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The Failure Of Certainty: Why Economics Needs Rhetoric, Jerry Petersen
The Failure Of Certainty: Why Economics Needs Rhetoric, Jerry Petersen
OSSA Conference Archive
Privileging deductive first principles over inductive contingencies, I argue, contributed to the economic meltdown of late and will continue to limit the range of reasonable solutions available to solve entrenched economic problems. I cite Toulmin’s critique of scientific certainty and the rancor over the demise of the ninth planet Pluto to posit a role for rhetoric in making valid claims across all fields of study, calling for more productive uncertainty subject to vigorous argumentation.
Deepening Disagreement In Engineering Education, Robert Irish, Brian Macpherson
Deepening Disagreement In Engineering Education, Robert Irish, Brian Macpherson
OSSA Conference Archive
This paper argues that deep disagreements stem from conflicting worldviews. In particular, I examine how recent moves in engineering education contribute to deep disagreement by inculcating stu-dents into valuing the environment as a key stakeholder in engineering design. However, some graduates who value the environment meet resistance from employers who hold a more traditional engineering worldview, which regards the environment as an externality. Clashing worldviews can, as Robert Fogelin posited, render rational resolution to argument impossible. Disputants must consider the emotional and rhetorical as means to move toward productive ground for argument. I offer two moves from classical rhet-oric–making an …