Formation as Self-Formation in Dialogue

Abstract

The paper analyses the concept of “formation” in relation to those categories of the personalistic philosophy of formation which help us understand man in his individuality and relationship at the same time.

Part one reconstructs the concept of “formation” in the aspect of participation, the essence of interpersonal relations, and at the same time stresses their individual character. Part two analyses the “interpersonal dialogue” as a relation derived from the relation of participation, in the aspect of the value of truth. The paper closes with a description of the phenomenon of formation in the subjective aspect, from the part of the individual man living and responding to the truth of dialogue.

Our analysis allows us to reconstruct the definition of “formation.” According to the personalistic philosophy of formation and interpersonal relations, it takes on the following form: formation is self-formation in dialogue.