Review article
The person and relations: key to understanding the family through forms and figures of Martin Buber’s philosophy of dialogue
Ante Akrap
Abstract
This paper speaks through the forms and figures of philosophy
of dialogue about the basic principles of human relations which are
also the foundation of family life. In a speculative journey from individual isolation and containment to the complete openness to the
other, man experiences a succession of external and internal conflicts; hence through the ontology of altruism Buber tries to define
man and his actions resorting to the formula substantially open to
the mystery of religion. The structure of man is essentially dialogical.
One’s own ontological state depends on and is defined by the other.
Man is man just because he is in relation from the very beginning.
That relation is based on dialogue and love which is the principle
of unity and diversity, the principle of communion, the foundation
of family, the way of realization of human existence. To enter into
dialogue means to get out of one’s own individualism, of one’s own
egoistic circle and spontaneously open to the other’s reality. Buber
gives metaphysical character to the relations among human beings
and their encounters. Living together is not a mere coincidence but
the grace; therefore, human encounters and their communion are
the image of real and true encounter with God.
Keywords
person; dialogue; relationship; family; egoism; experience
Hrčak ID:
150800
URI
Publication date:
24.12.2015.
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