The art of encounter - peace grows in the space of the interpersonal

Abstract

The meaning of politics is peace and a spirit of friendship. Thus taught Plato in the beginning of Western philosophy. Actually it is confirmed by a new idea of man which in the beginning of the 21st century is becoming more and more obvious: Humans are creatures of connectedness who will only blossom to full aliveness if they shape their identity in a harmonious interaction with others. “All true life is encounter” once Martin Buber remarked and by this not merely revealed an essential truth on the groundwork of social communities but also on the very essence of individual human life.