Small steps and giant leaps the social phenomenology of distance Eviatar Zerubavel

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Zerubavel, Eviatar, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Categorization (Psychology).

Categories (Philosophy).

Physical Description:

1 online resource

illustration

Other Title:

Social phenomenology of distance

Place of Publication:

Oxford University Press, 2026.

New York, NY Oxford University Press [2026]

Summary:

In 'Small Steps and Giant Leaps', Eviatar Zerubavel explores how categorizing affects our perception of distance through 'The Neil Armstrong Effect,' the cognitive tendency to exaggerate perceived differences between cultural categories. In Zerubavel's signature style, the book demonstrates the parallel manners in which we have traditionally polarized our conventional visions of categories such as masculinity and femininity or humanity and animality, as well as the parallel symbolic significance of weddings, New Year's Day, and the ritual display of passports upon crossing international borders. Viewing distance 'topologically,' it shows how we tend to mentally 'compress' within - categorical 'distances' while 'stretching' those between categories. We do so collectively, as members of epistemic communities sharing the same norms, conventions, and traditions of categorizing

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description based on online resource; title from digital title page (viewed on July 29, 2026)

Other Format:

Print version :

ISBN:

9780197832585

019783258X

9780197832561

0197832563

OCLC:

1602281255

Publisher Number:

CIPO000412000

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license