2022 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
History of Technology A
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Toma Kawanishi
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Mon (W521)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.T103
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2022
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
In this lecture, we will examine who is and was an "engineer" from a historical approach. The engineering profession, distinguished from the traditional artisans and craftsmen, was born in the Modern West. This course will give you a historical overview of the engineering profession in France, England, Germany, and the United States in the 19th century, which greatly influenced the history of engineering in Japan. Then, we will examine the characteristics of the Japanese counterpart.
The image of the "engineer" is surprisingly diverse depending on the time and place and still in flux. The objective of this lecture is to provide the attendees with a multifaceted understanding of this profession from the historical perspective. And in so doing, it aims to provide them with material for thinking about their own careers.
Course description and aims
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. to understand the engineering profession historically and reflectively
2. to reflect on the past and future of the profession based on such understanding.
Keywords
Engineer, French Revolution, Industrial Revolution, Engineering Education
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Basically lecture style, with discussion as appropriate.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction: overview of lecture approach; prehistory of "engineers" (from antiquity to the Renaissance) | Preparing your image of "engineer" in advance. (At the beginning of the lecture, you will be asked questions about it.) |
| Class 2 | France: from "military engineers" under the absolute monarchy to the elite of the state and industrial society | Reading course materials |
| Class 3 | Britain: Industrial Revolution initiated by the craftsmen; dominance of field-oriented approach and failure of higher technical education | Reading course materials |
| Class 4 | Germany: A late-industrialized country and the Technische Hochschule; from an apolitical and rational figure to the standard bearer of "reactionary modernism” | Reading course materials |
| Class 5 | the U.S.: Competing models of engineering; Land-Grant universities; engineering became mass-profession | Reading course materials |
| Class 6 | Japan: From National Elite to "Salarymen" | Reading course materials |
| Class 7 | Conclusion: To What Have Engineers and Technology Served? | Reviewing the contents of the previous six lectures. (In the second half of the class, participants will discuss the contents of the lecture, ) |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
None required. All materials used in class can be found on T2SCHOLA.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Peter Meiksins and Chris Smith (eds.) Engineering Labour: Technical Workers in Comparative Perspective (Verso, 1996)
Ken Alder. Engineering the Revolution: Arms and Enlightenment in France, 1763-1815. (University of Chicago Press, 1997)
Eda Kranakis. Constructing a Bridge: An Exploration of Engineering Culture, Design, and Research in Nineteenth-Century France and America (MIT Press. 1997)
Edwin T. Layton, The Revolt of the Engineers: Social Responsibility and the American Engineering Profession (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1986)
Kees Gispen, New Profession, Old Order: Engineers and German Society, 1815-1914 (Cambridge University Press, 1989)
Kenzo Sakamoto. Sentan Gijutsu no Yukue (Iwanami Shoten 1987)
Tetsu Hiroshige, Kagaku no Shakaishi (Jo) (Ge), (Iwanami Shoten 2002)
Yoishiro Murakami. Kogaku no Rekishi to Gijutsu no Rinri (Iwanami Shoten 2006)
Yasu Furukawa, Kagaku no Shakaishi (Chikuma shobo 2018)
Further reference will be given in the course of lecture. All materials used in class can be found on T2SCHOLA.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Evaluation will be made on the basis of short reports (summary of the lecture in each class, 50%) and a final report (50%).
Related courses
- LAH.T203 ： History of Technology B
- LAH.T303 ： History of Technology C
- LAH.S416 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences16:History of Technology
Prerequisites
No prerequisites.
Other
14:00- 16:00 on Wednesday at Lecturer's office. or contact by e-mail in advance to schedule an appointment.