Abstract

Taking the engineering part of conceptual engineering seriously means learning from the methods of other engineering disciplines.  Since the concepts that philosophers want to engineer are generally parts of large, complex, existing systems, they are attempting to engage in systems engineering.  The branch of systems engineering that deals most in concepts is software systems engineering.  This is a relatively new discipline, having emerged out of less systematic software development practices by borrowing certain key methods from recent developments in architecture.  This talk traces the close analogy between architects’ design patternsand philosophers’ concepts, then follows the lessons learned in software systems engineering about what makes a good design pattern, how to engineer a better one, and how to evangelize better design patterns after their invention.  Two key lessons are a sweet spot in the scope of conceptual engineering projects and the importance of structures of collaboration.