The rhetorical triangle includes pathos, ethos, and logos, but the fourth component is kairos. Kairos is the Greek words meaning the "right time", "opportunity", or "season" (Ramage, 116). Since the rhetorical triangle is made up of emotional appeal, ethical appeal, and logical appeal timing should be everything. Timing of a rhetorical argument is essential to the overall emotional, ethical, and logical response of the call to action. The appeal of kairos is not static but changes due to the changing response to the action (Ramage, 118).
The appeal to kairos has been important to the response given to the 911 tragedy. During this time, my wife was a kindergarten teacher for a secular private school. The kairos of the event deals with kindergarten graduation held many months later. The previous kindergarten graduation events were based on alphabet letters and nursery rhymes. However, this year the 2001-2002 graduation events were changed to include a patriotic theme. This included songs of "God bless America", "This Land is Your Land", and "My Country 'Tis of Thee". The script included small snippets of patriotic poetry and saying voiced by the students. The flag ceremony was held with more patriotic zeal than previous years. The graduation events were highly received and well liked by the parents. The next year the 2002-2003 graduation theme was centered on the theme of love and peace. An overall arching theme of "let's get along" was prominent. Songs sung were "Peace, Peace, Peace" and "Put a Little Love in Your Heart". I know it sounds odd that I would remember this but I have had to sit through a lot of Kindergarten graduations and assemblies because of my wife. We also discussed the changes of simply a year would bring from undying patriotism to peace. Although at the time, I did not know the proper term of kairos but I did recognize the changeability and evolution of the kairos portion of the rhetorical argument.
Ramage, John D., John C. Bean, and June Johnson. Writing Arguments: A Rhetoric with Readings. 8th ed. New York: Longman, 2010. Print.
The example you used in your blog to explain kairos, or the “right time” or “opportunity” was a good one, and one I am sure everyone can relate to. Certainly the logos, ethos and pathos of an argument are important, but if the timing or kairos is not correct, the argument has no meaning.
ReplyDeleteUsing the events of 9-11 to make an important event in young children’s lives even more meaningful was a good use of the idea of kairos. The teachers and administrators of your wife’s school made good use of the events happening in the world around them to create a theme for their kindergarten graduation. Although 9-11 was a terrible event in the history of our United States, it was an event that brought a new sense of patriotism to our country.
It does not seem at all odd to me that you would remember this event out of the many you attended. Obviously the use of the proper kairos, or timing, of this patriotic theme for the kindergarten graduation is what made the event memorable.
Response to Carl Riggs – Kairos – An Opportune Time of Kindergarten Graduation
ReplyDeleteI really like your comparison of the kindergarten graduation with kairos. I can see where the timing of these types of graduation ceremonies would be on the hearts and minds of people during this patriotic time in our country. What better way to spread patriotism than at a children’s event where we, as Americans, can come together and celebrate a happy time but yet still remember those who have lost their lives and those that are fighting for our country. I can say that if I attended something like you described in your blog, my heart would be overflowing with pride and gratitude and that is something I think we need to see more of. The essence of the kairos in this situation is right on and I am sure it had a great impact on all those that attended these ceremonies.