KairosKairos““A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold

in a setting of silver.”in a setting of silver.”

——Ancient Hebrew proverbAncient Hebrew proverb

Two Greek words for “time”Two Greek words for “time”

ChronosChronos—time, thought of successively, —time, thought of successively, sequentially, “chronological” timesequentially, “chronological” time• May be measured by objective standardsMay be measured by objective standards

KairosKairos—“right time, right measure”—“right time, right measure”• Not simply time, but “timeliness”—may be Not simply time, but “timeliness”—may be

“measured,” but not always in terms of sheer “measured,” but not always in terms of sheer quantity quantity

• A “window of opportunity” A “window of opportunity”

““The opportune time”The opportune time”

““The strategy of timeliness.The strategy of timeliness. Another strategy [in the Another strategy [in the use of pleasure] consisted in determining the use of pleasure] consisted in determining the opportune time, the opportune time, the kairoskairos. This was one of the most . This was one of the most important objectives, and one of the most delicate, in important objectives, and one of the most delicate, in the art of making use of the pleasures. Plato the art of making use of the pleasures. Plato emphasizes the point in the emphasizes the point in the LawsLaws: fortunate was the : fortunate was the one (whether an individual or a state) who knew what one (whether an individual or a state) who knew what needed to be done in this sphere, ‘at the right time needed to be done in this sphere, ‘at the right time and in the right amount’; whoever, on the contrary, and in the right amount’; whoever, on the contrary, acted ‘without knoweldge [acted ‘without knoweldge [anepistēmonōsanepistēmonōs] and at the ] and at the wrong time [wrong time [ektos tōn kairōnektos tōn kairōn]’ would ‘live a life just ]’ would ‘live a life just the opposite.’the opposite.’

““The opporuntune time” (Pt. 2)The opporuntune time” (Pt. 2)

““One has to keep in mind that this theme of the ‘right time’ One has to keep in mind that this theme of the ‘right time’ had always had considerable importance for the Greeks, not had always had considerable importance for the Greeks, not only as a moral problem, but also as a question of science and only as a moral problem, but also as a question of science and technique. The exercise of practical skills as in medicine, technique. The exercise of practical skills as in medicine, government, and navigation (a grouping that was quite government, and navigation (a grouping that was quite traditional for them) implied that one was not content with traditional for them) implied that one was not content with knowing general principles but that one was able to determine knowing general principles but that one was able to determine the moment when it was necessary to act and the precise the moment when it was necessary to act and the precise manner in which to do so in terms of existing circumstances. manner in which to do so in terms of existing circumstances. And in fact it was one of the essential aspects of the virtue of And in fact it was one of the essential aspects of the virtue of prudence that made one capable of practicing the ‘politics of prudence that made one capable of practicing the ‘politics of timeliness’ in the different domains—whether this involved timeliness’ in the different domains—whether this involved the city or the individual, the body or the soul—where it was the city or the individual, the body or the soul—where it was important to seize the important to seize the kairoskairos.”.”

——Michel Foucault, Michel Foucault, The Use of PleasureThe Use of Pleasure

KairosKairos as pragmatic as pragmatic

KairosKairos is a practical, “workable” idea is a practical, “workable” idea As Foucault’s discussion reveals, for the Greeks, As Foucault’s discussion reveals, for the Greeks, kairoskairos

(aptness, opportuneness, timeliness) was an essential concept (aptness, opportuneness, timeliness) was an essential concept in philosophy, largely which had to do with practical wisdom in philosophy, largely which had to do with practical wisdom ((phronimosphronimos). As a phronetic concept, ). As a phronetic concept, kairoskairos is entirely is entirely pragmatic pragmatic

The ancient Greeks, being the inveterate overanalyzers they The ancient Greeks, being the inveterate overanalyzers they were, set to work explicating this concept and arguing for it as were, set to work explicating this concept and arguing for it as a guide to life in all mattersa guide to life in all matters

Foucault names medicine, government, navigation and Foucault names medicine, government, navigation and personal pleasure as spheres of activity in which the “art” of personal pleasure as spheres of activity in which the “art” of practicing practicing kairoskairos was essential was essential

Another art, arising out of the democratic government Another art, arising out of the democratic government practiced by the Greeks in the practiced by the Greeks in the polis polis (“city state”), was the art (“city state”), was the art of of rhetoricrhetoric

