The gaze of the Other reveals our true nature from "summary" of Being and Nothingness by Jean-Paul Sartre
When we encounter the gaze of the Other, we are suddenly faced with an unsettling revelation. This gaze is not merely a glance or a passing look, but a penetrating scrutiny that seems to lay bare our very essence. We feel exposed, vulnerable, as if our innermost thoughts and desires have been laid bare for all to see. In this moment, we are forced to confront the fact that we are not the autonomous, self-contained beings we may have thought ourselves to be. The gaze of the Other disrupts our sense of self-possession, revealing the fundamental intersubjectivity that underlies human existence. We realize that our identity is not something that belongs to us alone, but is inextricably bound up with the perceptions and judgments of those around us. The Other's gaze acts as a mirror, reflecting back to us an image of ourselves that is shaped by their expectations, prejudices, and desires. In the face of the Other's gaze, we are confronted with the gap between how we see ourselves and how we are seen by others. This dissonance creates a sense of alienation, as we come to recognize that our self-image is not fixed or stable, but...
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