Christian Erik J Kock

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Christian Kock is Emeritus Professor of Rhetoric at the University of Copenhagen. He has done research on political argumentation and debate, the history of rhetoric, rhetorical citizenship, credibility, journalism, literary studies, aesthetics, linguistics and writing pedagogy. Han initiated the Academic Writing Center af the University of Copenhagen, has been a Visiting Professor at Indiana University, Bloomington, and is author, editor, co-author or co-editor of c. 20 books in rhetoric, linguistics, argumentation, journalism, political debate, and literature, as well as numerous articles for scholarly as well general audiences. He is frequently used as a commentator on rhetoric and political debate in the media. He has chaired or served on various committees under the Ministry of Education and the Minsistry of Culture. His main non-academic interest is music; he has played in, chaired or served on the board of various ensembles and organizations in classical music.

Career:

• Teaching assistant in English, Danish and German at the University of Copenhagen 1969-1974
• Freelance journalist and writer 1971-1980
• Research scholar, English, 1974-1975
• Assistant Professor, English Language and Literature, 1975-1979
• Associate Professor, English Language and Literature, 1979-1987
• Associate Professor, Rhetoric, 1986-1997
• Visiting Professor, English and American literature, Indiana University, Bloomington, 1986-1987
• Director, Academic Writing Center, 1992-1996
• Professor, Rhetoric, 1997-
• Primary Investigator, the "Good News" Project, financed by "Dagspressens Fond", 1999-2002
• Director, the research group "Debate Culture", 2011-2017

Publications

Books:

• Tjekkisk strukturalisme (1971).
• Litteraturoplevelse (1974)
• The Theory of Presupposition Failure (with Peter Harder) (1976)
• Engelsk verslære (1980)
• Litteraturlæsning (with Carsten Elbro) (1984)
• Skriv kreativt (with Birthe Tandrup) (1989)
• Retorik der flytter stemmer (with Charlotte Jørgensen and Lone Rørbech) (1994)
• Professionel litteraturlæsning (1996)
• Skrivehåndbogen (with Eva Heltberg) (1997)
• Forstå verden: Politisk journalistik for fremtiden (2002)
• Den gode opgave (co-author) (2005)
• Skriv i alle genrer (with Birthe Tandrup) (2006)
• Retorik poetik (2008)
• De svarer ikke: Fordummende uskikke i politisk debat (2011, new ed. 2013)
• Rhetorical Citizenship and Public Deliberation (with Lisa Villadsen) (2012)
• Ordets magt: Retorisk teori der holder (2012)
• Retorisk praksis (2013)
• Contemporary Rhetorical Citizenship (with Lisa Villadsen) (2014)
• De lytter ikke: Politikernes udenomssnak - spot den, stop den (with Magnus Boding Hansen) (2015)
• Rhetorical Deliberation: Arguing about Doing (2017)
• Lyt langsomt: Musikoplevelse er livskvalitet (with Julie Tandrup Kock) (2021)
• Populist Rhetorics: Case Studies and a Minimalist Definition (with Lisa Villadsen) (2022)
• Rhetorical Argumentation: The Copenhagen School (with Marcus Lantz) (2023, in press)

Articles:

C. 200 articles for scholarly and general audiences on rhetoric, argumentation, rhetorical citizenship, political rhetoric and debate, written composition, literary theory, linguistics, music, aesthetics.

Awards:

• ”Undervisningsmiddelprisen” (”Teaching Materials Award”) for Skrivehåndbogen, 1998
• Stipend, "Einar Hansens Forskningsfond”, 2006
• Det Humanistiske Fakultets formidlingspris, 2015
• ”KOM-prisen”, 2017

Primary fields of research

Rhetorical theory, The history of rhetoric, Aesthetics, Literary theory, Argumentation, Political debate, Rhetorical citizenship

Current research

Publilc debate in Denmark, Deliberative democracy, Rhetorical citizenship, Argumemntation theory, Aesthetic experience

Teaching

Has taught argumentation, argumentation theory, rhetorical citizenship, publilc debate, the history of rhetoric, rhetorical theory and analysis, rhetorical didactics, written communication, aesthetic theory and analysis. Has supervised PhD and MA projects in all these areas as well as in journalism and forensic argumentation.

 

Selected publications

1. Published

   Defining Rhetorical Argumentation

   Kock, Christian Erik J, 10 Dec 2013, In: Philosophy and Rhetoric. 46, 4, p. 437-464 28 p.

   Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

2. Published

   Ordets magt. Retorisk tænkning der holder: 1: Til 1900

   Kock, Christian Erik J, 1 Nov 2012, Frederksberg: Samfundslitteratur. 266 p.

