Martin Buber I and Thou

Martin Buber: Overview

Born: 1878 in Vienna to a Jewish family.
Languages: Yiddish, Polish, Hebrew, German, French.
Education: Attended Polish-speaking school, influenced by Catholic practices.
- Notable philosophers studied: Kant, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche.
Career Highlights:
- Early involvement in the Zionist movement (later left).
- Advocated for a binational state in Palestine (1929).
- Worked at University of Frankfurt until resigning in 1933 due to Hitler's rise to power.
- Relocated to Jerusalem in 1938, taught at the Hebrew University.
- Supported Israel's War of Independence (1948) but criticized extreme nationalism.

Definition: A relational attitude where the Other is seen as a unique subject rather than an object.
Categories of Relationships:
- I–Thou: Deep connection to other humans and spiritual beings.
- I–It: View the Other as an object or categorization.
Partial Forms:
- Inanimate objects: E.g., perceiving a tree uniquely.
- Non-human animals: E.g., a horse as an individual being.

Impact of Direct Eye Contact:
- Creates presence and a sense of mutual acknowledgment.
- Questions existential concern: "Do I matter to you?"

Buber vs. Sartre:
- Sartre: "Existence precedes essence."
- Buber: "Relation precedes essence"; existence is shaped by relationships.
Philosophical Claim:
- Self-consciousness arises through acknowledging the Other in a shared relational space.

Solitude in Existential Philosophy:
- Human beings face an alien universe, seeking connection.
Concept of Mitsein:
- While Heidegger's idea of being-with others is significant, it falls short of fully recognizing the other's essence as relational.
Criticism of Self-Centeredness:
- Authentic existence leads to isolation; care remains self-referential unless barriers are crossed for genuine connection.

Buber's Perspective on Segregation:
- Damages both the segregator and the segregated by fostering an I–It relationship.
- Opposes the teachings of Judeo-Christian tradition by dehumanizing others.