A Note Against Empiricism: Derrida

Peter J. Leithart, September 17, 2003

A note against empiricism: Derrida quotes Scheler (in his essay on Levinas, "Violence and Metaphysics") to this effect: "I see not only the eye of an other, I see also that he looks at me." That is, what is SEEN is not only a thing, a dead object, but also a responding subject, an intention even. If a LOOK can be seen, then empiricism and all the reductionisms that are associated with it are destroyed. But a look CAN be seen, not only the face, but another face's glance at my face.