250405 Othering I (S) (SoSe 2020)

The course aims to provide the students to elaborate on the issue of us-them distinction by focusing on the concept of "other", along with the theoretical frameworks of education science, philosophy, political science, and psychology. In order to grasp the broad theoretical framework, the operation of the course will be implemented through an interdisciplinary perspective where the concept of others will be investigated in individual, social and collective levels. Other is the natural product of the socialization process for individuals; utilized during the construction of "I" and "we" to provide distinctiveness and differentiation, which makes it a critical entity for the social construction of boundaries (Therborn, 2006) and accordingly for the construction of identities. This means, in every social, political and historical context where individuals form collectivities; other is the sine qua non-part of the process. However, the other is obviously the different one, signifying a difference that comprises a threat for “us”, a difference that is pathological and needs to be aligned with the ingroup norms or to be annihilated. “Is it possible to coexist with the others” is the main question we will try to answer throughout this class while focusing on how individuals choose, construct and behave these others through the voluminous literature of identity politics, intergroup relations, philosophy of mind and anthropology.

Requirements for participation, required level

This seminar can only be taken in combination with the "OTHERING II" course. Per course this means a duration of 2 SWS.
Dieses Seminar ist nur in Verbindung mit dem Seminar "OTHERING II" zu belegen. Pro Seminar bedeutet das einen Umfang von 2 SWS.