Färgblivandets under och det stora Duet

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to map the so-called predialogical level of Martin Buber’s thinking. In Daniel (1913) Buber appears as a romantic culture critic. What is discussed in the book about realization is not dialogues in Buber’s style – rather in the style of Plato, but they are not didactic discussions – they are filled with feeling and spirit and a cosmic home-sickness. The conversations take place in a romantic landscape, a dream-like meadow when twilight sets in. Realization and meaning (Sinn) are topics in Daniel that come back in later writings. In his “Geleitwort” (1906) to the collection Die Gesellschaft Buber defines sociology as “the science of the inter-human forms”. These forms are later built into overall cosmic connections.