The Outsider

The stranger is a sociology article by Georg Simmel. In his article he defines the characteristic of the stranger of what he does in society. Georg Simmel also states that the stranger is an outsider and insider and suggests that it allows for intimacies and confidence since the stranger is not bound to the group. Simmel is presenting sociology as the study of relationships and the possibilities for several types of interaction in society.

In his article he states that “Wanderer” is considered to be a state of detachment in spatial relationships, but “The Stranger” is considered to be both detachment and attachment in spatial relationships since he is an insider and outsider in spatial circle or group, “If wandering, considered as a state of detachment from every given point in space, is the conceptual opposite of attachment to any point, then the sociological form of the “The stranger” presents the synthesis, as it were both of these

Simmel also describes the stranger as one who combines distance and nearness, “As such, the stranger is near and far at the same time, as in relationship based on merely universal human similarities” (Simmel, 31). The stranger’s distance makes anything close distant while his closeness makes everything distant close. Additionally, being far and near at the same time, the stranger will often be called “Confidant” because he receives revelations which are kept hidden from everyone. Confidences that must be hidden from more closely related persons can be given to him just because with him they are not likely to have consequences. It is also common that the stranger may be a “better judge between conflicting parties than full members of the group since he is not tied up to either of them so he is not bound by commitments which could prejudice his perception, understanding, and evaluation.” (Simmel,