Karl Jaspers and existentialism

Karl Jarspers (1883-1969) was a German philosopher considered one of the great figures of existentialism despite not being an existentialist in the strict sense. His training as a psychiatrist influenced his work as a philosopher, developing a perspective centered on concepts such as existence, freedom, choice, communication, and historicity. An investigation that differentiated him from the rest of the existentialists and proclaimed him as a special figure within existentialism.

In this lesson from unPROFESOR.com we bring you closer to the figure of Karl Jaspers and existentialism so that you know his theories and his contribution to this contemporary philosophical movement.

Karl Jaspers He was born on February 23, 1883 in Oldenburg, Germany, and after studying medicine, he specialized in psychiatry at the Heidelberg University Psychiatric Clinic. This specialization brought him closer to philosophy and psychopathology, being innovative in the study of the nature of mental illness from phenomenology and thus becoming a key figure in the world of Psychiatry.

After taking part as a doctor in World War I, Jaspers began working as a professor of philosophy at the University of Heidelberg, developing his ideas about existence and existentialism.

During the Nazi era, Jaspers was stripped of his position due to his Jewish origin and his ideas, having to live clandestinely during those years. In 1938 he managed to publish one of his most popular books, "Philosophy of existence", a book that brings together some of his lectures.

Jaspers was the originator of the term existenzerhellung or "clarification of existence", a term that summarizes all his philosophy and that can be translated as the existence of man or human existence, the only one in which there is presence, clarity and life. According to Jaspers' thought, only through existence does everything become real.

Jaspers also related to the rest of the existentialists, maintaining correspondence and friendship with Jean-Paul Sartre or Martin Heidegger, among other great thinkers. An exchange of impressions that influenced his thinking and the development of existentialism.

Upon his death in 1969, Jaspers left a extensive and lasting legacy both in the field of philosophy and in that of psychiatry, especially when it comes to his ideas about existence, freedom and personal responsibility.

Discover here what is philosophical thought of existentialism.

Although Karl Jaspers did not fully adhere to existentialism, his contributions to this movement are as follows.

Theory of “limit situations”

This theory is one of the keys to Jaspers' existentialist thinking.. According to this author, extreme situations (Grenzsituationen) are moments of life in which the person faces the ultimate questions of existence, sometimes beyond human comprehension or unanswered as it exceeds the limits of knowledge. Illness, suffering, death or moral responsibility are some of those extreme situations of human existence. This theory tried to shed light on the human condition and the concept of transcendence.

Philosophy of existence: The existence of each person is unique and unrepeatable

Existence confronts us with fundamental questions of life, personal experience on abstract and general concepts being very important. Only authentic experience confronts us directly with life's challenges and borderline situations, as well as helping us take responsibility for our actions and choices.

Besides, Jaspers pointed out how the individual has to face his own finiteness, being the way to deeply understand existence. A reflection on death that leads us to develop a greater awareness of the importance of a full life, in addition to what is necessary to give meaning to life through the search for values ​​and personal meaning.

The need to understand the other, of otherness

For Jaspers it is important understand and value existence of others as unrepeatable and unique beings. A concept related to "existence in communication" and that values ​​the relevance of interpersonal relationships and intersubjectivity in human life.

philosophical communication

Jaspers defends the importance of authentic philosophical communication as way to reach self-reflection and self-discovery. Human beings are capable of freely expressing their thoughts and experiences in a dialogue and sincere manner. Communication helps people come to a deeper understanding of themselves and the human condition.

He is one of the most influential existentialist philosophers

Although he does not consider himself an existentialist philosopher in the strict sense, Jaspers is one of the most influential thinkers and with greater ascendancy within the rest of the existentialists and other contemporary philosophers. His works on human existence, the exploration of extreme situations and the search for a authentic life are some of the most important contributions to existentialism and philosophy current.

In unProfesor we discover the main characteristics of philosophical existentialism.