What do you think?
Rate this book
The Writings of Martin Buber
Paperback in decent shape. 1961 copyright.
- GenresPhilosophy
Paperback
First published January 1, 1956
4 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Martin Buber
424 books477 followersMartin Buber was an Austrian-born Jewish philosopher best known for his philosophy of dialogue, a religious existentialism centered on the distinction between the I-Thou relationship and the I-It relationship.
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. In 1923 Buber wrote his famous essay on existence, Ich und Du (later translated into English as I and Thou), and in 1925 he began translating the Hebrew Bible into the German language.
In 1930 Buber became an honorary professor at the University of Frankfurt am Main, and resigned in protest from his professorship immediately after Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933. He then founded the Central Office for Jewish Adult Education, which became an increasingly important body as the German government forbade Jews to attend public education. In 1938, Buber left Germany and settled in Jerusalem, in the British Mandate of Palestine, receiving a professorship at Hebrew University and lecturing in anthropology and introductory sociology.
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. In 1923 Buber wrote his famous essay on existence, Ich und Du (later translated into English as I and Thou), and in 1925 he began translating the Hebrew Bible into the German language.
In 1930 Buber became an honorary professor at the University of Frankfurt am Main, and resigned in protest from his professorship immediately after Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933. He then founded the Central Office for Jewish Adult Education, which became an increasingly important body as the German government forbade Jews to attend public education. In 1938, Buber left Germany and settled in Jerusalem, in the British Mandate of Palestine, receiving a professorship at Hebrew University and lecturing in anthropology and introductory sociology.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 2, 2013
I always thought of Martin Buber primarily as a philosophical figure with an existential bent and a mystical hangover. Mostly I attached his name to the I-Thou vs. I-It ways of relating. I had only the smallest scrap of the entire picture.
Will Herberg's collection of Buber's presents a Buber fixated on the God of Israel. His philosophy, his existentialism, his social theory and politics all flow from the God who addresses human beings.
I perhaps enjoyed the selections from Buber's writing on the Hebrew Bible most, particularly his insistence on the importance of the Eagle Speech in Ex 19.
Even Buber's unashamed Zionist politics bears evidence of the God who addresses, summons, and imposes a mission. Buber ties the importance of a land completely the urgency of the Jewish mission.
It's at this point, though, where Buber and I part ways. Buber views the long exile and dispersion of God's people as an impediment, even a barrier to their faithful work in their mission. I am convinced that exile only transposes mission into a new key--indeed, one closer to the heart and character of God. (But I am on the road with Jesus, so my perspective is necessarily different.)
Buber, in a strange way, offers a glimpse of a non-Christian Constantinian imagination. The power of empire shapes us all into its image, whether the empire claims our religion as its ideology or another.
Will Herberg's collection of Buber's presents a Buber fixated on the God of Israel. His philosophy, his existentialism, his social theory and politics all flow from the God who addresses human beings.
I perhaps enjoyed the selections from Buber's writing on the Hebrew Bible most, particularly his insistence on the importance of the Eagle Speech in Ex 19.
Even Buber's unashamed Zionist politics bears evidence of the God who addresses, summons, and imposes a mission. Buber ties the importance of a land completely the urgency of the Jewish mission.
It's at this point, though, where Buber and I part ways. Buber views the long exile and dispersion of God's people as an impediment, even a barrier to their faithful work in their mission. I am convinced that exile only transposes mission into a new key--indeed, one closer to the heart and character of God. (But I am on the road with Jesus, so my perspective is necessarily different.)
Buber, in a strange way, offers a glimpse of a non-Christian Constantinian imagination. The power of empire shapes us all into its image, whether the empire claims our religion as its ideology or another.
June 19, 2018
I have read this, but continue to re-read these writings. With each read I learn new things.
Read
April 16, 2021מבחר מאמרים: תקווה לשעה זאת
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews