Sartre's theory of the Look

i remember being 7 or 8, riding in the backseat of my mother's car. a stranger on the street locked eyes with me as we rode by. at that instant, i felt that we could exchange souls or bodies.... now, in my 70s, the boundaries between me and other people, dog, spiders, blocks of wood are all fading away. and, soon, i will fade away as well.

I personally get really uncomfortable when people look at me. So I can relate to his idea that we are masters of our own world when we are alone as the subjects of our reality. But as soon as another person steps in we become objects and it's fundamentally threatening to our freedom. Especially because we can get into power struggles over 'what we are'. If someone defines us as a bad person and we define ourselves as a good person there is an automatic battle over who's view is more correct. Who has the greater authority of judgement. I think it explains why sensitive people prefer to be alone. Because when your alone you are free to define yourself and to live freely in that definition.

This explanation made me think of our current technology, wherein virtual spaces like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc. are having the effect of transforming young people into 'objects' for others' gaze, as if their very personhood (or subjectivity) is on view as a 'brand,' a commercial entity, a consumer commodity. And then, the negative emotional effects of constantly 'needing' that attention, that outside validation of their inherent worth as a person. It's as if they've lost their subjectivity in the electronic morass of object-hood presence. They've become dehumanized by an addictive technology, which cares not for the soul of man, but for its own proliferation which is monetized for profit.

This helps me considerably to understand my social anxiety. It's very situational and I've never been able to quit put into words what triggers it. Oddly, it's not when people perceive me as an object. Contrary to the "shame" that Sartre talks about, I am comfortable with that. I am comfortable blending into the background as if I'm just part of the scenery. Or, to use an analogy of the gaming world, being a "non-player character". Like in the movie "Free Guy". It's when they elevate me to being a subject that I have difficulty, when they elevate me to player status. There is a different sort of expectation or judgment that goes with that.

I get so excited when a theory I have on something is actually a real thing that somebody else thought too. It makes me know that I'm not alone in my deep introspection on the psyche. Very cool explanation of this theory I otherwise wouldn't know about.

Man I’m glad that this stuff has been written about and articulated, because I’ve felt this and thought about this a lot, without ever feeling like anybody else was realising the same thing

This was great, glad I found this channel! Looking forward to watching more of your stuff!

This video showed up in my YouTube recommended page. I decided to give it a try and... I've binged watch all your videos on continental philosophy! You really have a gift of explaining complex ideas in a simple and clear way. It's also nice to see a fellow woman in mostly men dominated field. Great job and keep it up :)

I'm so glad I found your channel. You have such calmness and deep wisdom in your field of study. You are a great professor and I appreciate your message 🙏❤ . Thank you for your service to the awaking humanity.

So clearly explained. Sartre’s being-for-others is, I think, a key insight to understanding our contemporary world in which we are understood and understand ourselves primarily in terms of how others see us.

I love your videos Professor Anderson! You're really good at explaining concepts. Looking forward to reading your paper 💜

Sartre's view on shame is pretty mind blowing, glad I stumbled upon this video and channel 👍

Excellent, very well displayed concept of the Look by Sartre: clear, precise, and just fun to watch, thanks!!

Thank you so much Professor ! ! I am really grateful for the subtitles since English is not my first language. Your channel is so underrated~💙

I enjoyed this ! Thank you ,Professor Anderson ,for making these videos available !

This is so engaging and well presented! So glad I found this channel! Thank you

What a great delivery and such clarity. I hope to listen to many more of Prof. Anderson's lessons.

Thank you for this video. I'm a nonnative speaker but my love for philosophy is beyond any language💖💖

thank you for this excellent video, on the technical side: there are hardly any cuts, you go through it so easily,  you seem so much inside your field, that it leaves me speechless

I am learning about Sartre, and this lecture helps me immensely in understanding the subject! Thank you so much!