Kairos Kairos as situationalas situational

““As for what course of action to pursue […], the Sophists As for what course of action to pursue […], the Sophists suggested that, rather than agonizing over what is proper or suggested that, rather than agonizing over what is proper or improper according to unchanging social rules, people should improper according to unchanging social rules, people should consider their immediate circumstances and what would be consider their immediate circumstances and what would be expedient at the momentexpedient at the moment. This is the Sophistic doctrine of . This is the Sophistic doctrine of kairoskairos, that is, the idea that the elements of a situation, its , that is, the idea that the elements of a situation, its cultural and political contexts, rather than transcendent cultural and political contexts, rather than transcendent unchanging laws, will produce both the best solutions to unchanging laws, will produce both the best solutions to problems and the best verbal means of presenting them problems and the best verbal means of presenting them persuasively.”persuasively.”——P. Bizzell and B. Herzberg, P. Bizzell and B. Herzberg, The Rhetorical TraditionThe Rhetorical Tradition

Kairos Kairos as situational (Pt. 2)as situational (Pt. 2)

““What has been said by one speaker is not equally useful for What has been said by one speaker is not equally useful for the speaker who comes after him; on the contrary, he is the speaker who comes after him; on the contrary, he is accounted most skilled in his art who speaks in a manner accounted most skilled in his art who speaks in a manner worthy of his subject and yet is able to discover in it topics worthy of his subject and yet is able to discover in it topics which are nowise the same as those used by others. But the which are nowise the same as those used by others. But the greatest proof of the difference between these two arts [writing greatest proof of the difference between these two arts [writing letters—scribing—and oratory] is that oratory is good only if letters—scribing—and oratory] is that oratory is good only if it has the it has the qualities of fitness for the occasion, propriety of qualities of fitness for the occasion, propriety of style, and originality of treatmentstyle, and originality of treatment, while in the case of , while in the case of letters there is no such need whatsoever.”letters there is no such need whatsoever.”

——Isocrates, Isocrates, Against the SophistsAgainst the Sophists (ca. 390 (ca. 390 B.C.E.)B.C.E.)

Rhetorical situationRhetorical situation In rhetorical theory, “rhetorical situation” and In rhetorical theory, “rhetorical situation” and kairoskairos have a have a

huge overlap; in some cases, they are more or less huge overlap; in some cases, they are more or less synonymoussynonymous

R.S. as a theoretical concept seeks to account for the multiple R.S. as a theoretical concept seeks to account for the multiple aspects of context in which an utterance occurs or, in aspects of context in which an utterance occurs or, in Foucault’s words, to describe an utterance and its suitability Foucault’s words, to describe an utterance and its suitability “in terms of existing circumstances”“in terms of existing circumstances”

Rhetoric is Rhetoric is occasionaloccasional, , situatedsituated, “whenned” and “whered”, “whenned” and “whered” Not all rhetoric, however, is Not all rhetoric, however, is kairotickairotic

• To “seize the To “seize the kairoskairos” is the goal of careful rhetors” is the goal of careful rhetors• The alternative is to “fall flat”The alternative is to “fall flat”• The possibility of “falling flat” lies at every moment of utterance, at all The possibility of “falling flat” lies at every moment of utterance, at all

levels of the discourse levels of the discourse

Rhetorical situation (Pt. 2)Rhetorical situation (Pt. 2) An effective rhetor (user of rhetoric) must be An effective rhetor (user of rhetoric) must be

sensitive to the situation at hand—s/he must “be sensitive to the situation at hand—s/he must “be practical,” in other wordspractical,” in other words

These factors may be listed abstractly, though by These factors may be listed abstractly, though by definition of “rhetorical definition of “rhetorical situationsituation,” it will have many ,” it will have many variables, each shaping that situation in varying variables, each shaping that situation in varying degrees:degrees:• AudienceAudience• Time utterance may be made and received Time utterance may be made and received • Location utterance may be made and receivedLocation utterance may be made and received• Topic “taken up” in discourse (context of reference)Topic “taken up” in discourse (context of reference)• Power relationships/social configurations at workPower relationships/social configurations at work• Purpose of utterancePurpose of utterance• Utterance itself Utterance itself

In rhetoric, there is In rhetoric, there is no such thingno such thing as a as a ““one-size-fits-allone-size-fits-all” utterance!” utterance!

(So forget about your five-paragraph essays, except when they’re equal to the task at hand!)

