Are We Comparing Yet? - On Standards, Justice, and Incomparability

Haun Saussy argues that debates about the openness of culture often turn on questions of standards, but judgment is a proliferation of comparisons. He proposes ways to unseat the typical vices of comparison and retains an essential link to the idea of justice.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 112 pages
Publication date: 08 December 2021
Publisher: Transcript Verlag

Debates surrounding the potential for an open culture or indeed the possibility of an open debate about cultural openness often revolve around questions of standards. However, as no benchmark can be deemed absolute, judgment becomes a proliferation of comparisons. In his book, "The Practice of Comparison," Haun Saussy explores this phenomenon through a series of case studies spanning everyday and academic domains (literature, history, politics, philosophy). Through these comparative analyses, Saussy identifies and critiques the common vices of comparison, offering strategies for challenging and unseating them. While comparison may be abused, distorted, and manipulated, it remains an essential aspect of the concept of justice. By examining the ways in which comparison is employed, Saussy sheds light on the complexities and nuances of cultural understanding and the role it plays in shaping our perceptions and interpretations of the world. This book is a valuable resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in exploring the dynamics of comparison and its implications for cultural analysis and discourse.

Debates surrounding the potential for an open culture or indeed the possibility of an open debate about cultural openness often revolve around questions of standards. However, as no benchmark can be deemed absolute, judgment becomes a proliferation of comparisons. In his book, "The Practice of Comparison," Haun Saussy explores this phenomenon through a series of case studies spanning everyday and academic domains (literature, history, politics, philosophy). Through these comparative analyses, Saussy identifies and critiques the common vices of comparison, offering strategies for challenging and unseating them. While comparison may be abused, distorted, and manipulated, it remains an essential aspect of the concept of justice. By examining the ways in which comparison is employed, Saussy sheds light on the complexities and nuances of cultural understanding and the role it plays in shaping our perceptions and interpretations of the world. This book is a valuable resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in exploring the dynamics of comparison and its implications for cultural analysis and discourse.

Weight: 666g
Dimension: 226 x 135 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783837649772