Rhetoric Review May 2007

Stephen Jay Gould and the Rhetoric of Evolutionary Theory

Heidi Scott

Abstract

Abstract This paper analyzes four popular essays on punctuated equilibrium by the late paleobiologist Stephen Jay Gould, who coauthored the evolutionary theory with Niles Eldredge in 1972. It begins with a survey of Gould's disparate reception among scientific amateurs and professionals. Main concerns include the role of accommodated science in the public perception of truth and whether Gould was able to manipulate popular views through his talent for writing vivid prose, the validity of metaphor for constructing our understanding of scientific theory, and the degree to which the disciplines (literature, rhetoric, economics, biology) can usefully interact in the elucidation of scientific ideas.

Journal
Rhetoric Review
Published
2007-05-01
DOI
10.1080/07350190709336705
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Open Access
Closed
Topics
rhetorical criticism
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (2)

  1. Moran et al. (2012)
    A Bibliography of Works Published in the History of Professional Communication …
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Applegarth (2011)
    Genre, Location, and Mary Austin'sEthos
    Rhetoric Society Quarterly

References (24) · 1 in this index

  1. Abbott H. Porter (2003)
    Narrative Theory and the Cognitive Sciences
  2. Baake Ken (2003)
    Metaphor and Knowledge: The Challenges of Writing Science
     ↗
  3. Bazerman Charles (1993)
    Understanding Scientific Prose
  4. Brown Theodore L (2003)
    Making Truth: Metaphor in Science
  5. Darwin Charles (1958)
    The Origin of Species
Show all 24 →
  1. Dawkins Richard (1996)
    The Blind Watchmaker: Why Evidence of Evolution Reveals a Universe Without Design
  2. Dennett Daniel C (1995)
    Darwin's Dangerous Idea: Evolution and the Meanings of Life
  3. FAHNESTOCK (1986)
    Accommodating Science: The Rhetorical Life of Scientific Facts
    Written Communication
  4. Fuller Gillian (1998)
    Reading Science: Critical and Functional Perspectives on Discourses of Science
  5. Gould Stephen Jay (1993)
    Natural History Magazine
  6. Gould Stephen Jay (1977)
    Ever Since Darwin
  7. Gould Stephen Jay (1985)
    The Flamingo's Smile
  8. Gould Stephen Jay (1993)
    Understanding Scientific Prose
  9. Gould Stephen Jay (2002)
    I Have Landed
     ↗
  10. Gould Stephen Jay (1992)
    Natural History Magazine
  11. Gould Stephen Jay (1991)
    Natural History Magazine
  12. Gould Stephen Jay (2002)
    The Structure of Evolutionary Theory
     ↗
  13. Gould Stephen Jay (1988)
    Natural History Magazine
  14. Herrnstein Richard J. (1996)
    The Bell Curve
  15. Lyne John (1997)
    Landmark Essays on Rhetoric of Science
  16. May 20, 2002. “Paleontologist, author Gould dies at 60.”.The Harvard Gazette,
  17. Seltzer Jack (1993)
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  18. Warsh David (2002)
    The New York Times
  19. Yoon Carol Kaesuk (2002)
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CrossRef global citation count: 4 View in citation network → Build reading path →

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