   Research output: Book/Report › Book › Research › peer-review

3. Published

   De svarer ikke: Fordummende uskikke i den politiske debat

   Kock, Christian Erik J, 16 Feb 2011, København: Gyldendal Akademisk. 225 p.

   Research output: Book/Report › Book › Research › peer-review

4. Published

   The difference between the rhetorical and the philosophical concept of argumentation

   Kock, Christian Erik J, 2010, Lebenswelt und Wissenschaft. Gethmann, C. F. (ed.). Hamburg: Felix Meiner Verlag, p. 451-464 14 p. (Deutsches Jahrbuch Philosophie, Vol. 2).

   Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research

5. Published

   Constructive Controversy: Rhetoric as Dissensus-oriented Discourse

   Kock, Christian Erik J, 2009, In: Cogency. Journal of Reasoning and Argumentation. 1, 1, p. 89-112 23 p.

   Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

6. Published

   Choice Is Not True Or False: The Domain of Rhetorical Argumentation

   Kock, Christian Erik J, 2009, In: Argumentation : an international journal on reasoning. 23, 1, p. 61-80 20 p.

   Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

7. Published

   Kynismesyndromet

   Kock, Christian Erik J, 2009, In: Rhetorica Scandinavica. 49/50, p. 51-71 21 p.

   Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

8. Published

   Norms of Legitimate Dissensus

   Kock, Christian Erik J, 2007, In: Informal Logic. 27, 2, p. 179-196 20 p.

   Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

9. Published

   Ned under overfladen i den politiske debat: via undervisning i argumentation

   Kock, Christian Erik J, 2010, In: Kvan - et tidsskrift for læreruddannelsen og folkeskolen. 30, 88, p. 58-68 11 p.

   Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Communication

10. Published

    Fornuftig uenighed

    Kock, Christian Erik J, 2008, In: Rhetorica Scandinavica. 48, p. 64-83 20 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

11. Published

    Multiple Warrants in Practical Reasoning

    Kock, Christian Erik J, 2006, Arguing on the Toulmin model: New essays on argument analysis and evaluation. Hitchcock, D. & Verheij, B. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer, p. 247-259 23 p.

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research

12. Published

    Kan man opstille adfærdsregler for offentlig debat?

    Kock, Christian Erik J, 2008, In: MedieKultur. 44, p. 58-65 8 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

13. Published

    Forstå verden: Politisk kommunikation for fremtiden

    Kock, Christian Erik J (ed.), 2002, Frederiksberg: Samfundslitteratur. 319 p.

    Research output: Book/Report › Book › Research

14. Published

    Types of Warrant in Practical Reasoning

    Kock, Christian Erik J, 2005, The Uses of Argument: Proceedings of a conference at McMaster University 18-21 May 2005. Hamilton, Canada, p. 269-278 10 p.

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research

15. Published

    Rhetoric in Media Studies: The Voice of Constructive Criticism

    Kock, Christian Erik J, 2004, In: Nordicom Review. 25, (1-2, p. 103-110 7 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

16. Published

    Troværdighed - hvad taler vi om?

    Kock, Christian Erik J, 2004, Spin, selvfremstilling og samfund - public relations som reflekterende praksis. Frederiksberg: Samfundslitteratur, p. 279-305 27 p.

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research

17. Published

    Rhetorical Citizenship and Public Deliberation

    Kock, Christian Erik J (ed.) & Villadsen, Lisa S. (ed.), 2012, University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press. 352 p. (Rhetoric and Democratic Deliberation, Vol. 3).

    Research output: Book/Report › Anthology › Research › peer-review

18. Published

    A Tool for Rhetorical Citizenship: Generalizing the Status System

    Kock, Christian Erik J, 2012, Rhetorical Citizenship and Public Deliberation. Kock, C. & L. V. (eds.). University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, p. 279-295 17 p. (Rhetoric and Democratic Deliberation, Vol. 3).

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review

19. Published

    Generalizing Stasis Theory for Everyday Use

    Kock, Christian Erik J, 11 Feb 2011, Bending Opinion: Essays on Persuasion in the Public Domain. van Haaften, T., Jansen, H., de Jong, J. & Koetsenruijter, W. (eds.). Leiden: Leiden University Press

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review

Selected activities

1. Undervisningsministeriet (Ministeriet for Børn og Undervisning) (External organisation)

   Kock, Christian Erik J (Member)

   5 Mar 2007 → …

   Activity: Membership types › Membership in committee, council, board