We can see some things without reflection. But only things that create their own light.
It is the reflection of light from different surfaces that enables us to see those surfaces.

Obviously without light we can't see anything at all. So there must be a light source of some type.
And the specular reflection from the different points of an object gives rise to many points that APPEAR to be light sources.
Each of these creates an image at different points on the retina.
With colour, texture etc. These images collectively give us the impressions of the characteristics of the original object.

Who said we can't? I can see a candle in the dark and it isn't reflecting.