The correspondence between the psychiatrist, psychologist, and philosopher Karl Jaspers and his friend and brother-in-law—who was the same age—Ernst Mayer, a physician and outspoken contributor to philosophical discourse, which began in 1907, proves to be a source that has been largely unknown until now but is surprisingly multifaceted. It deepens our understanding of Jaspers’ work, offers at times surprising insights into German-Jewish history in the twentieth century, and further sheds light on the history of medicine, insofar as Mayer was actively involved in the physicians’ movement since the 1920s—not least through his engagement in professional politics—and also became a writer in this context. Thus, this extensive correspondence, which spans the period up to 1952, proves to be a valuable treasure trove and an important supplement to the already published correspondence between Jaspers and Hannah Arendt, Martin Heidegger, as well as numerous other philosophers, scholars, and representatives from academia and politics.

The workshop will briefly introduce some of the main themes of the correspondence and then turn to a discussion of specific editorial challenges—primarily the question of selection, the specific problems of text presentation, and the provision of commentary.