<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In this paper, I contend that evidence-focused strategies of science communication may be complemented by possibly more effective rhetorical arguments in current public debates on vaccines. I analyse the case of direct science communication - that is, communication of evidence - and show that it is difficult to effectively communicate evidential standards of science in the presence of well-equipped anti-science movements. Instead, I argue that effective rhetorical tools involve ad hominem strategies, that is, arguments involving claims of expertise. I provide a rationale, and sketch a methodology, for using ad hominem arguments in science communication.</p></abstract>

In this paper, I contend that evidence-focused strategies of science communication may be complemented by possibly more effective rhetorical arguments in current public debates on vaccines. I analyse the case of direct science communication - that is, communication of evidence - and show that it is difficult to effectively communicate evidential standards of science in the presence of well-equipped anti-science movements. Instead, I argue that effective rhetorical tools involve ad hominem strategies, that is, arguments involving claims of expertise. I provide a rationale, and sketch a methodology, for using ad hominem arguments in science communication.

Ad Hominem Arguments, Rhetoric, and Science Communication

Studies in Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

{"article-title":"Ad Hominem Arguments, Rhetoric, and Science Communication"}

In this paper, I contend that evidence-focused strategies of science communication may be complemented by possibly more effective rhetorical arguments in...

Ad Hominem Arguments, Rhetoric, and Science Communication

Published Online: Dec 06, 2018

Page range: 151 - 166

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/slgr-2018-0033

Keywords
Ad hominem arguments, science communication, expertise, vaccine controversies, argumentation in science, scientific rhetoric

© 2018 Carlo Martini, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Ad Hominem Arguments, Rhetoric, and Science Communication

Published Online: Dec 06, 2018

Page range: 151 - 166

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/slgr-2018-0033

KeywordsAd hominem arguments, science communication, expertise, vaccine controversies, argumentation in science, scientific rhetoric

© 2018 Carlo Martini, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
Ad hominem arguments, science communication, expertise, vaccine controversies, argumentation in science, scientific rhetoric