Solar Engineering Rhetoric Strategy
Should the engineers apply ‘rhetoric strategy’ to popularized technology?
Abstract
Nowadays, it is common for engineers to overpromise or exaggerate the technology’s advantages while neglecting its potential disadvantages in order to get more attention and investment, which is actually a form of ‘rhetoric strategy’. In this paper, the notion of ‘rhetoric’ in term of technical field will be briefly defined, including the definition, the applying stages and connection with ethic issues. To develop the arguments, a case study of the development of solar energy technology will be drawn upon. Afterwards, the ethical cycle will be used to analyze its potential ethical problem. Last but not least, the conclusion will be given.
1. Definition …show more content…
However, the disadvantages of solar energy were neglected in the early phase of development. It isn’t always as reliable as other forms of power and tends to be expensive to install and maintain, because the devices rely on a steady supply of sunlight to generate power. The equipment is not that efficient, typically converting just 10% to 18% of the sun’s energy into electricity [3]. On top of the price of panels themselves, the cost of installing them varies greatly by location and climate. By most estimates, it takes at least six years for the initial costs to be repaid in saving from power generation under the best circumstances, and double that time under less ideal conditions [3]. Besides, the batteries and safety serve as potential problems. Since it is impossible to generate solar power 24 hours a day, batteries are needed for most systems to store excess power for use at night and rainy days. Unfortunately, these batteries can be expensive and have a shorter lifespan than solar …show more content…
Using rhetoric to describe or introduce technology, after considering the possible uncertainty and take every relevant shareholders into account. Furthermore, engineers should strike a balance between exaggerating the advantages and covering the disadvantages.
Phase4. Ethical evaluation
Formal moral frameworks:
Utilitarianism
Cost | Benefit | The other promising technologies have been ignored and marginalization. | The particular technology attracts a lot of investment and attention. | The idea of creativity is restricted in this field. | Scientists and engineers operate a lot of research in this technology. | The technology has been proved fail and lost a lot of time, capital and resource | The technology has been proved successful and promotes the welfare of society | Overinvestment can lead to a disaster | Investing in promising technology can lead to amazing profit | Promising technology has influenced youngsters career choices | Creating new direction for teenagers. |
Informal moral frameworks:
Intuitive framework
In our opinions, the most acceptable and formulate argument should be that engineers should describe their technologies based on empirical facts and compete with the other engineers based on facts rather than rhetorical methods.
Phase5. Reflection
Criticism of
Abstract
Nowadays, it is common for engineers to overpromise or exaggerate the technology’s advantages while neglecting its potential disadvantages in order to get more attention and investment, which is actually a form of ‘rhetoric strategy’. In this paper, the notion of ‘rhetoric’ in term of technical field will be briefly defined, including the definition, the applying stages and connection with ethic issues. To develop the arguments, a case study of the development of solar energy technology will be drawn upon. Afterwards, the ethical cycle will be used to analyze its potential ethical problem. Last but not least, the conclusion will be given.
1. Definition …show more content…
However, the disadvantages of solar energy were neglected in the early phase of development. It isn’t always as reliable as other forms of power and tends to be expensive to install and maintain, because the devices rely on a steady supply of sunlight to generate power. The equipment is not that efficient, typically converting just 10% to 18% of the sun’s energy into electricity [3]. On top of the price of panels themselves, the cost of installing them varies greatly by location and climate. By most estimates, it takes at least six years for the initial costs to be repaid in saving from power generation under the best circumstances, and double that time under less ideal conditions [3]. Besides, the batteries and safety serve as potential problems. Since it is impossible to generate solar power 24 hours a day, batteries are needed for most systems to store excess power for use at night and rainy days. Unfortunately, these batteries can be expensive and have a shorter lifespan than solar …show more content…
Using rhetoric to describe or introduce technology, after considering the possible uncertainty and take every relevant shareholders into account. Furthermore, engineers should strike a balance between exaggerating the advantages and covering the disadvantages.
Phase4. Ethical evaluation
Formal moral frameworks:
Utilitarianism
Cost | Benefit | The other promising technologies have been ignored and marginalization. | The particular technology attracts a lot of investment and attention. | The idea of creativity is restricted in this field. | Scientists and engineers operate a lot of research in this technology. | The technology has been proved fail and lost a lot of time, capital and resource | The technology has been proved successful and promotes the welfare of society | Overinvestment can lead to a disaster | Investing in promising technology can lead to amazing profit | Promising technology has influenced youngsters career choices | Creating new direction for teenagers. |
Informal moral frameworks:
Intuitive framework
In our opinions, the most acceptable and formulate argument should be that engineers should describe their technologies based on empirical facts and compete with the other engineers based on facts rather than rhetorical methods.
Phase5. Reflection
Criticism of