Paul Ricoeur's Theory Research Articles

The Architectural Experience and Configuring the Narrative Spaces in Hikmet's Poetry

This paper aims to analyze Turkish modernist poet Nâzım Hikmet's architectural spaces in his poetry from the perspective of Paul Ricoeur's theory of architecture and literature to unfold their artistic impact. As an interdisciplinary field, the narratology of space is directly linked to architecture and literature mainly dealing with the described spaces in fiction. Phenomenology and cognitive research, on the other hand, provides a background for the emotional experience of space. Paul Ricoeur's parallelism of architecture and literature rooted in phenomenology will be interpreted from the perspective of narratology of space to provide the main methodology of the research. Paul Ricoeur's theory not only offers a temporal perspective of the need, design, and experience but also provides an interchangeable terminology for narrative spaces. Taking his configuration concept into account, the modernist Turkish poet Nâzım Hikmet's narrative spaces will be analyzed. Ricoeur's theory presents a fitting methodology due to the socio-political discourse and the communicability of Hikmet's poetry. His narrative spaces in different periods will be interpreted according to their emphasis on certain spatial aspects, namely, the emplotment, intelligibility, and context. It will be demonstrated how the spatial qualities of Hikmet's spaces generate corresponding artistic effects. In conclusion, it will be claimed that Hikmet's narrative architecture creates an artistic impact to be experienced by reproducing the main idea, acting as a separate symbol, or shifting the poem's context. The conclusions will also suggest a viewpoint of how narrative qualities may inspire architectural design due to its configurative artistic impact.

The lived experiences of emotionally insecure nursing students: A qualitative study

Research shows that students who feel emotionally insecure are at risk of dropping out of nursing educational program. It is, therefore, important to support student resilience in the international nursing education. The aim of this study was to investigate the lived experiences of undergoing a nursing education as an emotionally insecure student. The method was conducted within a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach, inspired by the French philosopher Paul Ricoeur's theory of narrative and interpretation, which is conducted in a three-phased structure: Naïve reading, structural analysis and critical interpretation and discussion. Seven participants were included in the study. The findings show that feeling emotionally insecure can be linked to not feeling good enough and feeling misunderstood – yet, with hidden resources. Nurse educators must be aware that emotionally insecure students can easily feel shame, must be willing to help clear up potential misunderstandings and should be curious about resources that might be hidden, such as competence awareness. Hidden resources might be related to protective factors and resilience. The study points to ways in which the relation between nurse educators and students can affect resilience, and that students are not solely either resilient or emotionally insecure; resilience may exist within vulnerability.

A place of understanding: Patients' lived experiences of participating in a sexual rehabilitation programme after heart disease.

The aim of this project was to explore the lived experience of participating in a nonpharmacological sexual rehabilitation programme. In the healthcare system, patients are important stakeholders, and their experience and knowledge are essential to include when evaluating rehabilitation programmes. Patient experiences with participating in sexual rehabilitation for cardiovascular patients have not yet been investigated. Ten qualitative interviews were conducted with male patients from a randomised controlled trial investigating the effect of a 12-week rehabilitation programme focusing on sexuality. The analysis was inspired by Paul Ricoeur's theory of interpretation. Analysis consisted of three levels: (i) naive reading, (ii) structural analysis and (iii) critical interpretation and discussion. The theoretical framework reflects aspects of behavioural theory of social cognitive theory developed by Albert Bandura and his concept of self-efficacy. The findings are presented as themes extracted from the structural analysis and interpreted in the critical interpretation and express the way in which cardiovascular patients experience participating in a sexual rehabilitation programme. Three themes were identified reflecting the intervention to be a special place of understanding, describing the intervention as a supporting atmosphere and finally expressing the intervention as empowering sexuality. Participating in the sexual rehabilitation programme was experienced as efficient, valuable, motivating and safe, but dependent on a professional setting. The intervention developed participants' self-efficacy with regard to their sexual performance and relationship. The findings highlight the importance of a professional setting including certain competencies such as humour and professional skills when handling the after-care of cardiovascular patients with sexual problems.

