Stasis Theory
Stasis Theory is a tool to help figure out what is at stake in an argument. The word “stasis,” from
the Latin meaning "standstill" or "conflict," in rhetorical terms indicates "...the point in an
argument that must be resolved in order for a discussion to come to a conclusion..." (Rhetoric
Resources Web site at Georgia Tech). We can think of stasis as the key issues or questions
around which an argument turns – the key points of disagreement. According to Quintilian, the
stasis becomes the "fixed point around which the controversy revolves...; the real point... on
which judgment is given." (We will want to update Quintilian a little and suggest that there may
be a number of points around which a controversy revolves.)
Stasis theory in its simplest form identifies the right questions to ask in a given situation. A
classic example of a given situation is a courtroom where witnesses are questioned to
prove/disprove a case. The questions identified (the stases) for the courtroom are” did the act take
place?, was the act a crime?, is there lawful justification for the crime? and does the tribunal
have jurisdiction to decide upon the answers?
For the purposes of class, we can think of stasis theory in terms of five questions
1. Questions of Existence/Fact
What are the central facts that characterize an issue? What are the main facts that are
disputed/agreed upon?
2. Questions of Definition
What are the central terms and categories people use to talk about an issue? For example,
in the issue of abortion, terms such as “choice,” “life,” and “rights” are central to the
debate.
3. Questions of Cause
What caused the disputed state of affairs to take place? What causal factors are behind
the problem?
4. Questions of Value & Evaluation
What are the main values or principles at issue? How should we evaluate them?
5. Questions of Action
What should be done?
Example 1: Affirmative action
Questions of fact: how many universities have affirmative action programs? How many people
can be shown to have benefited from affirmative action? How pervasive is discrimination? Does
affirmative action exist for privileged members of society? Etc.
Questions of definition: What is affirmative action? What is diversity? What is “opportunity”?
What is “discrimination”? How should we define “success,” “potential”; what do we mean by “a
level playing field”?
Questions of Cause: What effects does affirmative action have? What causes discrimination?
What causes some groups to be more or less successful than others? Does affirmative action
cause people to succeed?
Questions of Value & Evaluation: Under what conditions is affirmative action justified? What are
the primary principles that should prevail in debates about it? What are the primary principles by
which we should understand the debate - diversity, opportunity, equality, non-discrimination, etc?
Questions of Action
What should be done? Should affirmative action be abolished, reformed, extended, etc.