About the book
An in-depth analysis of how humanity’s compulsion to categorize affects every aspect of our lived experience.
The minute we are born—sometimes even before—we are categorized. From there, classifications dog our every step: to school, work, the doctor’s office, and even the grave. Despite the vast diversity and individuality in every life, we seek patterns, organization, and control. In Categories We Live By, Gregory L. Murphy considers the categories we create to manage life’s sprawling diversity. Analyzing everything from bureaucracy’s innumerable categorizations to the minutiae of language, this book reveals how these categories are imposed on us and how that imposition affects our everyday lives.
Categories We Live By explores categorization in two parts. In part one, Murphy introduces the groundwork of categories—how they are created by experts, imperfectly captured by language, and employed by rules. Part two provides a number of case studies. Ranging from trivial categories such as parking regulations and peanut butter to critical issues such as race and mortality, Murphy demonstrates how this need to classify pervades everything. Finally, this comprehensive analysis demonstrates ways that we can cope with categorical disagreements and make categories more useful to our society.
Editions of Categories We Live By
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780262547031
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262377119
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262377126
Read an Excerpt
An in-depth analysis of how humanity’s compulsion to categorize affects every aspect of our lived experience.
The minute we are born—sometimes even before—we are categorized. From there, classifications dog our every step: to school, work, the doctor’s office, and even the grave. Despite the vast diversity and individuality in every life, we seek patterns, organization, and control. In Categories We Live By, Gregory L. Murphy considers the categories we create to manage life’s sprawling diversity. Analyzing everything from bureaucracy’s innumerable categorizations to the minutiae of language, this book reveals how these categories are imposed on us and how that imposition affects our everyday lives.
Categories We Live By explores categorization in two parts. In part one, Murphy introduces the groundwork of categories—how they are created by experts, imperfectly captured by language, and employed by rules. Part two provides a number of case studies. Ranging from trivial categories such as parking regulations and peanut butter to critical issues such as race and mortality, Murphy demonstrates how this need to classify pervades everything. Finally, this comprehensive analysis demonstrates ways that we can cope with categorical disagreements and make categories more useful to our society.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Categories We Live By about?
An in-depth analysis of how humanity’s compulsion to categorize affects every aspect of our lived experience.
The minute we are born—sometimes even before—we are categorized. From there, classifications dog our every step: to school, work, the doctor’s office, and even the grave. Despite the vast diversity and individuality in every life, we seek patterns, organization, and control. In Categories We Live By, Gregory L. Murphy considers the categories we create to manage life’s sprawling diversity. Analyzing everything from bureaucracy’s innumerable categorizations to the minutiae of language, this book reveals how these categories are imposed on us and how that imposition affects our everyday lives.
Categories We Live By explores categorization in two parts. In part one, Murphy introduces the groundwork of categories—how they are created by experts, imperfectly captured by language, and employed by rules. Part two provides a number of case studies. Ranging from trivial categories such as parking regulations and peanut butter to critical issues such as race and mortality, Murphy demonstrates how this need to classify pervades everything. Finally, this comprehensive analysis demonstrates ways that we can cope with categorical disagreements and make categories more useful to our society.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Categories We Live By?
Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary subjects > Interdisciplinary studies > Cognitive studies
Where can I read a sample of Categories We Live By?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780262547031
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Categories We Live By?
Gregory L. Murphy
Who is the Publisher of the book Categories We Live By?
MIT Press
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Categories We Live By is available as paperback(ISBN 9780262547031) and ebook(ISBN 9780262377119) and ebook(ISBN 9780262377126)
Where can I buy Categories We Live By online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy Categories We Live By?