The Discourse of Meaning of Jihad in Muhammadiyah Circle (A Hermeneutics Perspective)

This study focuses on the discourse about the meaning of Jihad that emerged in the Muhammadiyah circle as one of the Islamic Organizations in Indonesia. The discussion of meaning of Jihad as a way of peace or a way of war becomes crucial amid radicalism, terrorism, violence movements and chaos waged on behalf of religion. However, Muhammadiyah believes that the meaning of Jihad is anti-war and anti-violence which strengthens the understanding of Islam as the religion of rahmatan lil alamin (a mercy to all creation). This belief is criticism and contra-discourse towards camps that perceive Jihad as war and acts of violence. This study uses Paul Ricoeur's Interpretation Theory and focuses on the interpretation of the text based on the distinction between the text and the reader. The method is Ricoeur's hermeneutic method which focuses on the distortion of language, discourse, and textuality. The study shows that textually the meaning of Jihad among the Muhammadiyah circle is jihad lil-muwajahah, or the struggle to tackle a challenge by creating a superior movement, for example, “Jihad Konstitusi.” Muhammadiyah's understanding of the meaning of Jihad can be used as a counter-discourse on the meaning of Jihad which well known as an act of terrorism.

Transition experiences during courses of incurable cancer from the perspective of bereaved spouses.

The present study explores transition experiences during courses of incurable cancer from the perspective of bereaved spouses. Ten bereaved spouses participated in individual semi-structured interviews conducted in participants' private homes. The study takes a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach and data was analysed inspired by the French philosopher Paul Ricoeur's theory of interpretation. Two main themes were identified. The first one: "Being present when the life of their loved one is ending" consisted of three subthemes: "Challenged by suffering", "Transitions during the final days" and "Moving on in life". The second main theme: "Meaningful transitions in palliative care" consisted of two subthemes: "Changing direction towards palliative care" and "Transitions in palliative care". Bereaved spouses experienced meaningful transitions when the life of their loved one was ending and related to receiving palliative care. Spouses were challenged by witnessing their loved one's suffering and experienced a deviation in the quality of professional palliative care offered in the system of healthcare.

Da tradução e suas voltas:

Este artigo expõe uma reflexão pessoal sobre o processo tradutório do conto “Darle vueltas a una ceiba”, do escritor cubano Guillermo Cabrera Infante. Com uma linguagem pautada na oralidade, o relato concebe uma Havana quase pitoresca, com suas ruas, sua gente, costumes e crenças. Partindo da ideia de que traduzir significa desempenhar uma atividade ética, estética e experimental, as reflexões apresentadas neste texto discorrem sobre a experiência da própria autora quanto às estratégias de tradução adotadas, especialmente no que concerne ao contexto cultural e à linguagem do conto, que oscila entre vernácula, coloquial, burlesca e irônica. As apreciações conceituais se respaldam, sobretudo, em três eixos teóricos fundamentais para a teoria da tradução literária: a tradução criativa ou transcriação, conforme proposta por Haroldo de Campos (1962), a hospitalidade linguística, nos termos de Paul Ricoeur e Antoine Berman, e a ideia de lealdade/fidelidade, tratada amplamente por distintos pensadores da tradução, entre os quais Humberto Eco.

Homeless people's experiences of medical respite care following acute hospitalisation in Denmark.

The aim of this study was to explore homeless people's health perspectives and experiences of a 2-week medical respite care programme following acute hospitalisation. There is a high level of health inequality when comparing the health status of homeless people to the general population, including increased mortality and morbidity. Homelessness predisposes an increased risk of infectious disease, cancer and chronic illness, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Moreover, homeless people have a higher frequency of acute hospitalisation than general population estimates. In order to facilitate the transition from hospitalisation back to life on the streets, homeless people who were acutely hospitalised in the Capital Region of Denmark were offered 2weeks of medical respite care from the day of discharge by a non-governmental organisation. This is a qualitative study with a phenomenological hermeneutical approach based on narrative interviews of 12 homeless people who received medical respite care from 1 March 2016 to 30 September 2016. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews and analysed according to Lindseth and Norberg's presentation of Paul Ricoeur's theory of interpretation. The analysis identified four themes: (i) basic needs are of highest priority; (ii) a safe environment provides security and comfort; (ii) social support is just as important as healthcare; and (iv) restitution facilitates reflection. The findings indicated that the medical respite care centre provided a place of rest and restitution following hospitalisation, which made room for self-reflection among the homeless people regarding their past and present life, and also their wishes for a better future. This study also indicates that a medical respite care stay can contribute to the creation of a temporary condition in which the basic needs of the homeless people are met, enabling them to be more hopeful and to think more positively about the future.

