A comparative study of any two things

A comparative study of any two things aims to understand one side in terms of the other, find the merits and demerits in each side, and ultimately produce a new thing through a critical synthesis of the two. This comparative study is possible if and only if the two things being studied have both similarities and differences. The reason is as follows: if they are completely similar, there is no need for a comparison; if they are completely different, no significant comparison can be made. In a comparative study, accordingly, both differences without similarities and similarities without differences are meaningless. The similarities are the medium that make the meeting (communication) of the two possible and narrow or overcome their differences; the differences help to identify each side's merits and demerits. These are the requisites for a critical synthesis of the two; in this way, they interact and can ultimately produce something new. (Jong-Hyun Yeo, in Philosophy East and West, Honolulu, April 2013)