I and Thou

Martin Buber's "I and Thou" is a theological doctrine that describes a direct, mutual relationship between beings. The purest form of this relationship is between humans and God, referred to as the "Eternal Thou," which serves as a model for human-to-human I-Thou interactions.1

Buber distinguished between two primary modes of relating to others:

• I-Thou: This is a full, direct, and mutual relationship where individuals engage with each other as whole beings. This type of relationship is rare between humans but is always present in the relationship with God.12
• I-It: In this mode, another being is treated as an object of thought or action, rather than a subject with whom one engages. This is a more common way humans interact with each other and the world.13

Buber's philosophy emphasizes the importance of "encounter" and dialogue, believing that individuals realize themselves through their relationships with others. His seminal work on this concept is the book Ich und Du (1923), translated as I and Thou.321