Karl Jaspers: Existential philosopher of dialogical communication

Abstract

Karl Jaspers has been recognized as one of the three most prominent existential philosophers of the 20^th century, yet his work has largely gone unattended to in the interpersonal and dialogical literatures. This essay suggests that the most immediate contributions Jaspers's work could make have to do with (a) restoration of “heart” and “soul” to interpersonal communication studies, (b) acceptance of the unfinalizability (the process nature) of our subject and research, and (c) expansion of our disciplinary thinking. Four recurring themes in Jaspers's work in communication are also identified: (a) the role of communication in forging identity and humanity, (b) communication as the source of what comes to be “true” for human beings, (c) the need for ongoing communication, and (d) the dialogical possibilities of Existenz‐with‐Existenz communication.