What is Kairos?
What is Kairos? Thanks for asking!
The ancient Greeks had two words for “time”. The first, Chronos, refers to chronological time which can be clearly measured. Meanwhile Kairos is more about quality. It is used when talking about an “opportune moment”. As the saying goes, timing is everything! It was originally used in science by Hippocrates, who is seen as the father of medicine. He and his students suggested that there were two ways of failing when treating an illness: either taking action too early or too late. Of course in between the two, you have the opportune moment to carry out treatment. In rhetoric, kairos is a strategy based on the timeliness of a line of argument. Aristotle connected it to his rhetorical triangle of ethos, pathos and logos, teaching that in each situation, the right moment will come to use one over the others. So it wasn’t enough to simply express a correct idea. It was considered just as important to state it at the right time. Kairos is therefore also considered a mode of persuasion in rhetoric. In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle introduces the notion of kairos to analyse human actions. Taking advantage of kairos is to seize the rare moment when our desires and fate coincide.
So how can I make sure I don’t miss out on kairos?!
In so far as many of the circumstances which define kairos are external, there are no strict rules on how to benefit from it. Seizing an opportunity isn’t an exact science after all. It requires finesse, flair, intuition and various other qualities. You can sometimes create a situation which allows you to communicate at the opportune time. Some observers have suggested making time for kairos moments on a daily basis, especially in the world of work. Kairos time may help us achieve objectives, reduce burnout and keep us passionate about what we do.
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