The rhetoric of science studies the role of persuasion and rhetoric in scientific pursuit. It is relevant to public policy and philosophical debates in science. The use of rhetoric does not undermine scientific experimentation, but is used to communicate the value of discoveries. Rhetorical appeals, such as authority, are commonly used in scientific discourse but can be dangerous if accepted blindly.
The rhetoric of science is a field of inquiry that seeks to understand the role of persuasion and rhetoric within the scientific pursuit of knowledge. In a broad sense, “science” is generally perceived as a field based on the objective pursuit of knowledge about the world. While many aspects of science are, by necessity, based on rigorous experimentation, other prevalent parts of science involve persuasion and rhetoric. Scientists, for example, have to apply for grants to get research funding – this process relies largely on persuasion. The rhetoric of science is also relevant to the effects science has on public policy and the various philosophical debates within different scientific fields.
Although most scientists practice the rhetoric of science at various points in their careers, sociologists and historians of science are less likely to study it as an academic subject in itself. The rhetoric of science is highly relevant to the social and historical development of various branches of science, thus it is an important field of inquiry. Sociologists of science, for example, may study the relationship between science and political policy, with an emphasis on using scientific rhetoric to convince policy makers that various problems or opportunities exist.
It is important to note that applying the rhetoric of science does not necessarily undermine the rigorous experimental basis of most forms of scientific inquiry. Experimentation is at the root of scientific practice: the rhetoric of science is employed to convince others of the correctness and importance of the collected results. A research team, for example, may discover something important about a prevalent disease. Scientific and experimental methods are used to make such discoveries, while rhetorical methods may be needed to convince policy makers to implement appropriate public health policies. The mere accumulation of scientific knowledge is not particularly beneficial to society, and as such, the rhetoric of science is used to communicate the value of scientific discoveries to others.
As in other forms of rhetoric, various rhetorical appeals – as to emotion or authority – are commonly used in scientific discourse. A scientist may, for example, appeal to his role as a scientist when he claims that various statements are true or important. While it is true that others tend not to have access to first-hand laboratory experience or the knowledge necessary to understand all scientific findings, such authority-based appeals can be dangerous. Accepting a weak argument based on the speaker’s authority can lead to costly or even destructive policies, or the funding of relatively useless scientific research.
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