Grice’s Grice’s maximsmaxims for conversation for conversation

Conversation takes place under a “co-operative” Conversation takes place under a “co-operative” principle; rhetor and audience must work togetherprinciple; rhetor and audience must work together

““Speakers [and writers] must express themselves in Speakers [and writers] must express themselves in such a way as not to impede interpretation”such a way as not to impede interpretation”

““Hearers [and readers] must assume that whatever is Hearers [and readers] must assume that whatever is addressed to them is designed to make sense, so that addressed to them is designed to make sense, so that they make an effort to find an interpretation, even they make an effort to find an interpretation, even when the language does offer difficulties”when the language does offer difficulties”

Grice’s Grice’s maxims maxims for conversation (Pt. 2)for conversation (Pt. 2)

QuantityQuantity• Make your contribution as informative as is Make your contribution as informative as is

required (for the current purposes of the exchange)required (for the current purposes of the exchange)• Do not make your contribution more informative Do not make your contribution more informative

than is requiredthan is required

(This is, of course, “right measure”)(This is, of course, “right measure”)

Grice’s Grice’s maxims maxims for conversation (Pt. 3)for conversation (Pt. 3)

Quality.Quality. Try to make your contribution one Try to make your contribution one that is true.that is true.• Do not say what you believe to be falseDo not say what you believe to be false• Do not say that for which you lack adequate Do not say that for which you lack adequate

evidenceevidence

Grice’s Grice’s maxims maxims for conversation (Pt. 4)for conversation (Pt. 4)

Relation. Relation. Be relevant [timely].Be relevant [timely]. Manner.Manner. Be perspicuous.* Be perspicuous.*

• Avoid obscurity of expressionAvoid obscurity of expression• Avoid ambiguityAvoid ambiguity• Be brief [measure again]Be brief [measure again]• Be orderlyBe orderly

——from Roger Fowler’s from Roger Fowler’s Linguistic CriticismLinguistic Criticism

* “Perspicuous” means “clear.” In other words, eschew * “Perspicuous” means “clear.” In other words, eschew obfuscation. Clear enough?obfuscation. Clear enough?

Upsetting expectation?Upsetting expectation? Grice’s identified general principles (maxims) need Grice’s identified general principles (maxims) need

not always be followednot always be followed Not all violations of audience expectation are badNot all violations of audience expectation are bad Under the co-operative principle inherent in human Under the co-operative principle inherent in human

discourse, audience members may be willing to be discourse, audience members may be willing to be “jarred,” depending on the circumstances, e.g.,“jarred,” depending on the circumstances, e.g.,• Humor may be welcome in a serious discourse (such as the Humor may be welcome in a serious discourse (such as the

humorous diction adopted in the examples of humorous diction adopted in the examples of They Say/I They Say/I SaySay, chapter 9, “Ain’t So/Is Not”), chapter 9, “Ain’t So/Is Not”)

• ““Shocking” speech may be welcomed if the topic taken up Shocking” speech may be welcomed if the topic taken up may welcome unconventional commentary or if it invites may welcome unconventional commentary or if it invites strong criticismstrong criticism

Kairos Kairos and procedural versus and procedural versus declarative knowledgedeclarative knowledge

We all know this concept ofWe all know this concept of kairos kairos implicitly and implicitly and intuitively and “go to work” by it. We have, in other intuitively and “go to work” by it. We have, in other words, some words, some proceduralprocedural, or “working,” knowledge of , or “working,” knowledge of the matter the matter • One who instinctively knows One who instinctively knows kairoskairos well will function well well will function well

in various rhetorical situationsin various rhetorical situations Will know when and when not to bring up a topic of conversationWill know when and when not to bring up a topic of conversation Will know which words to use for particular audiencesWill know which words to use for particular audiences

• One who doesn’t will not be communicatively effectiveOne who doesn’t will not be communicatively effective Will upset audience expectations for proper discourseWill upset audience expectations for proper discourse May invite reproof or censure, e.g., May invite reproof or censure, e.g.,

• ““That train has left the station”That train has left the station”• ““This isn’t the time or place for that”This isn’t the time or place for that”

Kairos Kairos and procedural versus and procedural versus declarative knowledge (Pt. 2)declarative knowledge (Pt. 2)

In reproof or in more formal rhetorical training (such In reproof or in more formal rhetorical training (such as this course), we’re given a “as this course), we’re given a “metalanguagemetalanguage” to talk ” to talk about our rhetorical choicesabout our rhetorical choices

A “metalanguage” falls in the realm of what we call A “metalanguage” falls in the realm of what we call declarative declarative knowledgeknowledge• ““This isn’t the time or place for that” is, essentially, a This isn’t the time or place for that” is, essentially, a

comment on comment on kairoskairos, in this case, a negative evaluation, in this case, a negative evaluation

• Having a metalanguage for our rhetorical choices can help Having a metalanguage for our rhetorical choices can help us to become more self-conscious users of rhetoricus to become more self-conscious users of rhetoric

We can become more sensitive, artful and practical rhetorsWe can become more sensitive, artful and practical rhetors As a result, we may find we’re more communicatively effectiveAs a result, we may find we’re more communicatively effective

Kairos Kairos and and CitationCitation

Discussion: Discussion: When is quoting timely?When is quoting timely?