The Epistemology of Maintenance: Reconceptualizing Progress Through the Sustainability of the Existing

This conceptual paper establishes the epistemology of maintenance as a rigorous, independent philosophical and scientific framework. It fundamentally challenges the prevailing innovation-centric paradigm in technological and societal progress. By seamlessly integrating principles from reliability engineering, engineering economics, infrastructural sustainability, and the critical role of human factors in knowledge production, we redefine progress. Progress is not relentless novelty but the sustained optimization, preservation, and resilient enhancement of existing systems.To substantiate this paradigm shift, we present fully derived mathematical models. These include exponential degradation functions, Weibull-based reliability distributions, net present value (NPV) optimization for maintenance policies, Bayesian uncertainty quantification, and a detailed carbon footprint assessment. These models are calibrated with empirical 2025 data from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Infrastructure Report Card.Reproducible Python simulations, enhanced with Monte Carlo methods, sensitivity analyses, advanced Bayesian updating, and comprehensive descriptive statistics, empirically demonstrate the multidimensional superiority of maintenance-oriented policies over innovation-driven alternatives.A comprehensive comparative analysis, coupled with an in-depth exploration of tacit knowledge and global applications, elevates this framework. It offers profound implications for global sustainability, equity, and policy-making in an era of resource constraints and climate urgency.