Proving a mathematical theorem is the kind of absolute proof no amount of cogent and convincing arguing will ever touch. Ethics is a set of rules, critically o

Proving a mathematical theorem is the kind of absolute proof no amount of cogent and convincing arguing will ever touch. Ethics is a set of rules, critically occupied with filtering out simple egoistic urges from greater human goals. I think you're confusing critical thinking with empathy and emotional insight. To understand humans, you have to understand our emotions and that requires empathy. Combine empathy with critical thinking and you can have insights about our emotional lives. Engineers are not poorly trained in critical thinking skills, quite the opposite. Some engineers are very empathic people. A few seem to posses a distinct lack of empathy and little intuition as to how other feel. But those individuals are rare and not confined to engineering. Convincing arguments depend on who you're trying to convince, know your audience. The same argument won't convince engineers and astrologists. Any good engineer has excellent communication skills, they wouldn't be a good engineer otherwise. And cogent convincing arguments are an intimate part of every engineer's life. The study of math, physics, logic, will greatly improve your ability to come up with convincing arguments.