Abstract

The comparison between the concepts of "East" and "West", as every other kind of comparison, inevitably calls into question the concept of "identity". This concept, consequentially, implies of necessity that of "difference". In order to avoid the hypostatization of one of the two terms, there is the need for a way of connecting both concepts. So, it appears therefore necessary to build a model composed of three interdependent variables where the problem which stimulates the comparison must be considered as a field of forces, whereas identity and difference become the two poles of such field. Within this trivalent relationship none of the three variables will prevail over the others.