A philosophical-analytical study of the duality of "similarity" and "distinction" in the recognition of architectural works

Recognition of architectural works is considered a difficult task due to its complexity and expansion. Categorizations and classifications can be regarded in recognizing the architectural works, by considering the similarities between them to facilitate the recognition of architectural works by generalizing the characteristics of similar cases. But on the other hand, despite the similarities, the architectural works are not exactly the same. Each construction is entirely exclusive, having its own features and identity. It happens because specific aspects and characteristics of buildings are affected by several factors such as climate, style, culture, material, shape and color, methods, authorities, beliefs, tradition, function, etc. these factors cause every building have special aspects and its own features and identity. Thus, in recognizing the architectural works, we are faced on the one hand with the similarities of the works and on the other hand with their distinctions with each other.

Therefore, the questions arise as to what the nature of "similarity" and "distinction" and what the relation between them is, and what aspect is more original in recognizing the architectural works. The main purpose of this study is approaching to a comprehensive recognition of architectural works based on their similarities or differences.

The transcendental realm of architecture, i.e. the rational sciences that deal with the cognition of the universe in general has been used to explain the answer, since the considered questions are fundamental. So Islamic philosophical knowledge has been used and referred.

To answer the research question, some dualities are extracted. The resulsts showed that the dualities such as General and Partial, Being and Nature, Substance and Accident, Unity and Plurality, Appearance and hidden, Transcendence and Immanence are opposite and also related to each other. One side of these dualities which are discussed is more intelligible and the other side is more sensible. The first one leads to similarities and the second leads to distinctions. In these dualities the two sides are always together and study based on just one side is defective and causes defective recognition and results. Their relationship can be generalized by the deductive reasoning method and generalize to the two concepts of "similarity" and "distinction" in the phenomena, including the architectural works. The present study is "theoretical fundamental" in terms of purpose, while it has an analytical-philosophical nature in terms of nature and method. Finally, it will be proved that similarity and distinction are two features of works that are counteracting while complementary at the same time, and both aspects must be considered simultaneously in recognizing architectural works, since each of these aspects, on their own, provide an incomplete and reciprocal image from the reality. However, the aspect of similarity has more domination and originality, and the distinction that is maximized in the materialistic emergence of the works is considered as one of its subordinates.