On the topic of “Contrasts”

A rich word, concept and phenomenon that is slightly overlooked and misinterpreted in too many contexts. Sad, because it holds a certain amount of elasticity. Productive elasticity serves us well, especially when we pair with a favourite playmate “identification” that separates one concept from another.

Identification has as a tool the idea of “contrastation” the process of separating by what is unique and different, that which is in contrast to something else, but not entirely different because there are similarities. This is the beauty of contrast, as it is the same but different, here we see the bloodline with another important concept, namely that of nuances.

Its heritage is from the Latin word “contra” which is closely related to “contrary” touched upon in “On the topic of “On the contrary”. We often simplistically equate contra as the opposite or against. The original meaning although being “in comparison with” in a constructionist sense making much meaning when ditching the idea of relativism in favour of relationism. The is no contrast between an apple and an orange, they are just simply not the same (no relativism needed!).

Getting a bit deeper into the crack of the meaning we find that “contra” comes from the Latin root “com” meaning “with, together”, along with this another part of the root of contrast comes from the PIE (Proto Indo-European) root “sta” meaning “to stand, set down, make or be firm”. The tension then becomes clearer and indicates sameness and otherness at the same time.