IGWEBUIKE IDEOLOGY AND MARTIN BUBER’S I- THOU THEORY: TOWARDS A MODEL FOR AUTHENTIC EXISTENCE

Abstract

Our contemporary society is such that emphasizes individualism. There is less emphasis on interpersonal relationship. Many people tend to live and behave as though they do not need the other. Today, there is high rate of frustration, hopelessness, suicide actions and rejections among the young and the old. In this regard, this paper burdens itself with a phenomenological inquiry into the existential problem of human interaction. It states that both Igwebuike ideology and the I – Thou theory are geared towards an authentic human existence. This study argues that the human person can only authenticate his/her existence as a social being when he/she collaborates with the other in a relationship that is hinged on openness, reciprocity, trust, sincerity, truth, mutuality, respect for the other, justice, among others. It, therefore, submits that the overemphasis on the ‘I’ cannot bring about an authentic human existence and, as such, our contemporary society needs to understand and appreciate this model for an authentic human existence as derived from the Igwebuike ideology and Buber’s I – Thou theory.