For the record:
ISBN 0-471-05222-1
Copyright 1975,1979 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
by Thomas R. Blakelee, VP-Engr Logisticon Inc. Sunnyvale California

I have the 2nd edition in my collection. You'd find the differences between the Rumanian text and original English versions interesting - Example:

Your book writes "15.4 chapter: "Engineer like illusion seller" whereas the original writes "15.4 THE ENGINEER AS A DOPE PUSHER" (I passed Chapter 15 through a OCR scanner).

The 5 page chapter ending the textbook struck me as the sort of lecture professors give on their last day of class. Give the students something to think about as they are cast off into the real world.

This sort of philosophizing is an easy target for humorous cheap shots... I just deleted a ton of my own. :) As I was proofing the OCR edition, I got into reading it seriously and would agree that it is worthy of a new topic.

I did find it amusing that while Blakelee lamented the frivolous application of digital circuitry to home appliances, he ponders how much LOWER our telephone rates could be if ever they'd apply digital circuitry to our telephone service. --- He should see my phone bills.

One thing he says early on is that engineers have some control in how technology is applied. That is naive - MARKET forces rule applications. We sell trivial gadgets because its always easier to sell to idiots than to smart people. If we want to impress fellow smart people, we can party with them after work... that's easier than designing them useful gadgets. :)

I always say that humans are basically tribal and seek personal gain; all other aspects are derivatives of these. That models human behavior in all governmental, spiritual, social and business activities in my opinion. :)

Regarding "making he blind see." YES we can do that. If the blind were richer than other humans, we'd have satisfied them first.

Should we engineers seek to make society greater than it wants to be? NAAAWWWWW - Its a great way to go bankrupt and people forget to thank or remember the newly poor.

Should we help our fellow man - SURE. I may seem very businesswise, cut-throat but I temper that with good deeds. I had a proverbial "fork in the road" in the early 70's between a career as Blakelee would advise and the career I've had a lot of fun with:

An instructor met with me after class and told me this... A gentleman that owns a local company manufacturing devices for the handicap is retiring and wants to give his company to someone that will continue with his standards. The business owner had asked the school or that department to select someone to recommend (this doesn't go well for me - hehehe).

The instructor said "You are the finest student (this was the mechanical and architectural drafting department) and you'd undoubtedly make a great success with this opportunity... BUT I'm going to give it to Steve because this would be his only chance to make something of himself and I know you'll do OK without it."

WELL DUH!!! Why tell me then!?!?

I was very annoyed about this for several years but it did get me thinking about how microprocessors could be used to help the handicap and I still keep in touch with Steve who HAS done well with that company continuing the previous owner's dreams.

While on the otherhand I have sought a catch-up course to make my fortune and I never minded making "frivolous gadgets" for consumers or governments as long as they were designed as well as I could and I was learning something for when I started my own company.

So Blakelee would be disappointed with me but I've had a lot more fun! I believe in doing great work for my customers or clients and for yin-yang balance, I wage ruthless war upon my competitors.

Am I good for society?

hehehe... What's society done for me recently? :)

aka j