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Building a Cathedral without Science or Mathematics: The Engineering Method Explained

engineerguy · explainer · Watch on YouTube

Civil engineering & constructionWorld historyScientific method & science communication

What it is

Bill Hammack of engineerguy explains how medieval engineers designed stone cathedrals using rules of thumb, with no science, mathematics or literacy. He uses it to define the engineering method.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN recommends the series as a thoughtful account of engineering as rule-of-thumb problem solving that predates formal science.

  • 5 people recommended it
  • 5 different months
  • 2 strong recommendations
  • first 2023, last 2026

What HN commenters said

  1. “I encourage everyone to watch this series of videos.”

    Series on engineering using rules of thumb

    empath-nirvana, 2023-10 · Strong recommendation · in “Pythagorean Theorem Found on Clay Tablet 1k Years Older Than Pythagoras”

  2. “It's too important of a topic to not drive this point home crystal clear by someone who is far more respected than me.”

    Engineering improvisation is impressive, not inferior

    sublinear, 2026-06 · Strong recommendation · in “Open Source Low Tech”

  3. “Truly fascinating.”

    Ancient structures built with rules of thumb, not science

    mayormcmatt, 2023-05 · Recommendation · in “The Sourdough Framework”

  4. “Bill Hammack aka engineerguy has a good video about this”

    Engineering preceded Newtonian physics

    mcpackieh, 2023-09 · Recommendation · in “China's ancient water pipe networks”

  5. “this excellent video from the 'engineerguy'”

    Defines the engineering method as rules of thumb

    oscare, 2024-06 · Recommendation · in “Ask HN: What was your most humbling learning moment?”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: cathedrals, rules of thumb, history of engineering, medieval, bill hammack

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