Institute of Rhetoric

Institute of Rhetoric

What is Rhetoric?

  1. The practice of strategic communication aimed at effective persuasion: in everyday life, in politics, in business, in science.

  2. The theorie of strategic communication, which dates back to ancient Greece and, together with philosophy, represents the oldest systematic theory in European intellectual history.

  3. Science of strategic communication, which is taught at the University of Tübingen at a separate institute with an inter- and transdisciplinary orientation.

News

Announcements

The renowned journal Argumentation et Analyse du Discours, edited by Israeli linguist and rhetorician Ruth Amossy, has published a special issue on Tübingen: https://journals.openedition.org/aad/
The winners of the Research Center for Science Communication's “From Idea to Impact” competition have been announced. Find out more about the three winning projects here.

Events

Guest Lecture with Dr. Christopher Basgier (Auburn University, USA): The History and Future of US Writing Instruction Across the Curriculum

July 28, 2026, 18:15 , Brechtbau, Room 119, University of Tübingen

The lecture traces the development of academic writing instruction in the US—from classical rhetorical education and the expansion of access to higher education in the 20th century to the current challenges posed by generative AI. Using examples from Auburn University, Dr. Basgier will discuss how rhetorical perspectives on writing can open up new approaches to critical thinking, ethics, and scientific knowledge.

More information

Writing and GenAI: Myths and Realities (Compact Course)

July 29/30, 2026, 9:00–17:00 each day , Brechtbau, Room 119, University of Tübingen

This seminar examines common assumptions and misconceptions about writing and generative AI. Drawing on approaches from rhetoric and writing studies, participants will reflect on writing as a social and knowledge-building practice, as well as on how to engage 

with AI technologies in their studies, professional lives, and everyday life. In addition to discussing scholarly texts, participants will also develop their own practical stance on the use of AI in academic writing.

 

Successful completion of the seminar earns 2 ECTS credits.
Registration: Please email seminar-orgaspam prevention@rhetorik.uni-tuebingen.de with your name and degree program.

More information

Institute colloquium

The institute colloquium always takes place from 18.15 to 19.45 in room 119 of the Neuphilologicum. Organisation: Dr. habil. Franz-Hubert Robling

28.04.2026Dr. habil. Franz-Hubert Robling: “Textinterpretation: John Bender, David E. Wellbery: Rhetoricality: On the Modernist Return of Rhetoric
12.05.2026Prof. Dr. Laura Lindenfeld: “Rhetorik und Wissenschaftskommunikation
19.05.2026Dr. Roman A. Seebeck: “Rhetorik des Brückenschlags. Thomas Manns transatlantische Vortragspraxis zwischen politischer Rede und kultureller Vermittlung
09.06.2026Prof. John Dryzek: Rhetoric in Democracy
23.06.2026Jun. Prof. Blake Scott: Argument Strength and the Levels of Its Analysis: An Exercise in Confused Notions
07.07.2026Alexander Puschmann: “Thukydides‘ Melierdialog als textrhetorisches Problem
21.07.2026Dr. Simon Wolf: “Das Publikum verstehen. Prinzipien der Trainingsgestaltung.
28.07.2026Dr. Christopher Basgier: The History and Future of US Writing Instruction Across the Curriculum
Rhetoric lecture in the auditorium of the ‘Brechtbau’.
Studies
Statue on a bookshelf.
Research
Staff of the Seminar for General Rehtorics in conversation.
Team

Address

University of Tübingen
Institute of Rhetoric
Wilhelmstraße 50
72074 Tübingen