When German idealism, which reached its peak in Hegel’s philosophy of absolute spirit, was criticized and consequently jettisoned, because of the little concern it has for the human person, the desire to develop a philosophy that focuses on the human person began to take shape in the hearts of philosophers. This desire was reawakened after the devastating aftermaths of the two World Wars and the Holocaust.
The two World Wars and the Holocaust led to the displacement of people from their homelands. It also led to various questions bordering on the meaning and value of life. The need for peace was felt; and dialogue, reconciliation and interpersonal relationship were seen as the best approach to the attainment of peace. However, with further break down in various human relationships, man has become a thing to his fellow man, manipulated and used as a means to an end. The ‘Other’ which in Martin Buber’s opinion is a ‘Thou’ in an ‘I-Thou’ relationship has become an object, an It, used as an instrument to achieve selfish end.
The question is: can man relate once more with his fellow human being as persons? Can there be such relationship in which the dignity of the human person will be respected and not used as a means to an end? Is authentic interpersonal relationship possible? To these questions philosophers have diverse answers. For some existentialist philosophers like Gabriel Marcel, Martin Buber and Berdyaev the answer is yes, but for existentialists like Jean Paul Sartre, the answer is No, because the other person is hell.
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