I and Thou
By Martin Buber
The World is twofold:
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2 primary words
I-It
I-Thou
Both can best be understood as relational
experiences
I-It
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Action out of partial being
“Objects of general experience”
The other things of the world
He/Dhe.
I-Thou
• Action out of the whole being
• Gives three examples:
– Nature
– Men (other people)
– Spiritual Beings
What does this have to do with love?
• Buber thinks that people confuse love as being a
feeling when it is actually
• “Feelings are entertained; but man dwells in his
love. Feelings dwell in man; but man dwells in his
love. This is no metaphor, but the actual truth.
Love does not cling to the I in such a way as to
have the Thou for its ‘content’, its object; but love
is between I and thou.”
• “Love is a responsibility of an I for a Thou.”
What does this have to do with love?
Cont.…
• Love is not a relation to a thing, but rather a
relation of subjects
• It is an openness to another's being