, a form of religious
existentialism
centered on the distinction between the I-Thou relationship and the I-It relationship.
Born in Vienna
, Buber came from a family of observant Jews, but broke with Jewish custom to pursue secular studies in philosophy
. In 1902, Buber became the editor of the weekly Die Welt, the central organ of the Zionist movement, although he later withdrew from organizational work in Zionism.
The Thou encounters me by grace — it cannot be found by seeking. But that I speak the basic word to it is a deed of my whole being, is my essential deed.
The basic word I-Thou can be spoken only with one's whole being. The concentration and fusion into a whole being can never be accomplished by me, can never be accomplished without me. I require a Thou to become; becoming I, I say Thou.
All actual life is encounter.
The I of the basic word I-Thou is different from that of the basic word I-It.
An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language.
Egos appear by setting themselves apart from other egos.
Persons appear by entering into relation to other persons.
All names of God remain hallowed because they have been used not only to speak of God but also to speak to him.