Exchanging narratives-A qualitative study of peer support among surgical lung cancer patients.

The aim of this study was to examine how hospitalised, surgical lung cancer patients experience talking to a former patient, and how the former patient experiences the role as supportive. During hospitalisation, patients often create a community in which they can engage with fellow patients. The exchange of experiences with others in a similar situation might increase opportunities for support and complement nursing care, but there is a need for more evidence and understanding on the topic. The methodological framework is based on the French philosopher Paul Ricoeur's text interpretation theory. Qualitative interviews were conducted with nine patients, including a peer informant, using a narrative structure. The analysis was conducted on three levels: (i) naïve reading, (ii) structural analysis and (iii) critical interpretation . Four themes were developed from the analysis of the interviews: Exchanging emotional thoughts is easier with a peer; Talking to a peer reduces loneliness; Being ambiguous about a relationship with fellow patients; and Being the main person in the conversation with a peer. Sharing stories about having similar symptoms and undergoing similar journeys predominated, and the key feature of the contact between patients was the commonality of their stories. Telling one's story to a former patient, and thereby creating a joint, common story, is the essence of this study. The support received in this process can be empowering because knowledge of the illness experience is shared and increased. This can help create new coping strategies. The contact with a former patient offered a way to confirm one's thoughts and to find a way out of the illness perspective, by seeing how the former patient had recovered. The nursing field faces challenges in the relational aspect of caring because of ever greater efficient and shortened hospital stays; therefore, the peer support concept is becoming increasingly relevant. Patient peers offer each other their own perspectives, and it is important to raise awareness of the value of this and incorporate it into patient stays in hospital.

Tiempo y verdad en Tucídides

In the first chapters on the method and in the so called archaiologia, Thucydides uses a vocabulary similar to that of the Hippocratic writers, yet his concept of time is different. While the ancient physicians have a linear conception of time and use the signs and experiences of the past to predict the future, Thucydides has a circular conception of time; that is, he distances the present from the past and interprets the second on the basis of the first. For Thucydides, it is not the past that influences the present, but the present that allows us to build a story of the past. To explain this epistemological differ- ence between Thucydides and the Hippocratic physicians I use the theories of Paul Ricoeur, who, starting from Augustine’s reflection on the time, identified the nature of historical narrative as a manifestation of an internal temporal experience, defining the memory as “the present of the past”.

Spinal fusion surgery: From relief to insecurity

BackgroundDuring their decision-making process patients perceive surgery as a voluntary yet necessary choice. Surgery initiates hope for a life with less pain but also creates a feeling of existential insecurity in terms of fear, isolation and uncertainty. AimThe aim of this study was to explore how patients experience their situation from the point of making the decision to undergo spinal fusion surgery to living their everyday life after surgery. MethodA phenomenological-hermeneutic study design was applied based on the French philosopher Paul Ricoeur's theory of interpretation. Data were collected through observations and semi-structured interviews. FindingsThe recommendation and decision to undergo spinal fusion surgery felt like a turning point for the patients and brought hope of regaining their normal lives, of being a more resourceful parent, partner, friend and colleague with no or less pain. Thus, deciding to undergo surgery created a brief feeling of relief. However, life with back pain had changed the patients' understanding of themselves. Consequently, some patients postoperatively experienced insecurity and a weakened self-image with difficulties creating meaning in their lives. ConclusionBeing recommended and undergoing spinal fusion surgery initiates hope for a life with less pain and altered life conditions. At the same time, paradoxically, this creates a feeling of existential insecurity in terms of facing the surgery and the future to come. It is, therefore, important to recognise and include the patients' everyday life experiences concerning how they give (or may not give) meaning to their illness, i.e. their understanding of how it is affecting them. These aspects are essential for the patients' definition and re-definition of themselves and thus crucial to draw upon in the relationship and communication between patient and healthcare professional.

