Rhetoric has traditionally been associated with philosophy and politics, with
social and institutional good. Scientific and technical communication was
originally so associated in the works of Francis Bacon but became disassociat
ed from politics for historical reasons reflected in the works of Herbert Spencer
and John Dewey. Because of changes in science and technology symbolized by
Albert Einstein, however, science itselfhas become more political. In response
to these changes, technical communication ought to reestablish its traditional
association with politics. Specifically, it ought to adopt a rhetorical approach
to communication about scientific and technological problems that affect the
social and institutional good.
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