The Force of Comparison

The Force of Comparison

Author: Willibald Steinmetz

Publisher: Berghahn Books

Published: 2019-09-01

Total Pages: 354

ISBN-13: 1789203368

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In an era defined by daily polls, institutional rankings, and other forms of social quantification, it can be easy to forget that comparison has a long historical lineage. Presenting a range of multidisciplinary perspectives, this volume investigates the concepts and practices of comparison from the early modern period to the present. Each chapter demonstrates how comparison has helped to drive the seemingly irresistible dynamism of the modern world, exploring how comparatively minded assessors determine their units of analysis, the criteria they select or ignore, and just who it is that makes use of these comparisons—and to what ends.


Book Synopsis The Force of Comparison by : Willibald Steinmetz

Download or read book The Force of Comparison written by Willibald Steinmetz and published by Berghahn Books. This book was released on 2019-09-01 with total page 354 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In an era defined by daily polls, institutional rankings, and other forms of social quantification, it can be easy to forget that comparison has a long historical lineage. Presenting a range of multidisciplinary perspectives, this volume investigates the concepts and practices of comparison from the early modern period to the present. Each chapter demonstrates how comparison has helped to drive the seemingly irresistible dynamism of the modern world, exploring how comparatively minded assessors determine their units of analysis, the criteria they select or ignore, and just who it is that makes use of these comparisons—and to what ends.


Graphic and Analytic Statics in Theory and Comparison

Graphic and Analytic Statics in Theory and Comparison

Author: Robert Hudson Graham

Publisher:

Published: 1883

Total Pages: 478

ISBN-13:

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Book Synopsis Graphic and Analytic Statics in Theory and Comparison by : Robert Hudson Graham

Download or read book Graphic and Analytic Statics in Theory and Comparison written by Robert Hudson Graham and published by . This book was released on 1883 with total page 478 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Considering Comparison

Considering Comparison

Author: Oliver Freiberger

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2019-01-02

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 019092912X

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The comparative method is an integral part of religious studies. All the technical terms that scholars of religion use on a daily basis, such as ritual, hagiography, shrine, authority, fundamentalism, hybridity, and, of course, religion, are comparative terms. Yet comparison has been subject to criticism, including postcolonialist and postmodernist critiques. Older approaches are said to have used comparison primarily to confirm preconceptions about religion. More recently, comparison has been criticized as an act of abstraction that does injustice to the particular, neglects differences, and establishes a mostly Western power of definition over the rest of the world. In this book, Oliver Freiberger takes a closer look at how comparison works. Revisiting critical debates and examining reflections in other disciplines, including comparative history, sociology, comparative theology, and anthropology, Freiberger proposes a model of comparison that is based on a thorough epistemological analysis and that takes both the scholar's situatedness and his or her agency seriously. Examining numerous examples of comparative studies, Considering Comparison develops a methodological framework for conducting and evaluating such studies. Freiberger suggests a comparative approach - which he calls discourse comparison - that confronts the omnipresent risks of decontextualization, essentialization, and universalization. This book makes a case for comparison, arguing that it is indispensable for a deeper analytical understanding of what we call religion. The book is intended to enrich the practice of both aspiring and seasoned comparativists, stimulate much-needed further discussions about comparative methodology, and encourage more scholars to produce responsible comparative studies.


Book Synopsis Considering Comparison by : Oliver Freiberger

Download or read book Considering Comparison written by Oliver Freiberger and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2019-01-02 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The comparative method is an integral part of religious studies. All the technical terms that scholars of religion use on a daily basis, such as ritual, hagiography, shrine, authority, fundamentalism, hybridity, and, of course, religion, are comparative terms. Yet comparison has been subject to criticism, including postcolonialist and postmodernist critiques. Older approaches are said to have used comparison primarily to confirm preconceptions about religion. More recently, comparison has been criticized as an act of abstraction that does injustice to the particular, neglects differences, and establishes a mostly Western power of definition over the rest of the world. In this book, Oliver Freiberger takes a closer look at how comparison works. Revisiting critical debates and examining reflections in other disciplines, including comparative history, sociology, comparative theology, and anthropology, Freiberger proposes a model of comparison that is based on a thorough epistemological analysis and that takes both the scholar's situatedness and his or her agency seriously. Examining numerous examples of comparative studies, Considering Comparison develops a methodological framework for conducting and evaluating such studies. Freiberger suggests a comparative approach - which he calls discourse comparison - that confronts the omnipresent risks of decontextualization, essentialization, and universalization. This book makes a case for comparison, arguing that it is indispensable for a deeper analytical understanding of what we call religion. The book is intended to enrich the practice of both aspiring and seasoned comparativists, stimulate much-needed further discussions about comparative methodology, and encourage more scholars to produce responsible comparative studies.