It is not just a Minor Thing - A Phenomenological-Hermeneutic Study of Patients' Experiences when afflicted by a Minor Heart Attack and Participating in Cardiac Rehabilitation.

To improve cardiac care, especially cardiac rehabilitation, patients' perspectives should be better addressed. In Denmark, patients afflicted by a minor heart attack in terms of unstable angina pectoris or non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction are treated in fast-track programmes with subacute treatment in hospital, early discharge and follow-up specialised outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. Knowledge of these patients' experiences of their life situation is essential to develop sufficient care protocols. To gain in-depth understanding of how patients afflicted by a minor heart attack experience their life situation when following cardiac rehabilitation. Focus group interviews and individual interviews were conducted with 11 patients enrolled in the cardiac rehabilitation programme. Data consisted of text in the form of transcribed interviews. A three-phased interpretation inspired by Paul Ricoeur's theory of interpretation was applied. As an overall concept, the patients experienced being forced into a demanding life shaking journey. Three themes emerged: Difficulty accepting the disease: facing the disease is a difficult challenge for the patients, leading to vulnerability and helplessness; Understanding that life has become frail: patients feel shaken as they realise that the disease is chronic and life-threatening; and An altered life: patients must adjust to new limitations in their everyday lives. Patients experience an overall demanding transition when they are afflicted by a minor heat attack, whereby their lives are sweepingly changed. Supporting patients' integrity, which becomes vulnerable during the various stages of transitions, is essential to ensure a healthy outcome. Being together with fellow patients during cardiac rehabilitation is a facilitating factor in the course of transition.

Ethics in the communicative encounter: seriously ill patients' experiences of health professionals' nonverbal communication.

The communicative encounter has been described as a fundamental element in caring for the patients, and further, in this encounter, the nonverbal body language and the tone of speech are agued to play a crucial role. This study explores how seriously ill hospitalised patients experience and assign meaning to the health professionals' communication with special attention to the nonverbal body language and tone of speech. The study is part of a larger study exploring how seriously ill patients experience and assign meaning to the sensory impressions in the physical hospital environment as well as to the health professionals' communication. The study is based on qualitative interviews supplemented by observations and applies Paul Ricoeur's phenomenological-hermeneutic theory of interpretation in processing the collected data. We included twelve patients with potentially life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, severe lung, liver and heart disease. Through analysis and interpretation of the interviews, we identified two themes in the text: (i) Being confirmed, (ii) Being ignored and an inconvenience. The patients experienced that the health professionals' nonverbal communication was imperative for their experience of being confirmed or in contrast, their experience of being ignored and an inconvenience. The health professionals' nonverbal communication proved essential for the seriously ill patients' experience of well-being in the form of positive thoughts and emotions. Consequently, this sensory dimension of the communicative encounter represents a significant ethical element in caring for the patients.

Paul Ricoeur’s theory of interpretation adapted as a method for narrative analysis to capture the existential realities expressed in stories from people living with Multiple Sclerosis

This paper draws on Paul Ricoeur’s theory of interpretation to highlight aspects of the existential realities that emerge woven within the narratives of people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). It aims to give social workers and other professionals involved in inter-disciplinary care insight into the meaning-making process and the existential realities interwoven in accounts of lived experience, thereby validating this aspect of experience. To support this approach it also aims to make explicit the method used and interpretation applied to elicit these features. Ten adults with MS from across the North of England were recruited to tell their story related to the onset of, and adjustment to MS. Two of the narratives are presented, and through these, the method used for interpretation derived from the theory of Paul Ricoeur is demonstrated. What emerge, threaded within the events told in a triptych of past, present and future life envisaged, are glimpses of existential realities that evoke universal recognition such as abandonment, loss, acceptance; solidarity, aloneness, suffering and finally calm. The paper concludes that, given chronic conditions like MS often predispose existential deliberation, it is important that these dimensions of lived experience are acknowledged in professional encounters that seek to manage the condition and support people living well with it.

