The application of Critical Theory to engineering practice—examining how engineering is shaped by social forces, how it embeds values and power relations, and how it might serve liberation rather than domination. Critical Theory of Engineering asks: Who benefits from engineering projects? Whose needs are prioritized? How do engineering designs reflect and reinforce social hierarchies? What would engineering look like if it prioritized human flourishing over efficiency, profit, or control? Drawing on critical technology studies, it insists that engineering is never just technical—it's social, political, ethical. Understanding engineering requires understanding the society that shapes it—and imagining engineering otherwise requires imagining society otherwise.
"Engineering is just problem-solving, they say. Critical Theory of Engineering asks: solving whose problems? For whose benefit? The bridge connects some communities while displacing others; the algorithm optimizes for profit while reinforcing bias. Engineering isn't neutral; it's politics made concrete. Critical theory insists on asking: what values are built into the design? Who pays, who benefits, who's harmed? Engineering can serve liberation, but only if engineers ask those questions."
by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 4, 2026
Get the Critical Theory of Engineering mug.by DAMN-NEBULI April 3, 2015
Get the ENGINEERINUITY mug.Megan: My golf ball just went really far!
Taylor: Actually Megan, the dimples on the golf ball create turbulent airflow which allows the boundary layer to adhere over a greater surface area thereby reducing the drag on the ball and allowing it to go farther.
Megan: Why you gotta get all engineerial on me? Just hit the ball.
Taylor: Actually Megan, the dimples on the golf ball create turbulent airflow which allows the boundary layer to adhere over a greater surface area thereby reducing the drag on the ball and allowing it to go farther.
Megan: Why you gotta get all engineerial on me? Just hit the ball.
by Megan77 January 12, 2009
Get the engineerial mug.Designing or fixing a device or any other task related to engineering while under the influence of alcohol. While this practice often results in something that works, the results are rarely of acceptable quality to a more sober person.
The speakers on hand were of to low an impedance for the available amplifier so the students began engibeering the following solution. Two speakers were wired in series to increase the impedance to an acceptable level. However, this additional speaker did not have an enclosure. It was fitted into a hole cut out of the side of a beer box and the wires joined by twisting them together and taping with packaging tape.
by MTUengibeer April 19, 2013
Get the engibeering mug.A:Hey bro im going into engimineering.
B:Doesnt that just mean you suck at math?
A:No im just gonna do that a little later
B:Doesnt that just mean you suck at math?
A:No im just gonna do that a little later
by GAYLORD1234567891 October 6, 2018
Get the engimineering mug.The act of creating/modifying/ghetto-engineering something effectively, usually with great force and with as little financial outlay as possible.
"That looks like you made it out of zipties, ducttape and some wooden pallets. I'm getting tetanus just looking at it. Does it work?"
"I'm bengineering it. How could it not?"
"I'm bengineering it. How could it not?"
by orias0_o January 23, 2014
Get the Bengineering mug.ben·gi·neer·ing
/ˌbɛndʒəˈnɪərɪŋ/ Show SpelledBen-juh-neer-ing
1. the art and/or science of making practical application of the knowledge of handy makeshift skills. Indirect application skills and solutions to form a valid solution. As in the innovation of repairs, tools, useless/full objects, words, etc...
2. the action, work, or profession of an Bengineer.
3. skillful or artful contrivance; maneuvering, sneaking.
Origin:1987–88; Bengineer + -ing1
—Related forms
non·Ben·gi·neer·ing, noun, adjective
pre·Ben·gi·neer·ing, adjective
/ˌbɛndʒəˈnɪərɪŋ/ Show SpelledBen-juh-neer-ing
1. the art and/or science of making practical application of the knowledge of handy makeshift skills. Indirect application skills and solutions to form a valid solution. As in the innovation of repairs, tools, useless/full objects, words, etc...
2. the action, work, or profession of an Bengineer.
3. skillful or artful contrivance; maneuvering, sneaking.
Origin:1987–88; Bengineer + -ing1
—Related forms
non·Ben·gi·neer·ing, noun, adjective
pre·Ben·gi·neer·ing, adjective
Innovative Bengineering made this incredible feat possible.
Oh snap we've got some major issues here...looks like we better start to Bengineer a solution.
A: What are you Majoring at Harvard?
B: Civil Bengineering
Oh snap we've got some major issues here...looks like we better start to Bengineer a solution.
A: What are you Majoring at Harvard?
B: Civil Bengineering
by The Bizjam September 16, 2010
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