“However
the history of the individual and that of the human race may diverge in other
respects, they agree in this at least:
both signify a progressive increase of the It-world.” (Martin Buber, 1878-1965)
Written
in German, Ich und Du was published in 1923. Translated into English in 1937, I and Thou
became Martin Buber’s most recognized work.
On first reading, this short treatise is difficult to understand, and in
places almost unreadable. And yet, for
me, the philosophy of I and Thou has become a profound and meaningful
lens through which to observe and interpret the world. The lens of I and
Thou offers clarity into the nature of the crises of our time. Buber’s philosophy
of dialogue in I and Thou illuminates how we can and must respond.
Buber begins
with a dichotomy, two modes of interaction, the I-It and the I-Thou. The I-It is
by far the more common interaction. When
we interact with others as the means to an end, we typically interact in an
I-It dialogue. For example, with a salesperson, we might exchange pleasantries. Then the sale is made, and the interaction is
over. We move on with our day without
concern about the person with whom we’ve just interacted. Nor is that person likely to have a second
thought about us. In this day of
burgeoning electronics, we really don’t even care if there is no salesperson
with whom to interact. We can buy
online. It was pointed out to me the
irony that I.T. spells ‘it’. Without
doubt, the explosion of technology adds to our expanding It-world.
The
I-it dialogue is impersonal. The ‘I” is
detached, thoughts directed elsewhere, watching the clock, bored, not really
listening. The “It” is objectified, not
a person but a function, a type or a label.
Often the “I” wants something from the “It”, Often the “I” wants to be heard,
but is unconcerned with hearing and responding to the concerns of the “It”.
In
contrast, I-Thou interactions are characterized by presence. The “I” is fully present
with one’s whole being, fully attentive, not only listening but hearing. The humanity
of the “Thou” is acknowledged. The
uniqueness of the “Thou” is appreciated. The “I” interacts with no specific end
in mind but with openness, curiosity and a wish to understand.
As a
teacher, I invoke Buber’s I and Thou as a moral challenge to young
doctors. Is it still possible in this
time of busy schedules and productivity quotas to maintain the I-Thou in a
doctor-patient relationship? My answer is yes, but only if it is undertaken
as a priority and experienced as an ethical imperative.
Buber
saw no less than the future of humanity at stake. God, for Buber, is “the eternal Thou.” An
expanding It-world leads to, what he called, “the eclipse of God.” For Buber, godliness shines in the world when
in the presence of the I and Thou. Buber
proclaimed hopefully, “The eclipse of the light of God is no extinction; even
tomorrow that which has stepped in between may give way.” The I-it may yet give way to the I-Thou.
With
or without Buber’s belief in God, I think most would agree that we live in a frighteningly
detached and impersonal It-world. We
fill our days with I-It interactions. Yet, the world needs more I-Thou dialogue;
listening and hearing, being fully present, being curious, accepting, sharing
and understanding. The world suffers for
lack of the I-Thou. Humanity yearns for the I-Thou.