The Human Trinity: What Makes Us Other?

Abstract

One of the most-quoted lines from philosophy is Nietzsche's ``What does not destroy me, makes me stronger'' (Twilight of the Idols, ``Maxims and Arrows'' 8). But what if this line is superimposed upon another well-known Nietzsche's maxim, ``And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you'' (Beyond Good and Evil, Aphorism 146)? What happens to the most basic constituents of our humanity --- worship, speech, consciousness --- when the abyss of the Other returns our probing gaze? Reflected in alien eyes, we may become stronger or weaker, more or less powerful. But one thing is certain: we will become other than human.