Overview
Read the following https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~akantor/readings/BuberMartin-i-and-thou.pdf link and complete the questions below 1. Complete a summary of the readings
- What social/historical situation was Buber was primarily concerned threatened humanity’s ability to relate?
- What is characteristic of I – It relations?
- The "Sphere" of "spiritual beings" involves what/who?
- What, primarily, gets in the way of I – You relations?
- What is characteristic of I – You relations?
- Why is neither “out there,” nor “in here” real or whole?
- What is the benefit of a true relationship?
- What is the Inborn You?
- Which word corresponds to becoming?
- Which word corresponds to being?
- Theology primarily concerns itself with what?
- Why is a relational moment with God hard?
- According to the Bible, what does God’s name mean?
- Created in the image and likeness to God means...
- The phrase Eternal You means what?
Questions presented for discussion it would be helpful to remember and review:
Here it will be helpful to remember the context in which we discussed these questions/why we were discussing them. I list them by session on Buber.
Part One (Jan 4)
- What are the various meanings of the word “present”?
- What are the subtle implications of each?
- What are the overlapping/interweaving meanings of each?
- What are the strengths and limitations of the I-You relation?
- What are the strengths and limitations of the I-It relation?
- At the end of Part One Buber claims that without It one cannot live; but if one lives only with It one is not truly human (85). What do you think he meant by this? Do you agree? Why or why not?
Part Two (Jan 5)
- Buber claims that increased technology brings with it a greater capacity for use and experience (88), an increase of the It-world. Such an increase brings with it a corresponding decrease in our capacity to relate (89), a decrease of the You-world.
- Do you agree? Can you think of an example to either support or refute his claim?
Part Three (Jan 6)
- What in Buber’s thought is significant or important to you? Why?