Others and otherness is a major theme of Existentialism
and Postcolonialism, two popular philosophical
movements in modern thought.
Sartre, who borrowed the term 'existential'
from Heidegger, coined the term 'Existentialism'
as the name for his own skeptical and individual-centered
school of thought, including Kierkegaard,
Nietzsche, and Heidegger as forerunners.
Sartre, like these others before him, argued
that we must have the courage to question
what we believe and recreate our beliefs for
ourselves, giving our own meaning to our lives
rather than letting it be supplied by others.
While it is easy to accept the authority of
politics, religion and science without question,
we are each responsible for our beliefs and
doubts, and we can choose to be revolutionary
individuals and inspire others.
Fanon, friend of Sartre and fellow Existentialist,
was born on the Caribbean island and French
colony of Martinique, and he became a central
inspiration of Postcolonialism, the study
of the aftereffects of European domination
and colonization of the world.
Fanon experienced racism in Martinique, France,
and North Africa, and as a psychiatrist he
argued that racism has a destructive impact
on the mental and physical health of the oppressed.
Modern studies have shown that it has a similar
impact on the oppressor as well.
The gaze of the other is important in the
thinking of both Sartre and Fanon.
In Sartre's play No Exit, the frustrated main
character famously declares, "Hell is other
people!".
We find the gaze of others frightening, because
we are afraid of the impact they can have
on our own opinion of ourselves.
Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor and Stoic
philosopher, said that it is strange that
everyone loves themselves more than anyone
else, but values the opinions of others about
themselves more than they value their own.
Because we are insecure, we are terrorized
by the other and the impact that their judgements
can have on the meaning of our lives.
If we face the other with good faith in the
possibility of positive change, interaction
with others can be powerfully transformative,
but we are afraid that it could take all meaning
away and leave us with nothing.
For both Sartre and Fanon, racism is a primary
example of the frightening but potentially
liberating gaze of the other.
Sartre wrote about Antisemitism in the years
following the Nazi occupation of Paris and
racism against Jews in both France and Germany.
Fanon wrote about racism against Africans
in European colonies such as the Americas,
and both wrote about racism against Africans
and Arabs in North Africa.
Africans, Arabs and others are devalued to
affirm the glory and achievements of Europeans,
including colonial and financial control of
the globe.
When we categorize ourselves and others as
superior or inferior, we are avoiding the
difficult but fruitful task of individual
critical thinking.
It is easy to treat others as categories rather
than as individuals, but if we treat others
as genuine human individuals it allows us
to change who we are as individuals, if we
embrace the opportunity.
We each change throughout our lives, as we
are changed by others, whether we embrace
this or not.
If we accept ourselves and the impact that
others can and will have on us, we have more
choice in what we want our lives to mean.
If we accept that we are insecure and do not
have total control, we can open up to ourselves
and others, embracing change and interaction
with others not as a threat, but as an adventure.