The e ‐ Narrated Self

A common question asked about the web 2.0 by the offline population is: "What do people do there?" The paper addresses this question with respect to Paul Ricoeur's narrative theory of the self. According to his essay Life in Quest of Narrative, a person drifts through time experiencing events happening to them, but none of it is actually lived when it is not "recounted" or "storied". In this light, "storytelling may be said to humanise time by transforming it from an impersonal passing of fragmented moments into a patter, a plot ,a mythos". Blogs and sites like Facebook represent the most recent development in the human attempt to weave this "mythos". A profile page and a tweet are first and foremost stories that appear to its critics "truncated or parodied" by design "to the point of being called micro-narratives or post-narratives", and to it s advocates"multi-plotted, multi-vocal and multi-media". The paper introduces notions of e-Self and e-Narrative, examines their dangers and benefits, and concludes that "the advent of cyber-culture should be seen not as a threat to storytelling but as a catalyst for new possibilities of interactive, non-linear narration".

Back pain – a feeling of being mistrusted and lack of recognition: a qualitative study

BackgroundResearch shows that suffering from back pain can be associated with great personal costs and that patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery experience particularly problematic illness trajectories and struggle with existential challenges related to living with pain for many years. AimThis study aims to explore how patients with back pain experience their illness trajectories and their interaction with the healthcare system. MethodData were collected through observations and semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was based on the French philosopher Paul Ricoeur's phenomenological hermeneutic theory of interpretation. FindingsBefore the spinal fusion surgery, back pain had a great negative influence on the patients' everyday lives. Insinuations of being a hypochondriac and having to hide their pain to avoid becoming a burden caused insecurity. Several patients experienced pain relieving effect when talking about their experiences. However, they felt that the healthcare professionals were pressed for time and were mainly interested in their physiological problems. Patients were left with a feeling of being mistrusted, powerlessness, insecurity and loss of identity. ConclusionLifeworld-experiences are not given priority when dealing with patients suffering from back pain. To accommodate individual needs, aspects related to the patients' experiences of their illness trajectories should be taken into account regarding patient communication.

Vernacular architecture as an alternative design approach with interpretation of Paul Ricoeur’s critical theory

The aim of this study is to find an alternative design approach that can answer the challenges of global warming and universalization. By conducting a study on the possibility of vernacular architecture as one of the alternative design approach, to obtain a design that is oriented to the locality but still receive the latest technology in order to obtain sustainable design . This study used a descriptive method with rhetoric as analysis techniques, to explain how the vernacular architecture can be used as a design approach that is significant at this time. This study is a library research, so that the data used is the data in the form of paper documents and images obtained in the form of personal documentation and documentation 've done other researchers, as well as the writings of experts architecture . To support the analysis in order to get results, then use the interpretation of Paul Ricoeur's Critical theory as a basis for analysis. The result of this research is an approach to the design of vernacular architecture as a method. It is expected that by using this approach can produce a design that can answer the above challenges and provide identity in its design, so that the values of the locality and the uniqueness of the design can be raised as a design force, hopefully.

Patient experience in fast-track hip and knee arthroplasty--a qualitative study.

To explore the lived experience of patients in fast-track primary unilateral total hip and knee arthroplasty from the first visit at the outpatient clinic until discharge. Fast-track has resulted in increased effectiveness, including faster recovery and shorter length of stay to about two days after hip and knee arthroplasty. However, the patient perspective in fast-track with a median length of stay of less than three days has been less investigated. A qualitative design. A phenomenological-hermeneutic approach was used, inspired by Paul Ricoeur's theory of narrative and interpretation. Eight patients were included. Semi-structured interviews and participant observation were performed. Three themes emerged: dealing with pain; feelings of confidence or uncertainty - the meaning of information; and readiness for discharge. Generally, the patients were resistant to taking analgesics and found it difficult to find out when to take supplementary analgesics; therefore, nursing staff needed enough expertise to take responsibility. Factors that increased patients' confidence: information about fast-track, meeting staff before admission and involving relatives. In contrast, incorrect or conflicting information and a lack of respect for privacy led to uncertainty. In preparing for early discharge, sufficient pain management, feeling well-rested and optimal use of time during hospitalisation were important. The study shows the importance of dealing with pain and getting the right information and support to have confidence in the fast-track programme, to be ready for discharge and to manage postoperatively at home. In fast-track focusing on early discharge, there is an increased need for evidence-based nursing practice, including a qualified judgement of what is best for the patient in certain situations. The knowledge should be gleaned from: research; the patients' expertise, understanding and situation; and nurses' knowledge, skills and experience.