Racializing Humankind: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Practices of 'Race' and Racism

Racializing Humankind: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Practices of 'Race' and Racism

Author: Julian T. D. Gärtner

Publisher: Böhlau Köln

Published: 2022-02-14

Total Pages: 331

ISBN-13: 3412524174

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Debates on historical and contemporary racism have recently become the subject of increasing public interest. The Black Lives Matter movement as well as the Covid-19 pandemic have underlined the importance and urgent necessity of examining racism in society from a multidisciplinary angle. The many facets of racism in the past and present also challenge the way we deal with history ("historical culture") in a globalized world. Rather than focusing on the history of ideas and its discursive development, this volume will focus on the practices of actors. It examines how and which practices, especially practices of comparing, are constitutive in the construction of 'race' and manifestations of racism. This edited volume brings together interdisciplinary contributions from history, sociology, political science, American studies, literary studies, and media studies. An important focus lies on the social asymmetries created by racialization, including inequalities and violence. The chapters foreground historical and contemporary practices of racism and discuss their appearance in different epochs and locations.


Book Synopsis Racializing Humankind: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Practices of 'Race' and Racism by : Julian T. D. Gärtner

Download or read book Racializing Humankind: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Practices of 'Race' and Racism written by Julian T. D. Gärtner and published by Böhlau Köln. This book was released on 2022-02-14 with total page 331 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Debates on historical and contemporary racism have recently become the subject of increasing public interest. The Black Lives Matter movement as well as the Covid-19 pandemic have underlined the importance and urgent necessity of examining racism in society from a multidisciplinary angle. The many facets of racism in the past and present also challenge the way we deal with history ("historical culture") in a globalized world. Rather than focusing on the history of ideas and its discursive development, this volume will focus on the practices of actors. It examines how and which practices, especially practices of comparing, are constitutive in the construction of 'race' and manifestations of racism. This edited volume brings together interdisciplinary contributions from history, sociology, political science, American studies, literary studies, and media studies. An important focus lies on the social asymmetries created by racialization, including inequalities and violence. The chapters foreground historical and contemporary practices of racism and discuss their appearance in different epochs and locations.


Envy Up, Scorn Down

Envy Up, Scorn Down

Author: Susan T. Fiske

Publisher: Russell Sage Foundation

Published: 2011-04-21

Total Pages: 251

ISBN-13: 1610447093

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An insightful examination of why we compare ourselves to those above and below us. The United States was founded on the principle of equal opportunity for all, and this ethos continues to inform the nation's collective identity. In reality, however, absolute equality is elusive. The gap between rich and poor has widened in recent decades, and the United States has the highest level of economic inequality of any developed country. Social class and other differences in status reverberate throughout American life, and prejudice based on another's perceived status persists among individuals and groups. In Envy Up, Scorn Down, noted social psychologist Susan Fiske examines the psychological underpinnings of interpersonal and intergroup comparisons, exploring why we compare ourselves to those both above and below us and analyzing the social consequences of such comparisons in day-to-day life. What motivates individuals, groups, and cultures to envy the status of some and scorn the status of others? Who experiences envy and scorn most? Envy Up, Scorn Down marshals a wealth of recent psychological studies as well as findings based on years of Fiske's own research to address such questions. She shows that both envy and scorn have distinctive biological, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral characteristics. And though we are all "wired" for comparison, some individuals are more vulnerable to these motives than others. Dominant personalities, for example, express envy toward high-status groups such as the wealthy and well-educated, and insecurity can lead others to scorn those perceived to have lower status, such as women, minorities, or the disabled. Fiske shows that one's race or ethnicity, gender, and education all correlate with perceived status. Regardless of whether one is accorded higher or lower status, however, all groups rank their members, and all societies rank the various groups within them. We rate each group as either friend or foe, able or unable, and accordingly assign them the traits of warmth or competence. The majority of groups in the United States are ranked either warm or competent but not both, with extreme exceptions: the homeless or the very poor are considered neither warm nor competent. Societies across the globe view older people as warm but incompetent. Conversely, the very rich are generally considered cold but highly competent. Envy Up, Scorn Down explores the nuances of status hierarchies and their consequences and shows that such prejudice in its most virulent form dehumanizes and can lead to devastating outcomes—from the scornful neglect of the homeless to the envious anger historically directed at Tutsis in Rwanda or Jews in Europe. Individuals, groups, and even cultures will always make comparisons between and among themselves. Envy Up, Scorn Down is an accessible and insightful examination of drives we all share and the prejudice that can accompany comparison. The book deftly shows that understanding envy and scorn—and seeking to mitigate their effects—can prove invaluable to our lives, our relationships, and our society.


