Redefining Rhetoric at the Edge: A Dynamic and Ethical Concept Beyond Boundary Theory

This work presents Hideki Kataoka’s redefinition of rhetoric through the metaphor of “walking along the top of a prison wall.” Unlike Western boundary‑based models, this definition is inherently three‑dimensional, embodied, asymmetric, and temporal. It captures the ethical tension and risk inherent in communication, especially in technical contexts where misunderstanding can lead to catastrophic consequences. The definition is intentionally unfinished and must remain so, functioning as a Socratic question that evolves with the reader, the situation, and the age. The article integrates the historical maturation of the concept (2018–2026), beginning with its initial emergence in Kataoka’s 2018 book 英文テクニカルライティング 読み手の心を動かすレトリック入門, and situates it within classical rhetoric, critical rhetoric, and technical communication studies. Field: Humanities – Linguistics / Humanities – Philosophy, Ethics/ Social Sciences – Media and Communications Keywords rhetoric; ethical judgment; risk; technical communication; boundary; embodiment; temporality; Japanese rhetoric; Socratic inquiry; communication failure; SSJ; Technorhetoric