Vol.2 No.4 2010

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Interview : Restoration of engineering and Synthesiology−284−Synthesiology - English edition Vol.2 No.4 (2010) However, I am beginning to think that the definition of kogaku is beginning to waver in Japan. This may upset some people, but engineering faculties in Japan are approaching something closer to science. There have been comments from people in industry that the meaning of the word kogaku has been stretched, and kogaku is departing from engineering faculties that are supposed to be the final stronghold of kogaku. Recently, many reports blatantly state, “Engineering faculties are no longer pursuing proper engineering but are sub-science faculties or science-faculty-like engineering faculties.” Students who were planning to get into engineering for problem solving decide to go into other areas of science, medicine, or economics. I believe that this happens because engineering faculties are loosing their original stance. The concept of engineering faculty was a derivative from the science faculty, and in fact, Japan was the first country that created a faculty of engineering. An age where “science” must evolve alongside “technology” (Ono)You say that there was an original Japanese kogaku. To seek the original definition of kogaku is the starting point of the restoration of engineering.It is said that science and technology are beginning to fuse, while others state, they are mutually exclusive and are evolving separately. What are your thoughts on fusion and exclusivity? (Nagai)The history of Asian science and the history of Asian technology are not studied extensively. While the history of Western technology is not studied heavily in the West, the history of Western science has been extremely well studied. Dr. Yoichiro Murakami, Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo, provided a comprehensive explanation: “In the West, there are two things that God created. One is the Bible, and the other is nature. These are the divine revelations. Western science was born because the purpose of scholarship was to clarify divine revelation.” (Ono)One of the origins of Western science was to realize or to seek the divine world according to Christianity. It was closely linked to theology. (Nagai)Yes. On the continent, scientists were supported by royalty, while engineers had relatively low status. In contrast, in England, scientists were considered arrogant and useless, and engineers and craftsmen were favored. In the Renaissance, the encyclopedia was created since “God did not create nature in a systematic manner, but created it randomly and abundantly. One can approach God if one understands all randomly created things.” It was around this time that the relationship with tools became very apparent in the history of science like, for example, Galileo Galilei needing a telescope to perform his studies or to carry out experiments rather than just thinking.According to Dr. Murakami, the reason for change in Western science is because the Westerners fought the Muslims. They studied and assimilated the things left behind by the Muslims, and they realized that they failed to properly assimilate Socrates and the Hellenistic culture. A great turning point occurred through their restudying of foreign cultures. This is much like the origin of Synthesiology. Some of the theologians decided that things did not have to be systematic, and came up with the encyclopedia style.(Ono)The gathering of facts is foremost in importance.(Nagai)Yes. At around the time of the Industrial Revolution, science and technology ran into each other head on. In technology, making “things” was the objective. Whether it was the printing press, explosives, or a compass—there are theories that the water mill was created in the Orient—, they only had to be constructed and made practical. Principles were unnecessary. I think this is the wonderful part of technology.Science, on the other hand, is a pursuit of profound truth created by God, and in a sense it does not require results. I think this is wonderful too, and I don’t think either should be regulated in any way. I do think there is an attempt to change from the encyclopedia style.First, how do we describe the current age? One is that it has become flat, as exemplified by the word “mass globalization.” The world has become very small through the development of traffic and communication. Information can diffuse throughout the world in an instant. It is a new age in this respect.Around 2050, the world population will be 1.5 times its current value, and about twice the amount of resources and energy will become necessary. The emission of carbon dioxide will at least double. The remaining resources and energy will shrink. After the world population reaches the peak in 2050, the average lifespan will increase. The 21st century is an era when people will age on a global scale.On the other hand, the speed of development of science and technology will accelerate even more. (Ono)Does that mean that we must accelerate the development of science and technology?

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