Book Synopsis Envy Up, Scorn Down by : Susan T. Fiske

Download or read book Envy Up, Scorn Down written by Susan T. Fiske and published by Russell Sage Foundation. This book was released on 2011-04-21 with total page 251 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An insightful examination of why we compare ourselves to those above and below us. The United States was founded on the principle of equal opportunity for all, and this ethos continues to inform the nation's collective identity. In reality, however, absolute equality is elusive. The gap between rich and poor has widened in recent decades, and the United States has the highest level of economic inequality of any developed country. Social class and other differences in status reverberate throughout American life, and prejudice based on another's perceived status persists among individuals and groups. In Envy Up, Scorn Down, noted social psychologist Susan Fiske examines the psychological underpinnings of interpersonal and intergroup comparisons, exploring why we compare ourselves to those both above and below us and analyzing the social consequences of such comparisons in day-to-day life. What motivates individuals, groups, and cultures to envy the status of some and scorn the status of others? Who experiences envy and scorn most? Envy Up, Scorn Down marshals a wealth of recent psychological studies as well as findings based on years of Fiske's own research to address such questions. She shows that both envy and scorn have distinctive biological, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral characteristics. And though we are all "wired" for comparison, some individuals are more vulnerable to these motives than others. Dominant personalities, for example, express envy toward high-status groups such as the wealthy and well-educated, and insecurity can lead others to scorn those perceived to have lower status, such as women, minorities, or the disabled. Fiske shows that one's race or ethnicity, gender, and education all correlate with perceived status. Regardless of whether one is accorded higher or lower status, however, all groups rank their members, and all societies rank the various groups within them. We rate each group as either friend or foe, able or unable, and accordingly assign them the traits of warmth or competence. The majority of groups in the United States are ranked either warm or competent but not both, with extreme exceptions: the homeless or the very poor are considered neither warm nor competent. Societies across the globe view older people as warm but incompetent. Conversely, the very rich are generally considered cold but highly competent. Envy Up, Scorn Down explores the nuances of status hierarchies and their consequences and shows that such prejudice in its most virulent form dehumanizes and can lead to devastating outcomes—from the scornful neglect of the homeless to the envious anger historically directed at Tutsis in Rwanda or Jews in Europe. Individuals, groups, and even cultures will always make comparisons between and among themselves. Envy Up, Scorn Down is an accessible and insightful examination of drives we all share and the prejudice that can accompany comparison. The book deftly shows that understanding envy and scorn—and seeking to mitigate their effects—can prove invaluable to our lives, our relationships, and our society.


Parliamentary Papers

Parliamentary Papers

Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons

Publisher:

Published: 1908

Total Pages: 684

ISBN-13:

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Book Synopsis Parliamentary Papers by : Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons

Download or read book Parliamentary Papers written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons and published by . This book was released on 1908 with total page 684 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Reports and Memoranda

Reports and Memoranda

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 1928

Total Pages: 656

ISBN-13:

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Beginning with no. 650 each hundredth number contains a list of the Reports and memoranda published since the last list.


Book Synopsis Reports and Memoranda by :

Download or read book Reports and Memoranda written by and published by . This book was released on 1928 with total page 656 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Beginning with no. 650 each hundredth number contains a list of the Reports and memoranda published since the last list.


Quantum Optics and Nanophotonics

Quantum Optics and Nanophotonics

Author: Claude Fabre

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2017-09-15

Total Pages: 464

ISBN-13: 0191081779

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Quantum Optics and Nanophotonics consists of the lecture notes of the Les Houches Summer School 101 held in August 2013. Some of the most eminent experts in this flourishing area of research have contributed chapters lying at the intersection of basic quantum science and advanced nanotechnology. The book is part of the renowned series of tutorial books that contain the lecture notes of all the Les Houches Summer Schools since the 1950's and cover the latest developments in physics and related fields.


Book Synopsis Quantum Optics and Nanophotonics by : Claude Fabre

Download or read book Quantum Optics and Nanophotonics written by Claude Fabre and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2017-09-15 with total page 464 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Quantum Optics and Nanophotonics consists of the lecture notes of the Les Houches Summer School 101 held in August 2013. Some of the most eminent experts in this flourishing area of research have contributed chapters lying at the intersection of basic quantum science and advanced nanotechnology. The book is part of the renowned series of tutorial books that contain the lecture notes of all the Les Houches Summer Schools since the 1950's and cover the latest developments in physics and related fields.


Proceedings of the Annual Meeting - American Society for Testing Materials

Proceedings of the Annual Meeting - American Society for Testing Materials

Author: American Society for Testing Materials

Publisher:

Published: 1922

Total Pages: 602

ISBN-13:

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Book Synopsis Proceedings of the Annual Meeting - American Society for Testing Materials by : American Society for Testing Materials

Download or read book Proceedings of the Annual Meeting - American Society for Testing Materials written by American Society for Testing Materials and published by . This book was released on 1922 with total page 602 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Minutes of Evidence Taken Before the Royal Commission on the Militia and Volunteers

Minutes of Evidence Taken Before the Royal Commission on the Militia and Volunteers

Author: Great Britain. Royal Commission on the Militia and Volunteers

Publisher:

Published: 1904

Total Pages: 598

ISBN-13:

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Book Synopsis Minutes of Evidence Taken Before the Royal Commission on the Militia and Volunteers by : Great Britain. Royal Commission on the Militia and Volunteers

Download or read book Minutes of Evidence Taken Before the Royal Commission on the Militia and Volunteers written by Great Britain. Royal Commission on the Militia and Volunteers and published by . This book was released on 1904 with total page 598 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: