Thursday, November 5, 2009

Ancient Rhetors CHAPTER 2 Reflection:

What I got out of the reading was very straightforward with ancient values that give this ancient Greek word enormous importance. The word meaning the right or opportune moment (the supreme moment) is clearly what Kairos means. The ancient Greeks had two words for time chronos and karios. While the former refers to chronological or sequential time, the latter signifies a time in between, a moment of undetermined period of time in which something special happens. What the special something is depends on who is using the word. While chronos is quantitative, kairos has a qualitative nature that is different than anything else that Crowley and Hawhee write about in Ancient Rhetorics: for Contemporary Students.

PART I / INVENTION

Here are some Main Points that I pulled directly from the text:

Kairos and the Rhetorical Situation: Seizing the Moment

44.

*Each rhetorical situation presents its own unique set of challenges. Each occurs in a time and place that can’t be wholly anticipated or replicated. *

Kairos” suggests a special notion of space and/or time.

ANCIENT DEPICTIONS OF KAIROS

Kairos was so important for ancient thinkers that it became a mythical figure.

KAIROS, CHANGE, AND RHETORICAL SITUATIONS

p.47

Kairos draws attention to the mutuality of rhetoric, to the ever –changing arguments that can be found in connection with a particular issue.

The arguments that can be found in connection with a particular issue.

The available arguments on a given issue change over time because the people who are interested in the issue change—their:

· minds

· beliefs

· ages

· locations

· communities

· and countless other things.

Kairos as a Means of Invention

p.51

Invention- is the art of discovering all of the arguments made available by a given

rhetorical situation.

Other means of invention that we explore in this book are

-stasis theory

-common places

-topics

p.53

Arguments and Interests

What interest might motivate someone to object to?

who makes what arguments and why?

Etc.

P.60

Power Dynamics in a Rhetorical Situation

Kairos should also lead to ask:

Which arguments receive more attention?

Who is making these arguments?

What arguments receive less attention?

Who is making these arguments?

Arguments and Interests

The specific arguments that are currently circulating about a particular issue play an important role in creating Kairos and the rhetorical situation that is pertinent to the reason for the Kairos creation.

A Web of Related Issues

P.62

Kairos is complex so a Rhetor who is attuned must demonstrate awareness of the many values and the differential power dynamics that are involved in any struggle over an issue.

Chreia is a brief saying or action that makes a point.


PHROGYMNASMATA: CHERIA

In Chreia, ancient students moved from composing narratives to amplifying them, sometimes by fleshing out the bare narrative, but more often by adding commentary on famous deeds or expressions.

Proverbs are common sayings that nearly ever member of a culture knows:

“A stitch in time saves nine,” “Haste makes waste,” etc.

These websites helped when following these Web site links

http://www.quotationspage.com/

http://www.bartleby.com/

http://www.brainyquote.com/

http://www.en.thinkexist.com/

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