YANG BUKAN AKU

Abstract

Human beings are social animals who depend on others for life,
development and even death. Metaphysically, each of us requires the existence of the
other, as the counterpart of self consciousness. We can be certain, unique and
independent persons because of others. They are obviously different from me and so am
I. But deep down both have the same base that is the same substance and being.
Nevertheless in our communal life, we often find that many people do not take our
similarity and difference into account. People who are tightly tied to their ethnic, racial
and religious groups often judge others only in term of their differences. In an extreme
situation, those who are different will be eliminated or annihilated, if they do not agree
to change their identity or to observe ‘our rule of game’. Then people will come to
similar question who is the other? To have a reliable answer, it is better to learn from
Emmanuel Levinas. For him, there can be no doubt that human relation begins with the
encounter of faces. Philosophies should begin with this relation which implies an ethical
duty. The duty is that, before the face of the other we have responsibility. To be
responsible is to be responsible for others.