Levinas claims that an absolute other must necessarily be invisible. If the other is visible, I can at least “capture” and “grasp” and “encompass” him in my gaze, which is the first moment in a sequence that could lead to capturing, grasping, and encompassing and dominating him in other ways. An invisible other is beyond my gaze, and therefore absolutely beyond my control. We can “fix” someone with our gaze, but not an invisible other, for where shall we look? This seems to be a fruitful line of critique for iconolatry.
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
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