Technical Communication Quarterly Jul 2003

Ernst Haeckel's ControversiaI Visual Rhetoric

Paul Dombrowski

Abstract

Ernst Haeckel was a fascinating German scientist, philosopher, and advocate of social Darwinism who sought to reinvent science as the basis of all knowledge and best guide for human activities. His monistic and vitalistic philosophy of science influenced later German holistic science and Nazi pseudo-science. Recent research reveals several of his most famous illustrations, of embryos of various animals and that are still published today, to be incorrect and probably knowingly so. The complex rhetorical connection between theory and visual support is revealed, as creationist critics contend that the falsity of the visuals implies the refutation of evolution. We see that our decisions made in crafting illustrations carry serious rhetorical and ethical implications for various audiences.

Journal
Technical Communication Quarterly
Published
2003-07-01
DOI
10.1207/s15427625tcq1203_5
Open Access
Closed
Topics
multimodality

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (7)

  1. King et al. (2018)
    Artifactual dimensions of visual rhetoric: what a content analysis of 114 peer-…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. King et al. (2018)
    Artifactual Dimensions of Visual Rhetoric: What a Content Analysis of 114 Peer-…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Ross (2017)
    The Role of Ethics, Culture, and Artistry in Scientific Illustration
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. Zhang (2016)
    Illustrating Beauty and Utility
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  5. Wickman (2013)
    Observing Inscriptions at Work: Visualization and Text Production in Experiment…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
Show all 7 →
  1. Moran et al. (2012)
    A Bibliography of Works Published in the History of Professional Communication …
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Northcut (2011)
    Insights from Illustrators: The Rhetorical Invention of Paleontology Representations
    Technical Communication Quarterly

Cites in this index (0)

No references match articles in this index.

Also cites 9 works outside this index ↓
  1. Burke, Kenneth. Language us Symbolic Action. Berkeley: U of California P, 1966.
     ↗
  2. Harrington, Anne. Reenchanted Science: Holism in German Culture from Wilhelm II to Hitler. Princeton, NJ: Pri…
     ↗
  3. Kemp, Martin. Review article. "Spiritual Shapes: Emst Haeckel's `Art Forms in Nature."'Nature 413 (2001): 460.
     ↗
  4. 10.1086/418541
     ↗
  5. 10.1126/science.277.5331.1435a
     ↗
  6. 10.1007/s004290050082
     ↗
  7. 10.1126/science.280.5366.983c
     ↗
  8. 10.1038/35065834
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  9. 10.2307/1311215
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CrossRef global citation count: 16 View in citation network →

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