Gesinnung bei Kant und Existenz bei Jaspers

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to analyze the meaning and function of the concept "Gesinnung" in Immanuel Kant's philosophy and to compare it with one of Karl Jaspers' key philosophical terms, "Existenz." In the first part, the author clarifies the meaning of "Gesinnung" alongside concepts such as "Augenblick" and "Entscheidung." This is followed by a critical analysis of the formative nineteenth-century concept of "Character," before exploring Jaspers' interpretation of "Existenz." Through numerous examples, the author highlights important similarities between "Gesinnung" and "Existenz," demonstrating that both philosophers, despite using different terms, seek to articulate similar fundamental human experiences.