Ethics and Politics in the Thought of Martin Buber and Albert Camus

Ethics and Politics in the Thought of Martin Buber and Albert Camus by Merom Kalie A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Political Science University of Toronto © Copyright by Merom Kalie 2015 Ethics and Politics in the Thought of Martin Buber and Albert Camus Merom Kalie, Doctor of Philosophy Department of Political Science, University of Toronto, 2015 Abstract The dissertation provides a discussion and comparison of the ideas of Martin Buber and Albert Camus regarding human connectedness and solidarity, ethics and politics. The aim of the dissertation is to examine the ways in which these thinkers dealt with the possible tension between human solidarity and connectedness on the one hand, and the need for ethical restraints on the other. The dissertation begins with a presentation and comparison of certain aspects of Buber’s and Camus’ respective biographies. It then examines and compares the thinkers’ views regarding human relationship, especially given the loss of the traditional existential and moral anchors in the wake of modernity. At the centre of the comparison stands the difference between Buber, a believer who understood connectedness and dialogue between human beings and with God to be a primordial and inherent need that could and should be fulfilled; and Camus, who was secular in his personal beliefs, and discussed a concept of solidarity which is largely based on rebellion against oppression and shared human experience in the face of the absurd – the bold acknowledgement of human beings’ inability to fully achieve harmony and meaning. ii The second part of the dissertation discusses the conceptual ethical mechanisms the two thinkers developed in order to prevent connectedness or solidarity from devolving into destructive social and political behaviour. It presents the possible ethical problems that arise from Buber’s account of spontaneous, unmediated connectedness, and critically discusses the solutions that he offers to address these problems. Buber’s views are then compared with those of Camus, who confronts the potential problem of destructive solidarity most of all by placing ethical considerations at the basis of his concept of solidarity. The final chapter discusses the two thinkers’ different positions regarding political phenomena and events of their time, positions which reflect their respective calls for connectedness and solidarity on the one hand, and the need to restrain collective political action on the other. In particular, the chapter presents the thinkers’ views on political efforts to achieve redemption and utopia, and Buber and Camus’ respective approaches toward the Jewish-Arab conflict and the conflict in Algeria. iii Acknowledgements There are a number of people I would like to thank for their advice and support throughout my work on this dissertation. First and foremost, I wish to thank Professor Clifford Orwin, my dissertation supervisor, for his guidance from the very beginning of the project, when the topic was determined, to its end. Professor Orwin’s vast academic experience and his supervisory skills – his ability to provide effective guidance by pointing out the strengths of the project, together with the best ways to overcome the challenges during the research and writing processes – were vital in bringing this dissertation to its successful completion. I would also like to thank Professors David Novak and David Cook, my dissertation committee members. Professor Novak, a leading scholar and thinker, provided me with helpful advice regarding Buber’s thought and writings. Professor Cook’s profound knowledge, his welcoming approach, and his detailed, constructive comments were very helpful, especially in pointing to different ways to understand and critically evaluate Camus’ thought and ideas. I would like to thank Professor Dan Avnon, who introduced me to Martin Buber’s thought during my undergraduate studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and has continued to provide me with inspiration and encouragement. I am grateful for the advice I received from friends, including Dr. Victor Boantza, Dr. Boaz Miller, Dr. Meital Pinto, and Dr. Reuven Shlozberg. Thanks to Melissa Levin for her insights and great support, to Israela Stein for her important suggestions, advice and encouragement, and to Yaniv Feller whose iv advice and whose knowledge of Buber’s thought and writings helped to clarify and develop important points. Special thanks to Andrew Gross for the many interesting discussions I had with him about this project throughout my doctoral studies, and in particular for his vital assistance during the editing stage of the dissertation. I am grateful for the generous financial assistance I received during my doctoral studies: the University of Toronto Fellowship; a fellowship from the Allan Bloom Memorial Fellowship Fund; the Tikvah Fund Fellowship and Scholarship in Jewish Studies; and the Earl & Renee Lyons Graduate Scholarship in Jewish Studies , the latter two of which were granted through the Centre for Jewish Studies at the University of Toronto. I would like to thank Cole Sadler for his help with editing the draft and translating the French texts. Barbara Bressolles also helped in proofreading the draft. Lastly, I wish to thank my family for their loving encouragement and wonderful support. v Table of Contents Chapter 1– Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………1 Basis for the Comparison between Buber and Camus… …………………………………………………… .4 Buber and Camus as Existentialist Thinkers ...................................................................... 5 Buber and Camus as Critics of Modernity ......................................................................... 8 Buber and Camus’ Political Involvement ......................................................................... 10 Previous Comparative Works on Buber and Camus………………………………………………………… 14 Structure of the Dissertation………………………………………………………………………………………….. 19 Genesis of the Project ...................................................................................................... 20 Chapter 2 – Buber and Camus’ Biographies…………………………………………………………………….27 Buber – Biography ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….27 Camus – Biography ………………………………………………………………………………………….……………..32 Comparison of the Thinkers’ Backgrounds …………………………………………………………………….. .35 Chapter 3 – Buber and Camus on Human Relationship ………………………………………………..….. 39 Buber’s Concept of Connectedness ………………………………………………...………………………………40 I-You and I-It .................................................................................................................... 41 God – the Eternal You ...................................................................................................... 51 Buber’s Critique of Modernity ......................................................................................... 55 Critiques of Buber’s Dialogical Thought .......................................................................... 64 Camus’ Idea of Human Connectedness and Solidarity …………………………………………………… .73 Camus’ Idea of the Absurd .............................................................................................. 74 Camus’ “Buberian” Solidarity .......................................................................................... 89 Camus’ “non-Buberian” Solidarity ................................................................................... 97 The Extent of Buberian Connectedness and Camusian Solidarity………………………………….. 108 Chapter 4 – Ethics Based on Connectedness vs. Boundaries………………………………………….116 The Problem of Ethical Boundaries in Buber’s Thought …………………………………………………118 Buber’s Solutions to the Problem of Ethical Boundaries ………………………………………………. .128 Camus’ Ethical Discussion ……………………………..……………………………………………………………..158 Comparison of the Thinkers’ Ethical Thought ………………………………………………………………. .180 Chapter 5 – Political views – the Kingship of God and the Limits of Man……………………….188 The Quest for Redemption and Utopia ………………………………………………………………………….189 Attitudes toward Anarchism.......................................................................................... 203 Existence vs. Action ....................................................................................................... 207 vi The Jewish-Arab Conflict and the Conflict in Algeria ……………………………………………………. .209 Chapter 6 – Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………………………229 Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………232 vii Chapter 1 – Introduction Martin Buber (1878-1965) and Albert Camus (1913-1960), two thinkers who made major contributions to Western thought in the 20 th century, discussed ways to overcome the experience of existential alienation in the modern world and the moral and political nihilism that may result from it. The two thinkers discussed the importance of human connectedness and solidarity as ways to deal with this sense of alienation, since they provide a sense of existential and moral grounding. Yet human solidarity and connectedness can become a problem in themselves, if they are too extreme. Therefore, both thinkers had to deal with the ethical and political problems that could result from the lack of boundaries and restraints that are needed to enable criticism and prevent collective political action from deteriorating into fanaticism, especially in the case of groups that struggle to achieve a radical or revolutionary aim. Buber and Camus discussed the importance

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