Which subjects did Karl Jaspers study before becoming a philosopher?

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Before establishing himself as a philosopher, Karl Jaspers pursued studies in two primary fields:

  • Law: Jaspers began his academic career in 1901 by enrolling in the faculty of law at the University of Heidelberg. He continued these studies in Munich, though he reportedly lacked enthusiasm for the subject.1
  • Medicine: He subsequently spent six years studying medicine at the Universities of Berlin, Gƶttingen, and Heidelberg. He completed his state examination in 1908 and was registered as a doctor in 1909.1

Following his medical career, Jaspers transitioned into academia through the field of psychology, which served as his bridge into the philosophical faculty at the University of Heidelberg in 1913.2