Open access
THE SCIENTIFIC WORLDVIEW IN RHETORICAL ARGUMENTATION. THE CASE OF COVID-19
Paweł GONDEK1
Wiedza, kultura i wartości w społeczeństwie cyfrowym- konteksty teoretyczne
Publication language: Polish
Journal article
Transformations No. 2 (113) 2022, Publication date: 30 June 2022
Keywords: science, worldview, rhetorical argumentation, topos, COVID-19
Abstract This paper focuses on the role that scientific worldview plays in rhetorical argumentation. The pretext for this research was the statements that appeared during the COVID19 pandemic, especially in discussions about vaccinations. A worldview is understoodas a set of individual claims and judgments that form the basis for shaping knowledge about the world and norms for human action. Within a scientific worldview, scientific claims are the postulated reference point. However, the methods of verification of these claims are ignored, and science is identified with its results and treated as something unquestionable. Therefore, the process of formulating science-based messages in public debate entails many methodological difficulties. As a result, we get messages in which not the scientific claims but the authority of science has more persuasive significance. In rhetorical communication, the scientific worldview is mainly expressed by treating science as a topos, providing a socially credible reference point. During the COVID-19 pandemic, one notices the application of the scientific worldview mainly through the uncritical acceptance of the authority of science and through the formulation of emotional messages justified by the indisputable value of science.
Katedra Filozofii Kultury i Podstaw Retoryki, Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II
ORCID: 0000-0002-8644-3886
E-mail: pawel.gondek@kul.pl