Jaspers’ distinction between the three immanent modes of the Encompassing Essay Example

viewing an apple pie from the Existence mode, the focus would be on it as a food source which was necessary for an individual's survival.

This mode's basic focus is on the individual's self and the specific temporal moment. The way an object is viewed might vary due to an individuals needs. For example an individual who is thirsty might view a pond as a source of drinking water, whereas the same individual at a different time, or a different individual, who is hot might view it as a place to cool off.(2b) In contrast with the mode of Existence, is Consciousness in general. The mode of Consciousness in general is universal and objective. It is not unique to any one individual or any one time period.

This is the view used most often in the world of science. If a scientist was looking at the same apple pie as described before in this mode, instead of merely looking it as a source of food, they would view its scientific properties. They would look at the chemical processes such as the one which cause the apples to brown when they react with the air or the number of calories it contains. The scientific laws involved in these processes would not change over time. This mode provides an interaction between subjects and objects which is universal and infinite.(2c) Another mode of existence is the Spirit mode.

This mode deals with interactions when viewed within the realm of cultural identity. It focuses on the way things are viewed by different social organizations such as a church or a country. Although, the perception might vary from one group

to another, such as people in Japan interacting with something differently than people from Brazil; those within the social unit would be united by a common idea. In this mode the apple pie would be viewed by Americans as a symbol of their country and pride.(3) For Jaspers the mode of the spirit partially reflects a unification of the modes of Existence and Consciousness in General. Like the consciousness in general mode, it contains a universal aspect for those within its group.

However unlike consciousness in general, it focus on specific historical time periods. This aspect is similar to that of the mode of Existence. The modes of Existence and Consciousness in general are the ones most opposed to one another, since the former focuses on the specific and temporal, while the later emphasizes the universal and eternal. Although the different modes vary, Jaspers believed they were all valid and contained their own specific sets of truths.

Each is an individual infinite entity, yet they are all united as aspects of the Encompassing