Correspondence between two great German philosophers of the 20th century. – friends, and later political enemies, the creators of existentialism. JASPERS, KARL (Jaspers, Karl) (1883–1969), German philosopher, representative of existentialism. Born on February 23, 1883 in Oldenburg (Germany), he studied law at the Universities of Heidelberg and Munich, medicine at the Universities of Berlin, Göttingen and Heidelberg. In 1909 he received the right to practice medicine. In 1909–1915 he worked as a physician's assistant at the university psychiatric clinic. In 1916 he was appointed assistant in psychology, in 1920 assistant in philosophy, and in 1921 professor of philosophy at the University of Heidelberg. Marriage to a Jewish woman in 1910 and political convictions led to his removal under the National Socialists from all administrative duties in 1933 and from teaching in 1937. In 1938, the publication of the philosopher’s works was prohibited. Jaspers remained in Heidelberg and devoted much time to studying the Bible. After the war (1945) he was reinstated and openly expressed his views at the university on issues such as the guilt of the Germans and the threat of nuclear war. There are well-known radio speeches on political issues, as well as on philosophical topics. Tried to carry out the idea of denazification of universities. In 1949 he became a professor of philosophy at the University of Basel (Switzerland), in 1961 he abandoned teaching and devoted himself to science and journalism. Jaspers died in Basel on February 26, 1969. Martin Heidegger had a great influence on Jaspers, but the theoretical differences between the philosophers were actualized by their political break associated with Heidegger's sympathies for the Nazis. Jaspers felt personally offended because he was married to a Jewish woman. Be that as it may, it was Heidegger and Jaspers who entered the history of philosophy as the founders of existentialism in Germany, although Heidegger himself denied his belonging to this movement, and Jaspers, after 1933, claimed that he had nothing in common with Heidegger.