ABSTRACT
I-Thou and I-It represent the two polar relational stances that humans hold towards one another. It is between these poles that the natural flow of connection and separation takes place; both are essential in the give and take of human relating. This flow is essentially what we refer to in gestalt when we talk of dialogue or the relational. Buber says that all living is meeting and these relational stances represent the attitude of that meeting. The hyphen between these two terms holds specific significance for it represents our eternal connectedness to the other and our world. There is no ‘I’ that stands alone, ‘Through the Thou a man becomes I’ (Buber, 1958: 27, original italics).
