Can Engineers Be Considered Applied Physicists?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around whether engineers can be considered applied physicists, exploring the implications of such a classification for personal identity and professional opportunities. It touches on themes of academic background, professional titles, and the value placed on these distinctions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the significance of labeling engineers as applied physicists, suggesting it may not matter for employment opportunities.
  • One participant expresses a personal desire to be recognized as a physicist, linking this to a sense of honor rather than vanity.
  • Another participant argues that the desire for a title may stem from an inferiority complex about being called an engineer.
  • There is a suggestion that many physicists work in engineering roles and carry the title of engineer, indicating a fluidity between the two identities.
  • Some participants propose that taking physics courses could bridge the gap between engineering and applied physics.
  • A participant emphasizes that there is no official title of "applied physicist," which complicates the discussion of identity and recognition.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the importance of titles and the motivations behind wanting to be recognized as a physicist. There is no consensus on whether engineers can or should be considered applied physicists.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes personal reflections and emotional responses, which may influence the perspectives shared. The definitions of "physicist" and "applied physicist" are not universally agreed upon, leading to ambiguity in the conversation.

nebbione
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Hi everyone, i was asking myself , can engineers be considered applied physicist ?
 
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Is there a reason why this would matter in the least bit?

Zz.
 
ZapperZ said:
Is there a reason why this would matter in the least bit?

Zz.

Probably for employment opportunities?
 
yes!
 
Based on your other thread you seem to have an obsession with the label of "physicist." Why?
 
InvalidID said:
Probably for employment opportunities?

Again, how would this matter for employment opportunities? Why would this matter whether an engineer is an "applied physicist" or not? Does it make a hoot of a difference if I call a medical doctor an "applied biologist"?

Zz.
 
The fact is that I've ever dreamed from the high school of being a physicist, but for an economical reason, i studied (and still studying) engineering because close to my house the closest thing to physics was computer engineering, i don't dislike of being an engineer, but i wonder anyway, if i study hard physics and study even things that when don't study at university (like quantum physics or relativity) if i ever can be considered a physicist and "Have the HONOR" to say whan I'm talking to others, I'm an applied physicist...
 
Then you need to examine yourself here, because it appears that you care more about "title" than anything else. This is vanity.

Zz.
 
I don't think it's vanity, it's just a fact of Honor of being one!

For example if one's think of being a knight... and nobody consider him a knight because he doesn't have that title effectively, it's different of being considered a knight and I don't think it's a pity to desire a title! For me it would be an HONOR to be considered a physicist... Understand what I mean ?
 
  • #10
That's exactly what vanity is. It's the title that attracts you. This thread has kinda gone of topic though.
 
  • #11
so I'm vanitous if my desire is to become a physicist but I'm studying engineering according to my economical possibilities ?
 
  • #12
It depends on the reason. You only want to be called a physicist for the honor. If you want to be called a physicist study physics. Zapper Z has a thread on going to physics grad school without a degree in physics.
 
  • #13
nebbione said:
I don't think it's vanity, it's just a fact of Honor of being one!

For example if one's think of being a knight... and nobody consider him a knight because he doesn't have that title effectively, it's different of being considered a knight and I don't think it's a pity to desire a title! For me it would be an HONOR to be considered a physicist... Understand what I mean ?

This is silly, because somehow you have this inferiority complex at being called an engineer! What is wrong being called for what you are? There are many physicists who work in industries and proudly carry the title of engineers, even if they were trained as physicistsand have degrees in physics!

There is no such "title" as "applied physicist".

This thread doesn't deserve to be in "Career Guidance", because this is not a rational career guidance discussion topic.

Zz.
 
  • #14
Wait wait wait... maybe you intended completely different things... My question was not for a vanity purpose... Let me explain... First off...I'm sorry if I offended someone with my posts, it really was not my attempt, and I'm sorry if I let somebody think that I'm vanitous, I'm not that kind of guy, i just wanted to know, if i could have the title of "applied physicist" even being an engineer, for a job purpose, and i even said that it would be anyway an honor to have such title... that's all! i perfectly know that a title is surely not a description of a person, for example, one can have the title of "engineer"/"physicist"/"mathematician" without knowing anything of any scientific subject, while there are other persons who don't have any degree but they kick a** in a lot of subjects... I repeat, I'm so sorry I gave this imagine of myself, and I assure you that I'm not that kind of person... I'm an huble engineering-student and anyway you are right now we are going out of subject... So I Think we can close this post... hoping you can accept my apologies
 
  • #15
nebbione said:
Hi everyone, i was asking myself , can engineers be considered applied physicist ?
One could look into computational physics. I would recommend taking some physics courses as part of one's engineering program.
 
  • #16
Yeah, that's what I was thinking about, i was even really interested into computational physics... thanks!
 

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