, and it predated any practical development of useful physical implementations of quantum computing. Quantum computing as a field does not depend on empirical results any more than study of Turing machines depends on properties of physical tapes.

coef2 4y ago

I thought neither mathematics nor engineering is strictly science. Engineering utilizes scientific knowledge to solve complex problems, but its purpose isn't to make scientific discoveries through hypothesis testing. It's interesting, though, that new artificial scientific disciplines (e.g., theory of how quantum computing works) occasionally spin out of engineering projects.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
rishflab 4y ago
Agreed, engineering is about building stuff, not making discoveries about how the universe/existence works. Engineering often results in scientific discoveries but this is incidental.
- ddingus 4y ago
  Science is about basic understanding. Monkey see, monkey do. Input A yields outcome B. We get that understanding this way: https://youtu.be/EYPapE-3FRw https://youtu.be/EYPapE-3FRw I love that whole series of lectures. They are his Cornell introduction to physics lectures and are a gold mine of basic scientific type thinking. So far, science has not increased our knowledge of truth. That's damn tough to come by. What it has done is very significantly expanded our understanding of the world. Our theories are far more predictive in far more contexts than ever! But, that is it! Monkey see, monkey do. Engineering is all about applying that understanding to solve problems in robust, efficient, safe ways.