The Epideictic Rhetoric of Science

Journal of Business and Technical Communication Jul 1991

DALE L. SULLIVAN

Abstract

If science is conducted within a scientific culture, then the classical concept of epideictic rhetoric should be applicable to internal scientific discourse. A theory of epideictic rhetoric as the “rhetoric of orthodoxies” is presented, along with its five rhetorical functions: education, legitimation, demonstration, celebration, and criticism. Suggestions as to how these concepts might be applied to internal scientific discourse are given, with special attention given to studies of science already completed by philosophers, sociologists, and rhetoricians.

Journal: Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Published: 1991-07-01
DOI: 10.1177/1050651991005003001
Open Access: Closed
Topics: rhetorical theory

Citation Context

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Written Communication
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Writing in Academic Settings: A Study of the Contexts for Writing in Two Colleg…

Research in the Teaching of English
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The birth of molecular biology: An essay in the rhetorical criticism of scienti…

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