Investigating Ethos and Pathos in Scientific Truth Claims in Public Discourse

Niklas Simon
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Niklas Simon: Department of History and Social Sciences, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany

Media and Communication, 2020, vol. 8, issue 1, 129-140

Abstract: The article seeks to explore the role played by the rhetorical modes of ethos and pathos when scientific knowledge is constructed in public discourse. A case study is presented on the public debate in Germany on possible risks to bees from neonicotinoid pesticides, focusing especially on a detailed analysis of scientific knowledge claims found in texts produced by two lobbying groups involved. The findings indicate distinctive rhetorical patterns in the context of scientific truth claims realising, for example, appeals to concern and the display of scientific competence and integrity.

Keywords: ethos; linguistics; pathos; public discourse; rhetoric; scientific knowledge; truth claims (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cog:meanco:v8:y:2020:i:1:p:129-140

DOI: 10.17645/mac.v8i1.2444

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