Steven Katz’s “The Ethic of Expediency” provides insight about the dangers of rhetorical use when in unethically sound situations. He begins his work with a disturbing memo from a Nazi to his supervisor about technical alterations that needed to occur to death chamber-vans in order to more efficiently “process” their “loads” (p. 255). Although the memo is written in the “perfect” memo style, as it is emotionless, technical, and provides logical arguments, the content in which is being communicated is rather dark when we understand it is about people being exterminated. The technical communication process here illustrates that a task-oriented mindset and technical attitude can be a bad thing if and when the circumstances are unethical. From this example, Katz Segway’s into his argument that technical communicators need to be weary of the subjects they communicate about and how they are communicating their information.

 

In order to understand how this rhetoric can be used inappropriately, Katz analyzes the ideas of Aristotle, in particular, the idea of deliberative rhetoric, which is “concerned with decisions and actions,” as it pertains the most to technical communicating (p. 259). To properly study rhetoric and its relation to action, Katz uses one of the most concerning works of deliberative rhetoric: Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust, as his primary focal point. Although Katz makes a point that he is not equating Hitler to Aristotle, as they both have interesting interpretations of effective uses of rhetoric, he is using Hitler’s rhetoric – his writing, speeches, and conversations – to examine alongside Aristotle’s work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Through the examination of Mein Kampf, Hitler is seen to find no difference between acting ethically and acting practically as long as the goal and certain actions are accomplished. Thus, Hitler seems to align with the idea of expediency and produced two distinct kinds for his purposes: technological expediency, motivated by technology, and political expediency, motivated by concern for the public.

 

The most obvious form of expediency used is in terms of the public good. Hitler used the good of the public and their ability to develop and thrive to defend and support his claims for European domination, enslaving other countries, and mass genocide of the Jewish population (p. 264). But this would not be enough to win public support, so he used technological expediency – in which genetic hygiene and natural selection were referenced. His use of technology established a form of ethos and power that communicated logic, a rational that can’t be denied.

 

As a result of these two expediencies, Hitler was not challenged but supported because of his ability to desensitize the public and focus on the advantages possible for their own society. Using a mindset that practicality and efficiency are best, regardless of the number of people or ethical dilemmas you confront. This progressive and overly determined mindset is something many Americans are familiar with. Although Americans have not used the same methodology as Hitler to extinguish an entire group of people, Americans do have experience with expediency in our capitalistic culture.

 

The expediency found in a capitalist society is most easily identifiable in terms of happiness, one of Aristotle’s primary ideals; in the U.S. being affluent is a virtue and the only way to become happy. Therefore, in order to assume this utility level, citizens will often perform unethical tasks to obtain money or keep their money. One of the disturbing examples Katz gives is from 1988 when Pan Am Airlines kept their airport operating in spite of a bomb threat in order to have more “efficient” operation and continue to make a profit. This is, unfortunately, a prime example of how our American capitalistic society prioritizes technological expediency over human life (p. 271).

 

Katz ends his piece discussing whether or not ethics should be taught in conjunction with technical and scientific communication. Particularly because of our culture’s trend toward technological expediency, should the concerns of misguided rhetoric be addressed in the classroom to avoid catastrophic ends like the Holocaust? Because when expediency is prioritized over things like compassion, love, and human life, we have a problem.

 

 

 

Never before had I considered the Holocaust to be so dramatically affected by rhetoric. Then again, prior to this article, I hadn't really studied rhetoric produced by Nazis as much as I've studied rhetoric produced by those analyzing Nazis. And my first experience reading Nazi rhetoric, the beginning memoir by Just, was shocking and disturbing, to say the least. Referring to people as "loads" and their death as an "operation" was difficult to read. However, after reading Katz's analysis, it all made a bit more sense why a human could write about other humans as objects: Expediency.

 

Expediency, embarrassingly enough, was actually a new word introduced into my vocabulary. Defined as acting conveniently and practically in spite of possible ethical dilemmas, this is something I've noticed particularly in my hometown of Northern Virginia - A.K.A. the land of politicians. I didn't know there was a single word to encompass the complex relationship between efficiency and morality. I feel as though this word should definitely be used more in the media's vocabulary when speaking about our government. Not to point fingers, but right-wing conservatives continuously came to mind when I was reading this article; Not because they are Nazis, but because they often provide arguments based on political expediency. 

 

For example, the goal of obtaining shale oil as a result of fracking - a dangerous, environmentally harmful, yet economically prosperous activity - is often protected and supported by Republicans in spite of the ethical dilemmas presented such as health risks and environmental degradation to nearby communities and the ozone layer. Republicans often call on political expediency, saying that economic prosperity is best for the entire country, even if that means sacrificing those - usually the poor and minorities - to suffer in areas around or near hydraulic fracking sites. However, this example also ties in closely to what Katz was saying about the United States' behavior and how it is fueled by our capitalistic society. 

 

I used to feel confident in our country's ability to balance this capitalist-driven mindset with moral decision making - for example, with President Obama's clean energy initiative that would reduce the coal industry; therefore, hurting the coal industry, but helping the environment and the health of neighboring communities and workers. However, with the current presidential election occurring in just a few, short months, I have no confidence in our country's ability to be relatively fair in terms of political expediency if Donald Trump is elected. There have been numerous examples of how Trump is similar to Hilter in regard to his radical and racist ideas and his rhetoric, although hot air and filled with nothing but lies, is somehow working for him and his image in our country. When we view Hitler's rhetoric in hindsight, we see how radical and horrible he was and how his ideas were detrimental to the German's society. Now, only some can see how similar Trump is to Hitler. What's worse, some don't even care.

 

 

There have been many short videos on the web that report on the feelings and opinions of supporters at Trump rallies. One of the most appalling videos I stumbled upon was when someone read a Trump supporter a quote he claimed to be by Trump, when in reality it was from Hitler. Many still agreed with the quote, even after being told it was Hitler who said it. Below is the video:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The rhetoric used by Hitler, which was both cruel and effective in engendering change, is still used and agreed with today. This has become such a real problem that even the President of the United States is addressing how the Republicans are using political expediency by supporting Trump in order to get their goal accomplished: to have power in the White House. This article is fearfully relevant right now as we approach a similar Hitler figure in the United States. I only hope that the words of Katz can be heard by those reporting on the event and Mr. Trumps whereabouts. Finally, I hope that the words of President Obama can be heard as he calls out the faults of political expediency and the trouble and danger it will place our country in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Katz, Steven. (1992). "The Ethic of Expediency:  Classical Rhetoric, Technology, and the Holocaust." College English, 54(3), 255-275.