"by virtue of his technological superiority"
Superiority to what? That word is usually used in comparison to something else. Is it implying superiority to God or the heavens? Can that comment be made considering we really don’t know much about this higher being man’s being compared to? This act of “tearing down” doesn’t necessarily mean he’s superior but just progressive, if that!
Church of the Light by Tadao Ando
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Vinilta: Not entirely sure I understand your qualm with this quotation. Regarding your initial question, I would assume that the “superiority” possessed by modern man, specified as technological superiority, is in relation to man prior the modern era. The tendency to relate the superiority of man automatically to a deified level is really interesting to me. I certainly find myself victim (self-victimization?) of this association quite a bit. My young husband and I often debate what I would consider the flaw of Shakespeare’s tragic characters, hubris. Is it possible that something can be superior to man without implying divinity? ...not to say that I believe this quote is completely separate from an overarching connotation.
Scott:
The word "superior" can denote a certain degree of excellence (greatness, superiority, a higher level in some way) and can, consequently, rely solely on the singular object to convey meaning. However, there still remains the question of ranking. If something is of a superior nature would it not then be safe to assume that other objects of similar nature are somehow inferior? The words “better” and “best” I remember learning of in grade school. I like bananas better than apples, but strawberries are the best fruit. If I say “I like bananas better,” should not one assume that I like it better than something else? In my view “superior” and “superiority” both suggest an object separate from the subject that is inferior by relation. Although the definition of the word “superior” does allow for this stance in singularity mentioned here, do you think that it can exist devoid of that relation to lesser objects?
In terms of both materiality and grammar, must Object A be "superior" to Object B, or can both objects, say, function with supiority in and amongst themselves? Thus, "superior" here may function as a synonym with, say, "exquisite." Anyway, whence the competition?
p.s. Perhaps coincidental to this conversation, the school to which Lissitzky was a member carried the moniker of Suprematists.
First, let me point out that our comments got all out of order, so this looks all confusing but whatever. We'll live. Okay, so "superior." Um...
1. "My grades are superior and my teacher doesn't grade on a curve."
2. "Your cooking is simply superior and I've never eaten a meal before in my life."
1 : situated higher up : UPPER
2 : of higher rank, quality, or importance
3 : courageously or serenely indifferent (as to something painful or disheartening)
4 a : greater in quantity or numbers (escaped by superior speed) b : excellent of its kind : BETTER (her superior memory)
5 : being a superscript
6 a of an animal structure : situated above or anterior or dorsal to another and especially a corresponding part (a superior artery) b of a plant structure : situated above or near the top of another part: as (1) of a calyx : attached to and apparently arising from the ovary (2) of an ovary : free from the calyx or other floral envelope
7 : more comprehensive (a genus is superior to a species)
http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/superior
Do those sentences fall into a particular number?
Okay, I'll back down a bit. I thnk perhaps that given the romance with technology so prevalent on the Planet at the beginning of the 20th Century, Lissitzky is with a swagger aligning himself with that which is, yes, seen as more grand even than the Sun, say "A Tale of Two Squares." For such alignment at the time was perhaps seen, at least among the Futurists, as the Deus ex Machina in the drama of Human history. I think many still have such an undying faith in technology as "superior" to all else. Go to the doctor sometime and watch what happens.
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