Carpe Minutem
Consider the following: You're in heated argument with a fellow colleague about some topic that has clearly irritated both of you. You and your belligerents angry and loud comments have appeared to attract a crowd. Just at the very pinnacle, your belligerent makes a comment that seems to have left a door wide open for a comeback of ages. You jump through that door of vulnerability at that very moment and make the most "savage"(as modern teens would call it) remark that sets the crowd ablaze. Everyone is laughing, howling, and screaming your praise. This is one of the most sought out scenarios for any common human with any bit of an argumentative side.
However, little would many people know that this same scenario falls under the same general term as an exhilarating piece of a nationalistic propaganda during a time of political turmoil or a loud, passionate speech meant to galvanize the population of a group of people feeling attacked or endangered that have finally had enough of their situation. The term that these three scenarios all fall under is Kairos.
Kairos is a Greek word meaning the right or opportune moment, and Kairos is definitely used in modern times in that sense. Kairos not only just a rhetorical device, but it is also one of the most insanely effective ones. Through learning about Kairos, even the most trivial accounts of Kairos become multiple times more effective than when Kairos is not employed.
One other major feature surrounding Kairos is the hidden manipulative aspect of it. Take for example that someone waited for a moment of increased vulnerability within another person. This is a clear case of manipulation but when looked upon from the surface may not seem to relate directly to Kairos. However, when you look beneath the scenario, you realize that waiting for a moment where a person is most vulnerable is the same thing as waiting for the perfect moment to say or do something. No matter what situation, if a person hears something they know will provoke emotions in a state of vulnerability, the emotions, depending on how strong the deliverance and how strong the persons emotions towards that matter are, could end up being infinitely stronger than if the statement had just been stated whenever.
Kairos is a very dangerous tool for all these moments because if it used to strengthen the emotions and galvanize a group of people that should not be provoked for societal sake, then very large problems may arise. We have seen that common trend play out through history, and for as long as people have emotions, we will see it play out because when strong willed people find the opportunity, they will always find a means to seize the moment.
However, little would many people know that this same scenario falls under the same general term as an exhilarating piece of a nationalistic propaganda during a time of political turmoil or a loud, passionate speech meant to galvanize the population of a group of people feeling attacked or endangered that have finally had enough of their situation. The term that these three scenarios all fall under is Kairos.
Kairos is a Greek word meaning the right or opportune moment, and Kairos is definitely used in modern times in that sense. Kairos not only just a rhetorical device, but it is also one of the most insanely effective ones. Through learning about Kairos, even the most trivial accounts of Kairos become multiple times more effective than when Kairos is not employed.
One other major feature surrounding Kairos is the hidden manipulative aspect of it. Take for example that someone waited for a moment of increased vulnerability within another person. This is a clear case of manipulation but when looked upon from the surface may not seem to relate directly to Kairos. However, when you look beneath the scenario, you realize that waiting for a moment where a person is most vulnerable is the same thing as waiting for the perfect moment to say or do something. No matter what situation, if a person hears something they know will provoke emotions in a state of vulnerability, the emotions, depending on how strong the deliverance and how strong the persons emotions towards that matter are, could end up being infinitely stronger than if the statement had just been stated whenever.
Kairos is a very dangerous tool for all these moments because if it used to strengthen the emotions and galvanize a group of people that should not be provoked for societal sake, then very large problems may arise. We have seen that common trend play out through history, and for as long as people have emotions, we will see it play out because when strong willed people find the opportunity, they will always find a means to seize the moment.
I never thought of manipulation as being a kairotic moment. However, I like that you made this connection because it reveals how often we use kairos in daily life. The spacing on the post made it a little hard to follow.
ReplyDeleteDavid, I think this is an interesting twist to the normal interpretation of kairos. Most times, kairos is seen as a positive aspect of a good argument. However, in the manipulative sense that you talk about kairos, we can see the danger in using kairos the wrong way. Kairos has become especially apparent in our government, creating positive or negative aspects simultaneously. Overall, I would agree that kairos can be manipulative, but it also provides an opportunity to push forth a good purpose as well.
ReplyDeleteKarios can definitely be manipulated if you know how to control outside factors. Setting the pieces and making your own moment is just as effective as grabbing it at the right time.
ReplyDeleteOn a formatting note: Don't forget to double-space between paragraphs and to not indent since a blog post isn't an essay.
Your scenario at the beginning of this blog is fantastic! I find that whenever kairos strikes for me, especially when I am overly excited or irritated, the words always fail me, and I end up rethinking for the rest of the day what my "savage" remark would have been. I also completely agree with the manipulative aspect of kairos, knowing that the perfect moment can equally be another person's weak point.
ReplyDeleteI agree that using Karios as a tool of manipulation is an interesting part of rhetoric. I feel like this definition is more accurate of its real world application.
ReplyDelete