| A Philosophy of Discomfort Contributor(s): Pezeu-Massabuau, Jacques (Author) |
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ISBN: 1861899033 ISBN-13: 9781861899033 Publisher: Reaktion Books OUR PRICE: $38.61 Product Type: Paperback Published: June 2012 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Philosophy | Epistemology |
| Dewey: 121.35 |
| Physical Information: 0.5" H x 4.6" W x 7.7" (0.22 lbs) 128 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: A hard chair. An embarrassing conversation. A mosquito bite. All these provoke in us a sense of discomfort, whether an irksome sensation or an experience of unpleasantness. While we normally define "discomfort" simply as a lack of comfort, it is unclear which came first--comfort or the lack of it. A Philosophy of Discomfort explores comfort and discomfort as historical and philosophical concepts, viewing these ideas as a constant push and pull of opposing forces. Arguing that comfort is a relative state that changes as our concept of well-being evolves, Jacques Pezeu-Massabuau observes our notions of comfort over time, with particular consideration to examples of housing and interiors--in Japanese housing, the Moroccan casbah, and modern city apartments, some aspects of discomfort, or the physical lack of well-being, are tolerated and accepted. Despite the human instinct to avoid discomfort, Pezeu-Massabuau contends that people must recognize the uncomfortable as necessary to existence and suggests they learn to use discomfort as another kind of pleasure, a new hedonism, or simply a new way to achieve well-being. Unraveling the myths of modern comfort, this book serves as a guide to integrating disorder into our daily lives. |
Contributor Bio(s): Pezeu-Massabuau, Jacques: - Jacques Pezeu-Massabuau is lives in Tokyo and is the author of several books on design and philosophy. |