Affective Appraisal and Dialogical Encounter

Magda Arnold and Martin Buber on Human Flourishing

Abstract

This article explores human flourishing through a dialogue between Magda Arnold's psychology of emotion and Martin Buber’s dialogical philosophy. It argues that dialogue is not merely beneficial but constitutes a sine qua non condition for authentic human flourishing, grounded in the recognition that human beings are fundamentally dialogical beings. The article examines Buber’s dialogical anthropology, focusing on the I-Thou relationship and encounter (Begegnung), revealing how personal identity is constituted through authentic dialogue. It then explores Arnold’s appraisal theory, which positions emotions as evaluative responses to perceived reality. The synthesis demonstrates that appraisal occurs dialogically rather than in isolation, as interpersonal experience fundamentally influences how individuals perceive and evaluate reality. Both authors overcome problematic dualisms: Arnold bridges reason and emotion through affective intelligence, while Buber transcends the subject-object dichotomy through relational ontology. Together, they establish emotional appreciation and authentic dialogue as complementary and constitutive dimensions of integral human flourishing.