When was Karl Jaspers born and where did he grow up?
Karl Theodor Jaspers was born on the 23rd of February 1883 in Oldenburg. His father worked as a jurist while his mother came from a local farming community.
Questions about Karl Jaspers
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What medical degree did Karl Jaspers earn and when did he publish General Psychopathology?
Jaspers earned his medical doctorate from the Heidelberg University medical school in 1908. He published the book General Psychopathology in 1913 which has become a classic in psychiatric literature.
Why did Karl Jaspers retire from teaching in 1937 and when were threats to him lifted?
Jaspers was forced to retire from teaching in 1937 because he was considered to have a Jewish taint due to his wife Gertrude Mayer. He and his wife remained under constant threat until the 30th of March 1945 when American troops occupied Heidelberg.
How did Karl Jaspers define primary delusions versus secondary delusions?
Jaspers defined primary delusions as autochthonous meaning they arise without apparent cause and appear incomprehensible in terms of normal mental processes. Secondary delusions are those influenced by the person's background current situation or mental state.
When did Karl Jaspers transition from psychology to philosophy and what work marked this shift?
In 1921 at the age of 38 Jaspers turned from psychology to philosophy expanding on themes he had developed in his psychiatric works. This transition is evident in his three volume work Philosophy published in 1932.