Why is it that the look of another person looking at you is different from everything else in the Cosmos? That is to say, looking at lions or tigers or Saturn or the Ring Nebula or at an owl or at another person from the side is one thing, but finding yourself looking in the eyes of another person looking at you is something else. And why is it that one can look at a lion or a planet or an owl or at someone's finger as long as one pleases, but looking into the eyes of another person is, if prolonged past a second, a perilous affair?
In his book "Lost in the Cosmos," Walker Percy reflects on the unique experience of gazing into another person's eyes compared to observing other elements of the universe, like animals or celestial bodies. While we may observe a lion or a planet at length without discomfort, the intensity of eye contact with another person creates a profound emotional and existential awareness. This suggests that human connection carries an inherent weight that is distinct from our interactions with other entities.
Percy raises the question of why prolonged eye contact with another individual can feel risky or threatening after just a moment. This implies a deeper vulnerability and intimacy present in human interaction that does not arise when we direct our attention elsewhere. Engaging in such eye contact can bring about feelings of self-awareness and exposure that challenge us, highlighting the complexity and significance of our relationships with others in contrast to the more detached way we observe the world around us.
