15. Scientific controversies
-
Gerd Fritz
Abstract
The present article presents a survey of the basic forms and functions of scientific controversies and of the state of the art in research on controversies. Starting from the assumption that controversies are indispensable for the formation, evolution and evaluation of scientific theories and their empirical examination, the article gives a brief overview of strands of research on controversies in different disciplines. It then goes on to provide a description of the basic pragmatic organization of scientific controversies, using an action-theoretic framework of pragmatics which is partly inspired by Wittgenstein’s concept of language games. In this framework, controversies are viewed not as a confrontation of standpoints or propositions but as a dynamic linguistic exchange. The main parameters of the organization of such an exchange include dialogue types and text types, moves and strategies of individual contributions to controversies, topic organization and knowledge management, communication principles, media of controversy, and the language of controversy. In a concluding passage, the article mentions desiderata for future research on controversies.
Abstract
The present article presents a survey of the basic forms and functions of scientific controversies and of the state of the art in research on controversies. Starting from the assumption that controversies are indispensable for the formation, evolution and evaluation of scientific theories and their empirical examination, the article gives a brief overview of strands of research on controversies in different disciplines. It then goes on to provide a description of the basic pragmatic organization of scientific controversies, using an action-theoretic framework of pragmatics which is partly inspired by Wittgenstein’s concept of language games. In this framework, controversies are viewed not as a confrontation of standpoints or propositions but as a dynamic linguistic exchange. The main parameters of the organization of such an exchange include dialogue types and text types, moves and strategies of individual contributions to controversies, topic organization and knowledge management, communication principles, media of controversy, and the language of controversy. In a concluding passage, the article mentions desiderata for future research on controversies.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Preface V
- Table of contents VII
- Introduction to the volume XI
-
I. Perspectives of research on scholarly and science communication
- 1. Philosophy of science for science communication in twenty-two questions 3
- 2. Science understanding between scientific literacy and trust: contributions from psychological and educational research 29
- 3. The contribution of media studies to the understanding of science communication 51
- 4. Analyzing science communication through the lens of communication science: Reviewing the empirical evidence 77
- 5. Modeling science communication: from linear to more complex models 105
- 6. The contribution of laboratory studies, science studies and Science and Technology Studies (STS) to the understanding of scientific communication 123
- 7. The contribution of linguistics and semiotics to the understanding of science communication 143
- 8. The contribution of terminology research to the understanding of science communication 167
- 9. The study of student academic writing 187
-
II. Text types, media, and practices of science communication
- 10. Epistemic genres 209
- 11. On the nature and role of visual representations in knowledge production and science communication 235
- 12. The lecture and the presentation – rhetorics and technology 257
- 13. Spoken language in science and the humanities 271
- 14. Scholarly reviewing 289
- 15. Scientific controversies 311
- 16. Symbolic notation in scientific communication: a panorama 335
- 17. The rise of symbolic notation in scientific communication: the case of mathematics 357
- 18. Grant proposal writing as a dialogic process 377
-
III. Science, scientists, and the public
- 19. Communicative strategies of popularization of science (including science exhibitions, museums, magazines) 399
- 20. Science journalism 417
- 21. Teaching science journalism as a blueprint for future journalism education 439
- 22. Science communication and public relations: beyond borders 465
- 23. Science communication, advising, and advocacy in public debates 485
- 24. Forms of science presentations in public settings 515
-
IV. Historical perspectives on science communication
- 25. Historical perspectives on internal scientific communication 547
- 26. Academic teaching: the lecture and the disputation in the history of erudition and science 569
- 27. Historical aspects of external science communication 585
-
V. Science communication: present and future
- 28. Reconfigurations of science communication research in the digital age 603
- 29. The library in a changing world of scientific communication 625
- 30. Scholarly communication in social media 639
- 31. Current trends and future visions of (research on) science communication 657
- Contributors to this volume 689
- Index 697
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Preface V
- Table of contents VII
- Introduction to the volume XI
-
I. Perspectives of research on scholarly and science communication
- 1. Philosophy of science for science communication in twenty-two questions 3
- 2. Science understanding between scientific literacy and trust: contributions from psychological and educational research 29
- 3. The contribution of media studies to the understanding of science communication 51
- 4. Analyzing science communication through the lens of communication science: Reviewing the empirical evidence 77
- 5. Modeling science communication: from linear to more complex models 105
- 6. The contribution of laboratory studies, science studies and Science and Technology Studies (STS) to the understanding of scientific communication 123
- 7. The contribution of linguistics and semiotics to the understanding of science communication 143
- 8. The contribution of terminology research to the understanding of science communication 167
- 9. The study of student academic writing 187
-
II. Text types, media, and practices of science communication
- 10. Epistemic genres 209
- 11. On the nature and role of visual representations in knowledge production and science communication 235
- 12. The lecture and the presentation – rhetorics and technology 257
- 13. Spoken language in science and the humanities 271
- 14. Scholarly reviewing 289
- 15. Scientific controversies 311
- 16. Symbolic notation in scientific communication: a panorama 335
- 17. The rise of symbolic notation in scientific communication: the case of mathematics 357
- 18. Grant proposal writing as a dialogic process 377
-
III. Science, scientists, and the public
- 19. Communicative strategies of popularization of science (including science exhibitions, museums, magazines) 399
- 20. Science journalism 417
- 21. Teaching science journalism as a blueprint for future journalism education 439
- 22. Science communication and public relations: beyond borders 465
- 23. Science communication, advising, and advocacy in public debates 485
- 24. Forms of science presentations in public settings 515
-
IV. Historical perspectives on science communication
- 25. Historical perspectives on internal scientific communication 547
- 26. Academic teaching: the lecture and the disputation in the history of erudition and science 569
- 27. Historical aspects of external science communication 585
-
V. Science communication: present and future
- 28. Reconfigurations of science communication research in the digital age 603
- 29. The library in a changing world of scientific communication 625
- 30. Scholarly communication in social media 639
- 31. Current trends and future visions of (research on) science communication 657
- Contributors to this volume 689
- Index 697
