Truth Engineering
Truth Engineering (TEng) – deals with how we can know and maintain truthfulness in the increasingly complicated mappings between the human world and the computational that result from the growing presence of advanced frameworks, implies the need for a 'truth' engine to establish a proper basis, and emphasizes the related human qualities.
Who ought to be interested in TEng? - Users and builders of advanced computational systems
A. For starters, we can follow the lead set by Wikipedia and talk about what TEng is not as shown in the following table.
| TEng is not ‘truthiness’ (the pejorative context of this term ought not be used as an excuse for discounting issues of the philosophy of science [see, scientism] nor as an argument against applying intuition [see, Blink]), |
| TEng is not spin doctoring, |
| TEng is not truth maintenance, |
| TEng is not risk management, and |
| TEng is not a silver bullet. |
TEng may relate to some of the items in this incomplete list but is more than any of these. For instance, ‘truthiness’ is a fad word. However, compiled knowledge is not the same as a collection of what went into the compilation (we ought to use this computational metaphor). ‘Trained intuition’ has its role in any event where experts have to make hard decisions.
In a sense, TEng will help temper several things: analysis paralysis, and the like.
B. The concept developed within the contexts of advanced computer technology and the growing prowess of the computational. An example would be Knowledge Based Engineering (KBE). Since 2000 (perhaps as part of a natural evolution or as part of responses to events), there have been many advances that relate to ‘truth engineering’ albeit under other auspices (trustworthy computing, analysis via simulation, user certification, SME-oriented quality specifications, and the like).
TEng pertains to more than the computational (which includes the web-based, operating systems, or applications and their use); we need to consider and address how computation and knowledge impacts our knowledge and related processes. For instance, of importance will be continuing description and discussion of the computer as a cognitive tool and as a partner (example, computing and the scientific method). Methods, such as evidence-based medicine, will be of importance to the discussion.
C. A type of challenge within KBE deals with geometric modeling as a leading abstraction that has several decisioning roles. Additional challenges are briefly itemized in the “KBE Futures/Theory” of the KBE overview.
D. TEng involves resolution of several issues, such as those related to quasi-empiricism. The computer can serve as a tool for TEng, however the ultimate decisions require human expertise. As would be expected, there are both economic and operational factors that will play heavily in TEng.
E. TEng is not engineering of disinformation as TEng deals with methods and measurement to maximize, and not minimize, truth.
F. For more information, please contact AJSwtlk.