A critical analysis of Karl Jaspers' theory of transendence: And its relevance to the relationship between science and religion

The central claim of the thesis is that the thought of the German existentialist Karl Jaspers (1883-1969) articulates a significant approach to the epistemological problems posed by the question of Transcendence. It is arguably a philosophy of special relevance to the ongoing and often competing discourse about existence adumbrated in the 'science and religion' debate. The thesis sets out the key themes of Jaspers that are relevant to the special issues that surround the problem of Transcendence, before critically presenting two contrasting and variant solutions to the philosophical difficulties it poses. An elaboration of Jaspers' cipher theory of Transcendence is believed to be an improvement upon these methodological approaches, is critically outlined as a strategy, and further evaluated against another competing epistemology, that of inference based explanation. The thesis argues that with appropriate qualifications Jaspers provides a compelling account of the human engagement of Transcendence through their otherwise ordinary activity