The Concept of Realisation

Abstract

In the early part of this century Martin Buber, whose treatment of I and Thou later brought him into prominence in the English-speaking world, had been deeply attracted to ‘realisation’ as a philosophical idea. It represented a stage in his thinking which he left behind and in consequence of which he was reluctant for an English translation to be published at a time when he was already known for a very different kind of work, that is for his elaboration of a philosophy of dialogue. However Daniel ¹ is an important book on many counts. First of all, it can be taken as an important example of the ‘new thinking’ which he and some of his contemporaries in the Germany of his day strove to engage in. This would not be cast in an ossified mode shaped by concepts, but would seek to convey the living nerve of thinking on the move, thinking as the very thinker thinks it. It would require a style of writing more familiar in literature than in academic philosophy, and indeed it was not very clear what reading public Buber had in mind when he created this series of dialogues which resemble poetry and drama while at the same time being unmistakably philosophical.