The Martin Buber Institute For Dialogical Ecology - Join the MBIDE

THE MARTIN BUBER INSTITUTE FOR DIALOGICAL ECOLOGY

The philosopher Martin Buber has been widely studied from the perspective of theology, philosophical existentialism, psychotherapy, Judaic thought and communitarian thinking, but less so from the perspective of the I-Thou relationship or dialogical relationship between the human community and their ecological environment. (I am presently writing a book on a comparative study between Buber’s dialogical principles and some aspects of Zen Buddhism and Indigenous spirituality. (Buber-Zen-The Between))

The MBIDE focuses its academic activities on the research and application of dialogical principles to issues in ecological ethics. At the same time we also envision policy implications to our ecological findings. The academic focus of the Buber Institute is on the meeting points between ecological thought, philosophical inquiry and religious studies.

The Director and Principal Investigator of the Institute is Dr. Hune Margulies, (see CV). At the core of the MBIDE mission is the research of Dialogical theory and principles as it applies primarily to issues in relational environmentalism and ecological scholarship. We employ the term “ecology” in a broad sense, as a concept that points at the confluence of three main academic disciplines: Environmental Studies, Philosophy and Religion.

The Buber Institute situates itself at the forefront of a very important international ecological discourse. The Martin Buber Institute for Dialogical Ecology will become an integral part of the very vibrant and active international discourse on ecology, peace and community.

The MBIDE engages in the following academic activities:

The Buber Institute focuses its scholarship on the application of Dialogical theory on Philosophical Ecology topics. The MBIDE will insert ourselves in the midst of a very important and significant international ecological discourse. At the same time dialogical ecology responds to some of the shortcomings found on some of the prevailing environmental theories.

The MBIDE engages in the following activities.

1. Internal and sponsored research.
2. Call for submissions and publications of a refereed journal (The Journal of Dialogical Ecology), conference proceedings and selected monographs.
3. An annual international conference at the University.
4. University-wide lectures, teaching, seminars and workshops, guest speakers. Cooperation and joint academic activities with other university and academic institutes.
5. An international Board of Scholars and Fellows to serve as academic advisors to the Institute. A prominent scholarly board is already in place. Martin Buber’s principal English language biographer, author of the multi-volume “Life of Martin Buber”, Dr. Maurice Friedman, will serve as Honorary Chair.
6. International linkages and cooperative agreements with academic institutes in the US and around the world.
7. Research into the confluence between some aspects of Buberian Dialogical Philosophy, Zen Buddhism, and Indigenous spirituality. (my book work in progress: Buber, Zen, The Between.)
8. Archival and documentation work. Repository of manuscripts, pictures, letters, works of art and other bibliographic material related to Martin Buber and the Dialogical tradition in Philosophy.
9. Selected field activities in two major areas: A. The application of Dialogical Ecology with indigenous communities in Latin America. B. Given Martin Buber’s prominent historic place in peace activities in Israel-Palestine, we will also work on facilitating a dialogical approach between Israelis and Arabs.

Applied Work:

One of the unique concepts behind the establishment of MBIDE is the applied aspects of its work. Building on Dr. Margulies pioneering work as founder of CDPA (see bellow), The MBIDE will establish externally funded direct links with Institutes, NGOs and smaller governments (many of whom we have already worked with in the past) both in the US and in indigenous and poor communities in Latin America. This linkages will be established in order to cooperate in implementation of progressive, cooperative, community sustainable projects. In this area of community work with indigenous and poor populations, we bring several years of in-the-field experience. The Buber Institute will also aim its efforts at conflict resolution programs in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

International Agreements:

The MBIDE has signed draft cooperation agreements with the Popular University of the Madres of Plaza de Mayo in Argentina, with the Universidad de Palermo in Buenos Aires and with the Faculty of Ecology at the Universidad de La Habana in Cuba. The MBIDE has recruited a prominent international Board of Scholars to serve as academic and research advisors to the work of the Institute. The MBIDE intends to sign similar agreements with academic institutions throughout Latin America, Israel and Palestine.