The relationship between rhetoric and science is complicated. Since its inception, rhetoric has been suspected of obscuring the facts that science elaborates. But how plausible is this juxtaposition? Doesn't science itself have to be rhetorical in order to be effective? Is rhetoric not itself technique, knowledge, and science? And does literature promise to resolve this opposition?
Learning objective
The seminar will explore these questions historically and systematically. To this end, we will examine various texts from science, literature, philosophy, and politics in terms of their rhetorical form and rhetorical knowledge. Rhetoric is thus understood on the one hand as a technique of representation that conveys and even produces knowledge, and on the other hand as an attempt to systematize kn
Content
Of particular interest is the interweaving of rhetoric, science, and technology. Such an interweaving is conceivable in at least three ways: 1) in the form of rhetorical peculiarities in the communication of scientists and engineers (rhetoric of science); 2) against the backdrop of an expanded understanding of rhetoric as a technical instrument for understanding the world, explaining the world, and changing the world (rhetoric as technology); 3) with rhetoric as the name of a discipline that lays claim to scientificity (rhetoric as science).
Performance assessment
Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again)
Performance assessment as a semester course