alterity

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "alterity" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing concepts of otherness, difference, or the state of being other. An example: "The novel explores themes of alterity through its diverse characters." Alternative expressions include "otherness" and "difference."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

The "alterity," or otherness, of the Other, as signified by the "face," is something that one acknowledges before using reason to form judgments or beliefs about him.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the scramble for alterity that followed the demise of apartheid, forty unreconciled Afrikaner families, led by Verwoerd's son-in-law, retreated to Orania, an enclave established in the northern Cape.

The New Yorker

He went on, "I felt my sense of alterity very excruciatingly.

The New Yorker

"The Faraway Tree" series, by Enid Blyton: You'll come to realize why Blyton is a controversial figure (for entirely understandable reasons, such as her use of racist terms and figures like the golliwog), but what strikes you at this first reading is the disparity between her tone of comfortable and sedate fabulism and the shocking alterity she depicts.

The New Yorker

Gathering and hunting, little pockets of alterity, too, but most of all in the level Billy had come to live in a tilework of fiefdoms, theocratic duchies, zones and spheres of influences, over each of which some local despot, some criminal pope, sat watch.

The New York Times

Foster invokes Thomas Nagel's classic essay What Is It Like to Be a Bat? to demonstrate both the ultimate futility of the project – we can never really know how close he gets to the "truth" of the badger – but also to give a philosophical framework to his method – these are exercises in alterity, attempts to "grope at extreme otherness".

The Guardian - Books

And here is Avital Ronell going into such Freudian rhapsodies over the telephone it hardly seems an invention at all, rather a manifestation of Alexander Graham Bell's psychopathology: "There is an opening, a wound for holding the other, for giving voice to the other's suffering and keeping close a fugitive alterity".

The Guardian - Books

The ethos of the book is one of attention sacralised over time into devotion, with alterity rather than empathy as the basis of its love.

The Guardian - Books

They also exist in a kind of utopia of alterity where, at least in hipster New York, everyone is a minority – usually several minorities at once – and revels in his (and it is almost always his – Yanagihara often seems like the only woman involved) otherness.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

When postmodernist feminists take up the identity of black female subjectivity, it is largely to stress their 'alterity,' and thus belie the constructed nature of the philosophical project.

SEP

He denotes this relationship as having the form I-[map-world]. The third type of human/technology relations Ihde calls 'alterity' relations.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "alterity" in contexts where you want to emphasize the philosophical or theoretical aspects of otherness, particularly in relation to identity construction and ethical considerations.

Common error

Avoid using "alterity" as a mere synonym for "difference". "Alterity" carries a heavier philosophical weight, implying a fundamental otherness that shapes identity and ethical relations. Use "difference" when a neutral term is needed.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "alterity" is that of a noun. It refers to the state or quality of being other or different. Ludwig AI indicates that this term is correctly used in various academic and philosophical contexts to denote otherness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "alterity" is a noun denoting otherness, frequently employed in academic and philosophical contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and appropriate usage. While "otherness" and "difference" serve as simpler alternatives, "alterity" carries a specific weight in discussions of identity construction and ethical relations. It appears often in Science, News & Media and Encyclopedias. Consider using this term to add precision and depth to discussions concerning the nature of otherness and its impact on self-understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

otherness

This is a direct synonym, emphasizing the state of being different or other.

difference

Focuses on the characteristic of not being the same.

distinctiveness

Highlights the unique qualities that set something apart.

dissimilarity

Emphasizes the lack of resemblance between entities.

non-identity

Highlights the absence of sameness or equivalence.

divergence

Stresses the act of moving in different directions or deviating from a common point.

separateness

Focuses on the state of being apart or distinct.

uniqueness

Highlights the quality of being unlike anything else.

foreignness

Focuses on the quality of being alien or unfamiliar.

radical difference

Emphasizes a profound and fundamental dissimilarity.

FAQs

How is "alterity" typically used in academic writing?

"Alterity" is often employed in philosophical, sociological, and literary studies to explore concepts of otherness, identity construction, and ethical relations, especially in discussions of how the 'Other' is perceived and defined.

What's the difference between "otherness" and "alterity"?

While "otherness" is a more general term for the state of being different, "alterity" carries a stronger philosophical connotation, referring to the fundamental and irreducible difference that shapes identity and ethical considerations. You might consider "otherness" as a more accessible alternative.

In what fields of study is the concept of "alterity" most relevant?

The concept of "alterity" is particularly relevant in philosophy (especially phenomenology and ethics), sociology, postcolonial studies, literary theory, and cultural studies, where it informs discussions of identity, difference, and power dynamics.

What are some common misconceptions about "alterity"?

A common misconception is that "alterity" simply means difference. It's more accurately understood as the fundamental otherness that is constitutive of identity, and therefore carries complex ethical and philosophical implications.