Georg Simmel's Stranger Theory (Essay Sample)

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Georg Simmel’s Stranger Theory
Introduction
Georg Simmels is regarded as one the greatest sociologist who wrote several articles on many subjects of interest in sociology. Simmels is famously known for his writing on the Philosophy of Money, Social forms, the Sociology of Space, Sociology of Senses, the Sociology of boundary and the Stranger. The latter explores the relation of distance between forms by introducing an individual known as the Stranger who although far, is close to the observer and is capable of introducing new concepts to the society CITATION Sim02 \l 1033 (Simmel). It is against this backdrop that this paper critically evaluates Simmel’s Stranger theory by giving an overview of the theory’s concept. In so doing, the paper will also review other sociological literature build on the Stranger theory and finally provide a judgment on the applicability of the theory.
Discussion
The stranger theory as Simmel argued explores a certain form of interaction between entities. In the theory, Simmel observes a special relationship that exists between distance and the nearness that revolves around a person in relation to a stranger. A stranger according to Simmel "comes to today and stays tomorrow" and unlike an "outsider" with no specific link with a particular group, a stranger is also different from a "wanderer" who "comes today and leaves tomorrow" CITATION Sim02 \l 1033 (Simmel). A stranger is thus a member of a group or society he lives but yet remains distant or an outsider by virtue of not being a native.
The stranger theory points that although a stranger is far away enough to be unknown, he is also close enough to be known. A stranger in a society according to the theory are capable of bringing new things by performing certain actions that members of a particular group are either unwilling or incapable of doing. In every society therefore, a stranger must exist since if all people were known, then no one would bring something new to a group or society CITATION Sim02 \l 1033 (Simmel).
The theory further asserts that a stranger has certain degree of objectivity which makes him valuable to an individual or society at large. This according to Simmel is because of a stranger’s nearness and remoteness since he is not dictated by the group’s opinions or partisan disposition CITATION Sim02 \l 1033 (Simmel). A stranger is thus a neutral evaluator of circumstances and by employing some freedom both in theory and practice, a stranger is capable of evaluating situations without biasness or prejudice and this allows him to act in a manner that is not bounded by the norms and expectations of a society. Simmels, however notes that a stranger’s objectivity of thought does in no means imply non-participation. Simmels also notes that a stranger’s positivity of action is under the control of his mind and not the influence of circumstances CITATION Sim02 \l 1033 (Simmel).
Simmels work on the Stranger has influenced the thinking of other sociologist who has engaged extensively with his concept on the stranger. Some of the sociological literatures which have developed on the concept of the stranger include Robert Park’s Human Migration and the Marginal Man, Alfred Schiutz ‘s the Stranger, and Lewis Coser’s Alien among others. In the human migration and the marginal man, Park builds his argument on the Simmel’a concept of the stranger. Park asserts that migration is one of the forces behind the advancement of cultures in every society and that this advancement in culture starts with the movement and migration of people. Although present tendencies shows that movement of people have increased, migration of population as tremendously decreased. However both migration and movement of individuals, according to Park, have the same effect of creating new interaction and associations between people CITATION Par28 \p 889 \l 1033 (Park 889).
Park observes that migration has the consequences of creating a situation where an individual of a different race or culture finds himself associating or living with people of a different culture. This individual as portrayed by Park is similar to the stranger as Simmels by Simmel. Park refers to this individual as the "marginal man" and it is because of him that diverse cultures meet and interact CITATION Par28 \p 892 \l 1033 (Park 892). Park’s description of the marginal man is based on Simmels’ description of a stranger in a society which he described with regard to migration and movement. Park sums by noting that it is with regard to the marginal man that civilization process is ongoing and can be studied CITATION Par28 \p 892 \l 1033 (Park 892).
Alfred Schuetz in his article the "Stranger" expounds more on Simmels thinking on the stranger by observing cultural patterns which are peculiar in societies. The writer asserts that such cultural patterns determines the degree of relevance of individual thinking in societies and the magnitude of knowledge needed to handle cultural differences. Schuetz, however notes that a stranger does not share in the cultural patterns of a particular society and therefore his position is not subject to cultural orientations CITATION Sch44 \p 500 \l 1033 (Schuetz 500). Schuetz asserts that a stranger questions what might be unquestionable in a group and cannot be satisfied by vague understanding of a particular pattern since his unbiased position drives him to seek the explicit understanding of circumstances. Schuetz posits that a stranger’s view of a circumstance is based on his typicality and anonymity in the society CITATION Sch44 \p 502 \l 1033 (Schuetz 502).
Lewis Coser also touches on the concept of stranger as formulated by Simmels. Although the terms "Pariahvolk and "Pariah" had been introduced in sociology by Max Weber to denote the statuses of the Jewish, and later used with the word "Stranger" by Simmels, Lewis Coser extends the usage of the terms in his work "The Alien as a servant of Power”. Furthermore, Coser used the terms to refer to non-Pariahs. Coser in his argument attempted to unravel varied understanding of "Pariah" and other related terms in order to show that the meaning of the "Stranger" remains unchanged in different context CITATION Cos72 \l 1033 (Coser).
A stranger is of great significance in every society. As Simmels asserts, a stranger brings new things to a group or society. This is largely because of his neutral position relative to a group and therefore has no interest in a particular circumstance. Simmels observes that a stranger has some degree of objectivity which makes him useful to the society and because of his nearness and remoteness, he is impartial since he is not subject to a groups’ opinion or partisan or disposition CITATION Sim02 \l 1033 (Simmel). Simmels assertion is supported by Park’s description of the "marginal man”. According to Park, a marginal man is responsible for meeting and fusing of cultures and it is behind him than civilization occurred, is ongoing and can be studies. A stranger is thus a very resourceful person in every society since he brings about the process of civilization CITATION Par28 \l 1033 (Park).
A stranger in a society offers a new view point of circumstances and this can result to innovation. Simmels asserts that a stranger being a neutral eva...