The Phenomenology of Relationships - Martin Buber's I-Thou

• “Personal dialogue defines the nature of reality according to Buber.”

  · I-Thou: Subject-to-subject relationship, aware of unity of being.

  · I-It: Subject-to-object relationship, perceiving isolated qualities, a sense of separateness.
• Characteristics of I-Thou Relationship:

  · Mutuality and reciprocity.

  · Engagement in dialogue involving each other's whole being.
• Conversion Between Attitudes

  · Trying to convert subject-to-subject to subject-to-object or vice versa.

  · The being of a subject is a unity that cannot be analyzed as an object.
• The I-Thou Relation:

  · Direct interpersonal relations without intervening ideas.

  Not a means to an object or goal, but an ultimate relation involving the whole being
• Love as I-Thou Relation:

  · Subject-to-subject relation, sharing unity of being.

  · Involves caring, respect, commitment, and responsibility.
• I-Thou vs. I-It Relation:

  · I-Thou: Unity with Thou, shared reality.

  · I-It: Detached or separated from It, incomplete reality.

  · Potential being becomes actual being when the I-It relation turns into an I-Thou relation.
• God as the Eternal Thou:

  · God sustains the eternal I-Thou relation.

  · Unity of being in the I-Thou relation between the individual and God.

  · No barrier of other relations, direct communication with God.
• Nature of the Eternal Thou:

  · Not an object of experience or thought.

  · Not investigable or examinable.

  · Known as the absolute Person unifying all being.
• Universal Significance of I-Thou Relation with God:

  · Foundation for all other relations.

  · Real I-Thou relation with God implies a real I-Thou relation with the world.

  · Actions in the world guided by the I-Thou relation with God.
• Philosophy of Personal Dialogue and Ethics:

  · Instructive method of ethical inquiry.

  · Defines the nature of personal responsibility.