Textual criticism as persuasion

ETC BLOG: Textual Criticism as Rhetoric (Peter Gurry).

To classify textual criticism as a form of rhetoric is a way of highlighting the fact that its arguments depend on persuasion rather than demonstration. Textual critics cannot prove that their choices are correct; the most they can hope to do is lead their readers to believe that those choices are the best available ones.

Scott Adams, call your office.