The category of dialogue in philosophical thought

Abstract

The concept of dialogue is one of the major categories of modern philosophy. Starting from the “dialogical principle” by Martin Buber, through the Frankfurt School and “philosophy of dialogue”, even to the most recent trends in philosophy of religion (J. Dupuis), it is an organizing concept for the latest thinking, which adds to it a new dimension and depth. Philosophy, along with it, withdraws itself from the position of subjectivism, but also protects itself effectively against materialistic trends; it changes and creates a new image of the world and of man, but does not abandon the tradition; it protects what is “different”, but does not deprive people and their cultures of identity; it transgresses individualism, but does not destroy what is spiritual. This category did not appear in philosophy suddenly. On the contrary, it has a long history, during which it underwent significant modifications. Nevertheless, only in the twentieth century did it gain the rank of such an importance, that it created “new philosophy”.