In this paper of mine, I would like to relate Heidegger’s “Mitsein”, Levinas’ “Face”, and Scheler’s “Person and Community” in relation to the issue on “Racism.” The first philosopher and philosophy which I can relate to the issue on racism is Heidegger’s “Mitsein.” “Mitsein” means “being-with.” To “be with” needs an Other. In “being with” the Other, relationship starts. We cannot achieve “Mitsein” without the Other. As relational beings, it is our nature to be “in relation with” others. Without others, surely we will die lonely. But how is it possible for racists to achieve “Mitsein”? They can achieve “being-with” but only to their race. Because racists would discriminate and oppose other races, they don’t want to “be-with” them. They would rather choose death than to live with them (other races). That is why I can say that racism is an “Anti-Mitsein”, “Anti-Being-With” and “Anti-Relationship.” It does not promote “relationship” with other races. It promotes war, hatred, anger and death. It moves against our nature as relational beings. It is more of division, separation and isolation of other races.
The second philosopher and philosophy which I can relate to the issue on racism is Levinas’ “Face.” “Face” is a structure of relationship which happens at the time of contact (the facing). It is the totality of our Being and the Being of the Other. All of us have a “face.” This “face” would beg to others as if saying to them “be for me!” The answer would only be between “for him/her” which affirms our being relational and makes us more social, and “not for him/her” which mean denying our very nature as relational beings. Because “face” is a structure of relationship, and every relationship comes responsibility, there enters what we call “Infinite Responsibility” of the Other. All of us have “Infinite Responsibility” of the Other. Nobody is exempted. Because our very nature is to “be-with” and to be in relation to others, we are infinitely responsible of whatever will happen to them. But where is “Infinite Responsibility” of the Other in the part of racists if on the first place they cannot accept other races’ face, that they are not “for them”? For racists, one of the reasons why they discriminate other races is because of their different face (other races). Because of having a different face on the part of other races, they deny their responsibility to them. That is why instead of being responsible to them and “be for them”, they would even make them more and more suffer and kill them which means they are not responsible and have “no-care” to other Beings. With these, I can say that racists are “Anti-Face” and “Anti-Relationship.”
The last philosopher and philosophy which I can relate to racism is Scheler’s “Personhood and Community.” “Person” is a relational term for “ego” and “monad.” It is “monad with windows.” This “monad with windows” leads to “relationship” and “relationship” leads to “sociality.” This sociality means being “communal.” Once we reach this level, we can be called a “person” “a man of communion.” If many persons would commune, we can already call it a “Community.” Person is the “thickest constitution.” It is revealed through the “acts.” But the question is where is “Personhood and Community” in racism? Can they (Personhood and Community) be achieved? For racists, they would only achieve “personhood” on their own race. They are not “persons” in dealing with other races. “Community” is also possible for them but they achieve this in their own race. Their
“personhood and community” are limited to their own race. It is like a “Community” that is choosy. Their community is only limited for their own race. With these, I can say they become “monads” and “egos” not capable of “eduction” with other races. Their “community” is small. Their “community” is an “Anti-Community” to other races.
Differences on color, culture, physical make-up, religion and knowledge are the reasons of racism. “Being-not-for-other-face” (Anti-Face) means “Being-not-with-them” (Anti-Mitsein). “Anti-Face” and “Anti-Mitsein” means denying our “Infinite Responsibility” to others. If this is so, Racism is “Anti-Relationship” to other races. With this, we cannot achieve “communion with other races.” That is why, for me, being a racist is really crazy. It is really going out of our very nature as “persons.” I don’t understand why racists would condemn other races due to differences of features especially on face, way of life and beliefs. On the first place, before we were born, we cannot choose our skin color, culture, physical make-up, and religion. They are out of our control. We can only change these when we grow up (if we choose to). Usually, if we were born the way we are (features, way of life, culture, religion), we don’t change them when we grow up because it is our “identity.” “I am born a Filipino (with flat nose and I’m not ashamed of it) and a Catholic and I will die as a Filipino and a Catholic.” And so, the only key to stop racism is through “tolerance” and “respect” to other races. We are “born the way we are” and others are also “born the way they are.” Because the “born the way we are” and the “born the way they are” are not on our control, we have to “tolerate” these differences in us and “respect” them. Because our “being in what race” is out of our control, we have no reasons to condemn, destroy and discriminate other races.
As conclusion, racism is “Anti-Mitsein”, “Anti-Face” and “Anti-Community”. It goes against our very nature as relational beings. Through racial discrimination, there will always be division, “outcasting” of other races, intense anger and oppositions to other races. It will only cause harm and even death. In order for us to stop racism, we can achieve it through “tolerance” and “respect.” In life, there are things and situations wherein we cannot control. To be born on a certain race is never in our control. It is the choice of the “One” who is controlling us when we were still not capable of choosing (God-choosing our face, parents, Parents- choosing our religion). We cannot blame other persons in other races for being in that race because they were born that way. Because they were born the way they are, we must not blame and discriminate them. We must “tolerate” the differences on races because we did not choose what our race would be. We must also give “respect” to other races because they need it as human beings like us. If we apply “tolerance” and “respect” in the “differences of races”, we will also learn to love, care and accept other races. If we can already accept them and “be for them”, it means that we are really responsible to them. In our being infinitely responsible to them, we achieve a “Thicker Personhood” and a “Bigger Community.”