The person in dialogue, the person through dialogue

Abstract

In this article we consider a thesis that is quite typical of the philosophy of dialogue: namely, that it is in dialogue that the person comes to be. We present the thesis drawing upon the ideas of Martin Buber, John Macmurray and Calvin Schrag. (The last of these is not himself a fully-fledged philosopher of dialogue, but he does shed some light on the ideas of the others.) We also analyze the ideas developed by Karol Wojtyla, who – although he cannot be classified as a member of this philosophical school – offered his own interpretation of the thesis. The paper shows that philosophers from various schools can find themselves considering much the same thesis, and that this can lead to positive and constructive outcomes. Moreover, the person occupies the center of attention for personalists as well as philosophers of dialogue, so a mutual exchange of insights between them regarding the structure of personhood may well prove vital to a better understanding of the person as an existing reality.