Dialectics on identity

OTHERNESS AND BEING ONESELF: Tomy Paul Kakkattuthadathil; Intercultural Publications Pvt. Ltd., A-1/270, Sec. 4, Rohini, New Delhi-110085. Rs. 650.

TWO BASIC concepts, namely the notion of inter-subjectivity and personal identity are the main theme of the book under review. It makes an effort to understand the problem of "otherness". This notion is studied in the "I-Thou" relation expounded by Martin Buber, the Jewish thinker, who is considered as one of the important personalities of the 20th Century. The problem of otherness can be understood only in terms of one's own self. The book examines three important aspects, namely, the first one dealing with the origin and development of the problem, the second with Buber's notion of ontology and finally the analysis of the origin of the selfhood. It also examines the domains of human existence, experience and the problem of evil.

The book deals with the three themes: the ego to the other, ontology and otherness, and otherness and being oneself. It presents neatly Buber's philosophical thought for which the author has to be complemented. The problem of "other" is philosophical. The relation is one of mutual dependence, which could be seen in the writings of philosophers. According to Buber, there are two modes of existence, namely, "I-Thou" and "I- It". Of these, "I-Thou" is important and a genuine mode of existence. Human reality is essentially an "I-Thou" relation. The problem, according to Buber, is not the question of "what is man?" but "what it is to be a human being?" He wanted to understand the problem of human existence and solve it. The individual is human only because he partakes of others and can communicate himself to others. Relation to other person is primordial and unique than the relation to the things and objects of this world.

In chapter one, the author takes up the issue of the quest for the "Thou." The crisis of culture and the decline of spiritual and aesthetic values disturbed Buber. Philosophical inspirations and influences on Buber are depicted in this chapter. In chapter two, the "otherness" is examined as a philosophical problem by the different movements of philosophy. According to Buber, there is no means of obtaining truth other than through the lived human life. The author clarifies the difference between the "I-Thou" and the "I-It" relations. For Buber, human life consists in the life of interpersonal relations of man with his fellowmen and natural environment. Chapter three deals with man's existential relation to the world. The actual experience of life is important rather than the rational comprehension of it, says the author.

Existence, the author says, means co-existence. He argues in support of Buber who claims that "my existence is fundamentally communal in character, and without others I cannot exist. The reason why I call my existence coexistence is because others make me participate in the cultural world through their behaviour and their speech." Chapter five studies the problem of co-existence and being-with-the-other, by taking into account the philosophy of Hermann Cohen, Heidegger, Binswanger and Levinas.

Buber rejects and keeps himself away from the dehumanising forces and rationalistic philosophy. According to him, man has become a slave to technology. The sacredness of human being is lost due to technology and other social discrimination of man by man. To bring back the dignity and value of human being, he works for the metaphysic of togetherness. He is against dehumanisation of man and destruction of authentic personal relations wrought by technology, objectifying orientation of contemporary civilisation with a passionate plea for a return to the life of dialogue in which persons as such are confirmed in their nobleness and uniqueness. In chapter six, the notion of presence is discussed.

The book thus examines the role of "I and Thou" in the intersubjective understanding in the background of Buber. It is the need of the hour when human relations are broken and when man distances himself from others in the name of caste, religion and race. This book, definitely, is a contribution to knowledge.

S.PANNERSELVAM

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