Shared universal traits make the stranger simultaneously near and far

Evidence

The stranger is close to us insofar as we feel between him and ourselves similarities of nationality or social position, of occupation or of general human nature. He is far from us insofar as these similarities extend beyond him and us, and connect us only because they connect a great many people. — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 397

Categorization

• DEFINE: The culminating formulation of nearness-remoteness instantiated in the stranger.
• XREF: connects to: The stranger fuses detachment with attachment, coming today but staying tomorrow — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 387; The stranger embodies a simultaneous union of closeness and remoteness — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 388; Widely shared similarities cool connections into a sense of contingency — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 396 (+16 more)

Related

• A stranger is someone personally unknown yet visually available (similarity 0.92)
• The stranger embodies a simultaneous union of closeness and remoteness (similarity 0.91)
• The most urban-inept strangers can be the most warmly treated (similarity 0.91)
• Strangeness is a specific proportion of nearness and distance (similarity 0.88)
• Seeing a handicap makes some strangers feel licensed to intrude (similarity 0.88)
• In the stranger, distance means the near one is far and vice versa. (similarity 0.87)
• The stranger is not a transient wanderer but a settled potential wanderer (similarity 0.87)
• Widely shared similarities cool connections into a sense of contingency (similarity 0.86)
• Strangers are perceived by type rather than as individuals (similarity 0.85)
• Stranger relations rest on general commonality, not specific differences (similarity 0.84)
• The stranger fuses detachment with attachment, coming today but staying tomorrow (similarity 0.82)
• Social forms can be classified by the interpersonal distances they create (similarity 0.82)
• Humans have a biophysical cap of roughly four thousand known individuals (similarity 0.81)
• Behavior can track type even when encounter partners are anonymous (similarity 0.81)
• Libraries and museums block strangers’ attempts at conversation (similarity 0.81)

Broader Connections

• Every person is perceived as both unique individual and general type #expands (0.70) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 174
• Strangers are perceived by type rather than as individuals #expands (0.60) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 401
• Living surrounded by strangers is a peculiar condition requiring explanation #expands (0.50)
• The friend-enemy distinction dissolves only through mutual recognition within shared space #qualifies (0.40)