Philosophy & Rhetoric Dec 2023

<i>Kairos</i> in Isocrates

Robert Sullivan

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article describes the conceptualizations of the term kairos, generally taken to mean “the opportune moment,” by Isocrates. Though Isocrates was instrumental in developing kairos as a “quasi-technical” concept within the rhetorical art, his use of the word was highly nuanced and could be applied in one of three poles of meaning: (1) “circumstances”; (2) notions of the “appropriate”; and (3) “opportunity,” an orientation of elements within a particular moment that either supplies or shuts off a path toward a strategic outcome. Furthermore, over half of Isocrates’s eighty-five uses of the term and its variants have little to do with rhetorical theory per se but are simply incidental modifiers of matters under discussion. Accordingly, though kairos is an important term of art for Isocrates, only nuanced reading of the context can reveal his meaning for any given use of the word.

Journal
Philosophy & Rhetoric
Published
2023-12-31
DOI
10.5325/philrhet.56.3-4.0303
Open Access
Closed
Topics
rhetorical theory argument

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (0)

No articles in this index cite this work.

Cites in this index (5)

  1. Wells (2022)
    Benjamin’s Rhetoric: Kairos, Time, and History
    Philosophy & Rhetoric
  2. Myers (2011)
    <i>Metanoia</i>and the Transformation of Opportunity
    Rhetoric Society Quarterly
  3. KINNEAVY et al. (2000)
    Kairos in Aristotle's Rhetoric
    Written Communication
  4. Papillion (1995)
    Isocrates’ <i>techne</i> and rhetorical…
    Rhetoric Society Quarterly
  5. Carter (1988)
    <i>Stasis</i>and<i>kairos</i>: Principles of social construction in classical r…
    Rhetoric Review
Also cites 7 works outside this index ↓
  1. (1963)
    “Das Problem der Isokrateischen Techne.”
    Philologus  ↗
  2. (1959)
    “Isocrates’ Methods of Teaching.”
    American Journal of Philology  ↗
  3. (1972)
    “Isocrates, ‘Against the Sophists’ 16.”
    American Journal of Philology  ↗
  4. (2013)
    “The Kairos of Philosophy.”
    Journal of Speculative Philosophy  ↗
  5. (2001)
    “Eidos/idea in Isocrates.”
    Philosophy & Rhetoric  ↗
  6. (1985)
    “Καιρός nella Teoria Retorica di Alcidamante e di Isocrate, Ovvero nell’ Oratoria Orale e…
    Quaderni Urbinati di Cultura Classica  ↗
  7. (1981)
    “Kairos as ‘Profit.’”
    Classical Quarterly  ↗
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