Martin Buber

Martin Buber

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Buber & Existentialism

How is Buber an existentialist?

Buber believes that human essence is developed as time passes and choices are made.

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Buber also tries to find where humans belong, through experiences and relationships.

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His philosophy is relationship-geared;

Such as subject to subject(s), subject to God, subject to animal, or subject to object.

Buber & Camus

"All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware." -Martin Buber

"People want, and need, a basis for their values, but the world offers them none, Camus believed. Because there is no overarching value system, a person can't make everyday value judgments, but is adrift in a meaningless world."

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Camus: World offers nothing;
Buber: World neither gives nor experiences anything

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Camus: "(...) Meursault says life may have no deeper meaning but he indicates that he feels close to others who share life's predicament."

Buber: Close to others through I-Thou relation. Feel connection to those with same thoughts.
"Meursault is characterized as a person who has no commitment to anyone or to anything except his own small pleasures and the necessities at the moment."

This relates to I-It by showing how the I uses the "It" for personal gain.

I-Thou

I-It