The Conflict between Traditional Christian Churches in Ukraine as a Conflict of Identities: Where to Search for the Prospects of Reconciliation? A Reflection in the Light of the Theories of Paul Ricoeur and John Paul Lederach

After the independence of Ukraine in 1991 there emerged or re-emerged four churches that derive their roots from ancient Kyiv Christianity. Those churches conflict with each other, the main cause of the split and tensions being the issue of cultural and social–political identities in the country. Such conflicting narrative identities have to be reconciled by the mutual recognition of their diversity when churches in Ukraine want to become a real force for transformation in society. Among the different models of the search for rapprochement in this article I refer to the theories of Paul Ricoeur and John Paul Lederach. According to the ethics of memory of Paul Ricoeur, traditional Ukrainian churches should abandon endless circles of melancholia about their losses and create new identities through the process of mourning. Because the tensions among traditional Christian denominations in Ukraine are not likely to be solved by institutional measures as history proves, churches should concentrate their efforts on working on social and relational platforms. Here I refer to the ethics of moral imagination of John Paul Lederach that envisions focusing the reconciliatory activities on locations of interaction between people that should finally contribute to the rapprochement.

A Phantasmic Experience: Narrative Connection of Dead Celebrities in Advertisements

Featuring dead celebrities in current advertisements has become a well-known practice in contemporary advertising techniques. Marilyn Monroe sells Sunsilk, John Lennon is a spokesman for One Laptop per Child, Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor demonstrate the roominess of a Jetta's now larger backseat. To unearth the viability of re-structuring dead celebrities into new advertisements, this article analyzes how phantasms – visual and vocal recordings – speak to the living consumer through the construction of emplotment, a main element of Paul Ricoeur's narrative theory. Particularly, Ricoeur's work on mimesis, metaphors, and memories direct this inquiry for these terms shape a phenomenological understanding of temporality and connectivity with a disembodied other. The goal of such exploration aims to link dead celebrities with the construction and transmission of persuasive messages within an advertising narrative framework.

Women's experiences of their osteoporosis diagnosis at the time of diagnosis and 6 months later: A phenomenological hermeneutic study

This paper describes a phenomenological hermeneutic study of experiences of women who were recently diagnosed with osteoporosis. The research objective was to investigate women's experiences of living with osteoporosis during the first 6 months after diagnosis when treatment was first prescribed. Fifteen women were included in the study. The inclusion criteria were a DXA scan at one of the two hospitals showing a T-score below −2.5 (lower back or hip), age 65 years or older; no previous known osteoporotic fracture; at least one of the known risk factors for osteoporosis; and prescription of anti-osteoporotic treatment. Exclusion criteria were previous diagnosis of osteoporosis or previous treatment with anti-osteoporotic medication. Data were collected through in-depth interviews shortly after diagnosis and 6 months later. The performed analyses were inspired by Paul Ricoeur's theory of interpretation of texts comprising three levels: naïve reading, structural analysis, and critical interpretation and discussion. Three key themes emerged: 1) being diagnosed, 2) being prescribed medical treatment, and 3) being on the path of learning to live with osteoporosis. The findings suggest a need for improved support for the patients to gain understanding of their diagnosis and the risk of osteoporotic fracture as well as to learn to live with osteoporosis. The study highlights new health promotion areas for targeting interventions at newly diagnosed patients, helping them accept and interpret the diagnosis, and the medical treatment.