Christian Erik J Kock

Christian Erik J Kock

Professor emeritus, Professor, emeritus

Member of:

    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 journalJournal articlepeer-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/ReportBookpeer-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/ReportBookpeer-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 proceedingBook chapterResearch

    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 journalJournal articlepeer-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 journalJournal articlepeer-review

    7. Published

      Kynismesyndromet

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

      Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-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 journalJournal articlepeer-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 journalJournal article

    10. Published

      Fornuftig uenighed

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

      Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-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 proceedingBook chapterResearch

    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 journalJournal articlepeer-review

    13. Published

      Forstå verden: Politisk kommunikation for fremtiden

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

      Research output: Book/ReportBook

    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 proceedingBook chapterResearch

    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 journalJournal articlepeer-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 proceedingBook chapterResearch

    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/ReportAnthologypeer-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 proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-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 proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

    Selected activities

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

      Kock, Christian Erik J (Member)

      5 Mar 2007 → …

      Activity: Membership typesMembership in committee, council, board

    ID: 3220