The modern epoch of the 2000’s suggests that the world moves quickly and a successful contemporary life means that one moves at a quickened pace. The expectation for the middle class American is to go to college, develop a career, have a family, live in the suburbs, and retire comfortably. This socially constructed expectation is idyllic, yet it is perceived to be achievable by all, when in actuality there are many ways which limit most Americans from the “American Dream”. Examine the economic recession limiting opportunities of families that were once on the fringe of lower middle class transformed into paycheck to paycheck families. Economic duress has caused many Americans to take on jobs that they are over qualified for in order to provide for their families and themselves. But what does all of this have to do with Martin Buber, the German Jewish theologian and philosopher? The ever changing U.S. socioeconomic climate warrants an investigation of how Buber’s I and Thou can be applied to today. I contend that faced paced American society fosters many I-It and I-You relationships.
I-It, I-You, I-Thou
Buber developed a schema for identifying human interactions: I-It, I-You, I-Thou. I-It is an interaction to help humans understand the natural world. The ways in which human beings have developed agreed upon meanings for discourse are interactions rooted in the I-It. When Webster’s dictionary updates their lexicon it is an exercise in I-It. Buber argued that I-It interactions are laden with superficial identifiers; a practice of futile naming. In this vain, to understand the world of technical jargon we live in, I-It has a necessary function. I-It communication is limited to describing the world in which humans live, and cannot communicate how humans live in a society. I-You communication is centered in the ways humans live in social structures. Human beings exchange information. It is a linguistic function of knowledge dissemination and naming. The ways in which individuals communicate about objects are conversations of I-You. Buber articulated that the master of this mode of interaction was a master of disingenuous knowledge. The ways in which humans commonly relate to one another is in I-You. It is a relationship of reciprocating ideas. However, this communication is also limited. Because sharing concepts is different than sharing perspective.
Buber contended that everyday interactions were superficial in comparison to the relationship that humans experience with a higher power. He stated that when human beings pray they reveal vulnerable truths about their experiences as people to God. He named that mode of communication I-Thou. The sacred relationship that humans have when they are honestly unveiling their lived experience to God is thus the most intimate of human interactions. Although, humans are capable of having I-Thou relationships with each other, most communication is either about the natural world or superficial exchanges of knowledge. An I-Thou interaction happens when humans can discuss their experiences and find shared meanings of perspective. Buber stressed that humans should actively strive for more I-Thou relationships.
Modern Capitalism and the Deterioration of I-Thou
The United States is a very class oriented culture. It cannot exist without class structuration. That is the nature of a capitalist society, the haves and the have nots. This stratification means white collar jobs are perceived as more advantageous to America as blue collar jobs, even though both are necessary for the U.S. economic system as a whole to function. However, Buber would not be concerned with the arbitrary social status that one is allotted. Buber would suggest that all people should seek the Thou. However, it would seem that when an executive has a short amount of time while on their lunch break that they literally cannot afford to seek a more meaningful relationship with the bank teller or even a fellow co-worker. When the white collar worker is on break they often associate with peers by discussing the natural world, such as the weather or bus schedules, or business, such as stock portfolios or potential promotions. However, if the conversation were to simply shift to how shifts in weather cause seasonal depression or how the thought of being promoted causes anxiety from being away from family, the conversation moves into something decidedly more intimate. These conversations are often discouraged and perceived as emotional weakness or unprofessional. In this way, the I-Thou has deteriorated from the contemporary social consciousness.
Human beings crave the I-Thou relationship whether they are cognizant of it or not. The ways in which we interact could mean the difference between emotional turmoil and saliency. Buber although from a decidedly different time understood fundamental aspects of the human condition. The world in many ways can be a lonesome place without the meaningful interaction. It is so easy to get lost in natural world descriptors through technological advancements such as ipads, cell phones, and social media. Facebook is a false friend that makes people feel an artificial sense of connectivity to others. Twitter cannot fill the I-Thou void of the 21st century. It is now that human beings should strive for I-Thou relationships more than ever. Buber could not have predicted modern distractions, but his analysis of the human need for spiritual connection to God and others is just as relevant today as it was during his lifetime. Perhaps, this is why his work I and Thou is still studied by many interdisciplinary scholars. There is still much to learn from Martin Buber for generations to come.
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