On binary opposition and binarism:  A long-distance dialogue between decolonial critique and the Lotmanian semiotics Cover Image

On binary opposition and binarism: A long-distance dialogue between decolonial critique and the Lotmanian semiotics
On binary opposition and binarism: A long-distance dialogue between decolonial critique and the Lotmanian semiotics

Author(s): Laura Gherlone
Subject(s): Semiotics / Semiology, Semiology, Logic, Culture and social structure , Sociology of Culture, Sociology of Religion
Published by: Tartu Ülikooli Kirjastus
Keywords: decoloniality; Juri Lotman; semiosphere; otherness; religion; binary/ternary; culture–nature; Anthropocene;

Summary/Abstract: While addressing the decolonial critique of Eurocentric modernity and the call for alternative cosmo-visions, this article retraces Juri Lotman’s culturological exploration towards the concept of ternarity [тернарность]: the scrutiny of the so-called binarism is what connects – without overlapping – the two perspectives. This long-distance dialogue will be built starting with the key notion of binary opposition, which will be analysed as a decolonial problem (Part I) and as a culturological problem (Part II). The analysis will focus on two central issues that stem from the either-or logic: the “othering mindset”, and the culture–nature dualism.

  • Issue Year: 51/2023
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 254-279
  • Page Count: 26
  • Language: English